326 Expedition to the 



examine the mysterious shell, who were immediately punish- 

 ed for their profanation, by instant and total loss of sight. 

 The last of these offenders, whose name is hh-ka-tappe, is 

 still living. It was ten years since, that he attempted to un- 

 veil the sacred shell, but like his predecessors he was visited 

 by blindness, which still continues, and is attributed by the 

 Indians, as well as by himself to his committing of the forbid- 

 den act; 



This shell is taken with the band to all the national hunts, 

 and is transported by means of a hoppas on the back of a man. 



Previously to undertaking a national expedition against an 

 enemy, the sacred shell is consulted as an oracle. For this 

 purpose, the magi of the band seat themselves around the 

 great medicine lodge, the lower part of which is then thrown 

 up like curtains, and the exterior envelop is carefully remov- 

 ed from the mysterious parcel, that the shell may receive air. 

 A portion of the tobacco, consecrated by being long suspend- 

 ed to the skin mats, or coverings of the shell, is now taken 

 and distributed to the magi, who fill their pipes with it, to 

 smoke to the great medicine. Daring this ceremony, an in- 

 dividual occasionally inclines his head forward, and listens at- 

 tentively to catch some sound which he expects to issue from 

 the shell. At length some one imagines that he hears a sound 

 like that of a forced exspiration of air from the lungs, or like 

 the noise made by the report of a gun at a great distance. 

 This is considered as a favourable omen, and the nation 

 prepare for the projected expediti>>n with a confidence of 

 success. But on the contrary, should no sound be perceived, 

 the issue of the expedition would be considered doubtful. 



2. Enk-ka saba. This band will not eat red maize. They 

 ascribe to their family the greatest antiquity, and declare 

 that their first man emerged from the water, with an ear of 

 red maize in his hand. The principal chief is Ishkatappe. 



$.,Wa-sa-ba eta-je\ or, those who do not touch bears. This 

 band refrains from eating the flesh of bears. 



