( 3* 1 ) 



liorveatt, and the calumet of the Indians is properly 

 the fcajk of the pipe, but under that name is un- 

 derftood the whole pipe as well as the ftaik. The 

 {talk is very long in calumets of ceremony, and the 

 pipe has the fhape of our old hammers for arms ; 

 it is commonly made of a fort of reddifh marble, 

 very eafy to work, and found in the country of the 

 Aiouez, beyond the MilTiffippi. The ftaik is of a 

 light wood, painted with different colours, and a- 

 domed with the heads, tails, and feathers of the 

 mod beautiful birds, which in all probability is only 

 intended for ornament. 



The cuftom is to fmoke in the calumet when k 

 as accepted, and perhaps, there is no example of an 

 engagement entered into in this manner being vio- 

 lated. The Indians at leaft are perfuaded, that the 

 great fpirit never fuffers an infraction of this kind 

 to efcape with impunity. If in the midft of a bat- 

 tle, an enemy prefents a calumet, it may be refu- 

 fed ; but if it is accepted, their arms on both fides 

 muft immediately be laid down. There are calu- 

 mets for all different forts of treaties. When an 

 exchange is agreed upon in trade" they prefent a ca- 

 lumet, in order to cement the bargain, which ren- 

 ders it in fome meafure facred. When a war is in 

 agitation, not only the ftaik, but even the feathers 

 with which it is adorned are red ; fometimes they 

 are red only on one fide, and it is pretended, that 

 from the manner in which the feathers are difpofed, 

 they know at hrft fight to what nation it is to be 

 presented. 



It cannot be doubted, but that the Indians, by 

 CAufing thofe to fmoke in the calumet, with whom 

 they feek to enter into a treaty of alliance or com- 

 merce, intend to take the fun for a witnefs, and in 



Vol. 1. X fome 



