366 



ACCOUNT OP THE INDIANS. 



pears to have a reverence for the Image, in his 

 own medicine bag; but will often speak disre- 

 spectfully of one, belonging to another person. 

 The next article in the bag, is the war cap of its 

 owner, which is decorated with the plumes of 

 scarce birds, and with the claws of the beaver, 

 eagle, &c. It has also a quill or feather, suspend- 

 ed from it, for every enemy, whom its owner has 

 slain in battle. The other contents of the bag 

 are a piece of tobacco, and some roots and other 

 substances, which are supposed to possess valua- 

 ble medicinal qualities. To the outside of the 

 bag, the sacred stem is tied, which is generally 

 about six feet long. This stem is used only for 

 smoking on sacred occasions. This medicine bag 

 is generally hung, in fair weather, on a limb of a 

 tree, or on a stake, at a little distance from the 

 tent ; and an Indian would severely beat his wife, 

 if she should presume to touch it. This is the 

 only article which the men invariably carry them- 

 selves, when they are decamping. Many of 

 them pretend, that by examining it, they can 

 foretel future events. — The women, also, have 

 their own medicine bags ; but they are not con- 

 sidered as of a sacred character, and merely con- 

 tain their own articles of medicine. — Smoking out 

 of the sacred stem, is performed with numerous 



