216 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



occasions being contrary to etiquette. The 

 calumet having been prepared and lighted 

 by Mr. Prudens's clerk, was presented to 

 the chief, who performed the following 

 ceremony before he commenced smoking : 

 — He first pointed the stem to the south, 

 then to the west, north, and east, and after- 

 wards to the heavens, the earth, and the 

 fire, as an offering to the presiding spirits ; 

 ! — he took three whiffs only, and then 

 passed the pipe to his next companion, who 

 took the same number of whiffs, and so did 

 each person as it went round. After the 

 calumet had been replenished, the person 

 who then commenced repeated only the 

 latter part of the ceremony, pointing the 

 stem to the heavens, the earth, and the fire. 

 Some spirits, mixed with water, were pre- 

 sented to the old man, who, before he 

 drank, demanded a feather, which he dipped 

 into the cup several times, and sprinkled 

 the moisture on the ground, pronouncing 

 each time a prayer. His first address to 

 the Keetchee Manitou, or Great Spirit, 

 was, that buffalo might be abundant every 



