464 INDIAN TRIBES OF 



west direction. There is a smaller lake to the northward, half a mile 

 in length. The mountains were of granite. A large number of in- 

 habitants were seen, who used canoes of bark. Lieutenant Johnson 

 then returned on his path for a few miles, and afterwards pursued 

 nearly the same direction that the party had done before him. It is 

 therefore unnecessary to repeat what has been before said of this 

 route. He made the latitute of Lapwai 46° 27' 00" N. ; and measured 

 the width of the river, which was found to be four hundred and sixty 

 feet. 



There are a number of singular customs prevailing among the Nez 

 Perces, perhaps a greater number than in any other nation of savages. 

 That of overcoming the " Wawish," or spirit of fatigue, if it may be 

 so translated, is the most remarkable ; for this is a ceremony to enable 

 them to endure fatigue, that has long been practised among them, and 

 is still kept up. The operation continues for three, five, and seven 

 days, and is often repeated. It is begun on the first day by taking 

 three or four willow sticks, eighteen inches long, and thrusting them 

 down the throat, in order to cleanse the stomach by bringing up bile, 

 blood, and coagulated matter; a hole is then prepared, of a sufficient 

 depth for a man to sit upright, with his head above the ground. This 

 is usually dug near a running brook. 



On the second day they fast, and collect other willow sticks, of one- 

 eighth of an inch in diameter, the distance of the navel from the mouth 

 being their length. These are slightly rounded and made smooth, and 

 are passed down to the bottom of the stomach, which causes a severe 

 irritation and vomiting, and is continued until it produces a burning 

 sensation : this is repeated from time to time until noon, and not unfre- 

 quently as often as eighteen or twenty times. The number of sticks is 

 diminished as the throat becomes sore. When noon arrives, they 

 plunge into cold water, and remain there till evening, when they take 

 half a pint of porridge. 



The third day, a similar course is gone through. 



On the fourth day, after heating a number of stones, they get into 

 the pit, the water in which is heated by throwing in the hot stones, 

 until it is no longer to be endured ; they then plunge into cold water, 

 and remain there slapping themselves until they are quite benumbed ; 

 they then again resort to the hot bath, and continue to pass from the 

 one to the other throughout the day, during which they are allowed to 

 eat porridge, but to take no drink. 



On the fifth, sixth, and seventh days, the same operation is repeated, 

 until 2 p. m., after which hour they eat largely, and satisfy both hunger 

 and thirst. This treatment is said to be gone through several times by 



