256 SIOUX LODGE — BUFFALO-FEAST — SUPERSTITION. 



trader that might come among them for the purpose of traffic, and 

 was accordingly called ''The Trader's Lodge." It was made of 

 twenty-six buffalo-hides, perfectly new, and white as snow, which, 

 being sewed together without a wrinkle, were stretched over twenty- 

 four new poles, and formed a conical tent of thirty feet diameter 

 upon the ground, and thirty-five feet in height. 



After we had seated om-selves upon the skins provided for our 

 accommodation, the pipe was duly passed around, and the feast 

 was introduced. It consisted of a tin pan containing a parcel of 

 dried buffalo-meat, which had been boiled in simple water, with- 

 out salt, and suffered to get cold. This was brought in by an old 

 squaw, and placed upon the ground before us, with a basin of water. 

 Although we had not long before breakfasted heartily upon roasted 

 rib and tender-loin, we were in courtesy obliged to partake of this 

 rather lean fare with apparent satisfaction, notwithstanding that 

 the pan containing it looked as if a thorough cleansing would most 

 materially have improved its appearance. We accordingly ate a 

 morsel or two, when, most fortunately, an old Indian came in, 

 who, after taking a few whiffs of the pipe which was passing round, 

 reached out his hand for the pan, and very soon discussed the 

 whole of its contents without the slightest scruple. 



The feast being finished, we rose to take our leave ; when the 

 chief courteously motioned us to remain, saying that they were 

 haranguing the village in hopes of recovering our lost property. 

 Although I had not the least idea that we should ever see any of 

 the stolen articles again, yet we continued to sit, listening to the 

 bellman-like proclamation going on outside, until at length I 

 explained to the chief that I could wait no longer ; that my young 

 men had gone forward, and that it was necessary I should overtake 

 them ; whereupon we shook hands and parted. He was a remark- 

 ably fine-looking man, of about forty-five, with a face denoting 

 strong character, great firmness, and yet, as I thought, a kind 

 heart. His influence with his people was said to be very great. 

 One thing in his manner struck me with surprise : I observed, 

 during our interview, that he always passed the pipe without smok- 

 ing ; and upon afterward inquiring the reason of an omission so 

 imusual, found that it was "against his medicine" to smoke in the 

 presence of others, and that whenever he indulged in this Indian 

 luxury, it was when alone. Returning to the lodge of the fat old 

 chief, whose merry laugh and cheerful physiognomy denoted a 

 great love of fun, and not a little of good eating, we soon found that 



