288 Expedition to the 



of profit. Their instrument consists of three or four needles, 

 tie d to the truncated and flattened end of a stick, in such an 

 arrangement that the points may form a straight line; the fi- 

 gure desired is traced upon the skin, and some dissolved 

 gun-powder, or pulverized charcoal, is pricked in with this 

 instrument, agreeably to the figure. The operator must be 

 well paid, and hence it is not every one that can convenient- 

 ly sustain the expense, of having this distinguishing mark, 

 placed on the forehead of his children. 



Their astronomical knowledge is very limited. They dis- 

 tinguish the north star (Polaris), and are aware of its being 

 apparently stationary, while the others seem to revolve. Venus 

 is known by the name of Me-ka-ka-tun-guh, or Big Star. 

 The constellation of the seven stars, (PleiadesJ is called 7a- 

 pa, or deer's head. The constellation of the great bear, (Ur- 

 sus major,) is distinguished by the term Wa-ba-ha, or car for 

 transporting sick or wounded persons on a march. The ga- 

 lasy is caHed Wahconda-ojun-ga, or the path of the Master 

 of Life. When the moon is eclipsed, they say Me-ombot- 

 tsa, or the moon is dead; and when the sun is eclipsed, they 

 say the sun is dead. A comet they denominate Me-ka-ka-na- 

 re, or blazing star; this name, at least, was given to the co- 

 met of 1811; they regarded it as portending the death of 

 some great chief; and as it happened, one of the great Paw- 

 nee chiefs did die the same year, which confirmed them in 

 their notion. The three stars of Orion's Belt, are called Me- 

 huh-se or the goose-foot. 



Wangewaha the Hard heart, chief of the Ioways, has made 

 himself considerably acquainted with the manners of the 

 white people; he surprised Mr. Dougherty one day by in- 

 quiring, if it is true that the earth revolves round the 

 sun; he was of course answered in the affirmative; when a 

 sarcastic Indian of a group sitting near, was overheard to 

 say in a low voice, that it was indeed a pretty story to tell 

 them, when any person could see the sun rise there, pass 



