296 Expedition to the 



them before them, with much shouting, laughter, noise, and 

 obscene expressions. 



A war party, after having struck a blow upon the enemy, 

 return with rapidity towards their village. 



They leave the mutilated carcasses of the slain, upon the 

 contested field, a prey to the wolves and vultures. Their 

 own dead are covered with wood or stones, and their wound- 

 ed are transported on litters, on the shoulders of others, or 

 if the)'' have horses with them, upon cars of a very simple con- 

 struction. Two poles are attached to the neck of the horse, 

 in the manner of shafts, which trail upon the ground behind. 

 These are so connected, behind the horse, with cross pieces, 

 lashed on, that a bison robe can be suspended to them, for 

 the reception of the wounded person. 



If the attack is made during the night, or if the party has 

 only captured horses, unobserved by the enemy, a mockasin 

 or arrow, is left in a conspicuous situation, to inform the ene- 

 my of the nation to which the aggressors belong. 



Large war parties, sometimes divide into smaller parties, 

 in order to attack simultaneously at different points. Each 

 of these parties on its return, at its different encampments, 

 inserts small painted sticks in the soil, pointing to the rout 

 the\ have taken. They also peel off a portion of the bark 

 from a tree, and on the trunk thus denuded, and rendered 

 conspicuous, they delineate hieroglyphics, with vermillion or 

 charcoal, indicative of the success or misfortune of the party, 

 in their proceedings against the enemy. These hieroglyphics 

 are rudely drawn, but are sufficiently significant, to convey 

 the requisite intelligence, to another division of the party, 

 that may succeed them. On this rude chart, the comba- 

 tants are generally represented by small straight lines, each 

 surmounted by a head-like termination, and are readily dis- 

 tinguishable from each other ; the arms and legs are also re- 

 presented, when necessary to record the performance of some 

 particular act, or to exhibit a wound. Wounds are indi- 



