Some Indian Ways ^ 459 



The feathers are made of white quill feathers, the tip dyed 

 dark brown or black; a leather loop is lashed to the quill end 

 of each to fasten it on to the head-band. Each feather 

 stands for an exploit and is awarded by the Council. An 

 oval of paper is glued on near the high end. This bears a 

 symbol of the feat it commemorates. If it was Grand 

 Coup or High Honor, the feather has a tuft of red horsehair 

 lashed on the top. 



WARBONNET OR HEADDRESS ITS MEANING 



The typical Indian is always shown with a warbonnet, or '■ 

 warcap, of eagle feathers. Every one is famiUar with the 

 look of this headdress, but I find that few know its mean- 

 ing or why the Indian glories in it so. 



In the days when the Redman was unchanged by 

 white men's ways, every feather in the brave's headdress 

 was awarded to him by the Grand Council for some great 

 deed, usually in warfare. Hence the expression, "a feather 

 in his cap." These deeds are now called coups (pro- 

 nounced coo), and when of exceptional valor they were 

 grand coups, and the eagle's feather had a tuft of horse- 

 hair, or down, fastened on its top. Not only was each 

 feather bestowed for some exploit, but there were also 

 ways of marking the feathers so as to show the kind 

 of deed. 



Old plainsmen give an exciting picture in Indian life after 

 the return of a successful war party. All assemble in the 

 Grand Council lodge of the village. First the leader of the 

 party stands up, holding in his hands or having near him the 

 scalps or other trophies he has taken, and says in a loud 

 voice: 



" Great Chief and Council of my Nation, I claim a grand 

 coup, because I went alone into the enemy's camp and 



