436 Expedition to the 



and warriors at a medicine feast, and could not, therefore, 

 come out to meet us. We were soon surrounded by a crowd 

 of women and children, who gazed at us with some expres- 

 sions of astonishment, but as no one appeared to welcome us 

 to the village, arrangements were made for sending on the 

 horses and baggage to a suitable place for encampment, while 

 Major Long, with several gentlemen, who wished to accom- 

 pany him, entered the village. 



The party which accompanied Major Long, after groping 

 about some time, and traversing a considerable part of the 

 village, arrived at the lodge of the principal chief. Here we 

 were again informed that Tarrarecazvaho, with all the prin- 

 cipal men of the village, were engaged at a medicine feast. 



Notwithstanding his absence, some mats were spread for 

 us upon the ground, in the back part of the lodge. Upon 

 these we sat down, and after waiting some time, were pre- 

 sented with a large wooden dish of hominy, or boiled maize. 

 In this was a single spoon of the horn of a bison, large enough 

 to hold half a pint, which, being used alternately by each of 

 the party, soon emptied the dish of its contents. 



The interior of this capacious dwelling was dimly lighted 

 from a hole at the top, through which the sun's rays, in a de- 

 fined column, fell aslant upon the earthen floor. Immediately 

 under this hole, which is both window and chimney, is a small 

 depression in the centre of the floor, where the fire is made; 

 but the upper parts of the lodge are constantly filled with 

 smoke; adding much to the air of gloominess and obscurity, 

 which prevail within. The furniture of Long-hair's lodge 

 consisted of mats, ingeniously woven of grass or rushes, bi- 

 son robes, wooden dishes, and one or two small brass kettles. 

 In the part of the lodge immediately opposite the entrance, 

 we observed a rude niche in the Wall, which was occupied 

 by a bison skull. It appeared to have been exposed to the 

 weather, until the flesh and periosteum had decayed, and 

 the bones had become white. 



