liocky Mountains. 189 



stance was productive of much bustle and activity among the 

 warriors and young men, who eagerly mounted their horses, 

 and exerted their utmost speed. 



Since we have mentioned the Otoes, we will notice the ce- 

 rem.ony of marking a distinguished squaw, which was in 

 part witnessed by some of our party at the Oto village. This 

 marking, which we have elsewhere alluded to, consists in 

 picking into the forehead, with a small fascicle of needles, 

 or other small pointed instruments, a portion of minute par- 

 ticles of carbon, from a solution of gun powder, or commi- 

 nuted and moistened wood coal, so as to form upon the part 

 a small blue spot. On the approach of our party, however, 

 to the group of Indians in which this ceremony was perform- 

 ing, each individual sat perfectly still, with his head in- 

 clined, as if indisposed to proceed whilst observed by stran- 

 gers. In the centre of the group was a piece of wood sup- 

 ported at each end by an upright crotchet, and holding sus- 

 pended various articles of merchandize, intended to com- 

 pensate the operator; consisting of red and blue strouding, 

 and many other articles of much value. The squaw, with 

 her family and friends, accompanied by the individual who 

 was to perform the operation, sat in the form of a semicircle, 

 in front of these valuables, and a large decorated pipe was 

 laid on the soil before them. Our party supposed that the 

 value of the merchandize thus offered in exchange for the 

 distinction of a small spot on the forehead, was, in that coun- 

 try, and particularly after having passed through the hands 

 of the traders, estimable at one hundred dollars. 



We will further interrupt our narrative in this place, to 

 mention a circumstance, that has been omitted in our account 

 of the mauners and habits of the Indians of the Missouri. 

 It serves to show that their attention is not limited to the 

 larger and more imposing objects of the creation, but that it 

 is directed to the " watches, as well as the clocks of nature." 



The Oto warrior, Little black bear, when looking at our 



