292 Expedition to the 



saddle cloths without padding. They ride extremely well, 

 and make great use of the whip and the heel. The former 

 is attached to the wrist by a broad band, which passes 

 through a hole perforated near the end of the handle. The 

 handle is about fifteen inches long only, and very stout; that 

 of the whip of Hashea, the Oto warrior, is the section of a 

 gun-barrel. The lash is composed of two thongs of bison 

 skin, from one fourth to a half an inch wide. These are al- 

 ternately passed through smull longitudinal slits cut in each, 

 and, when finished, exhibit, on a cursory view, the appear- 

 ance of a flat plait, thick, and longer than the handle. 



The dogs of the Konzas are generally of mixed breed, 

 between our dogs with pendant ears, and the native dogs, 

 whose ears are universally erect ; the Indians of this na- 

 tion seek every opportunity to cross the breed. These mon- 

 grel dogs are less common with the Omawhaws ; while the 

 dogs of the Pawnees, generally, have preserved their origin- 

 al form. 



No regular sentinels are appointed to watch during the 

 night ; but many of the young men, who are moving about 

 the greater part of the night, on their errands of love, often 

 singing and hallooing to excite the attention of their mistress- 

 es, are the only guards of the safety of the village from sur- 

 prise. If, however, the nation have reason to believe that 

 the enemy is near at hand, or that there is a probability of 

 an attack, they are necessarily vigilant ; young warriors vol- 

 unteer to look out at different points, or are requested to do 

 so by the chiefs. 



Wars generally originate in the stealing of horses, and the 

 elopement of squaws ; they are, sometimes, the consequence 

 of infringing on each other's hunting grounds. Hostilities 

 are generally conducted by small predatory parties, which 

 are originated and formed under the influence of some ap- 

 proved warrior. An individual, of this description, having 

 determined to endeavour to assemble a war party, as a first 



