SWANTON] INDIAN TRTBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 137

this lube hangs a bunch of white and red feathers arranged in a tuft, at the
end of which are fastened the hairs of ;i horse killed in war, painted in the
same way with vermilion. One of the ends of this ltbe is provided with a
pipe, made sometimes in one fashion, sometimes in another, ordinarily of a red
stone which looks like coral; solletimes, however, of a black stone closely
resembling lmarble.a Such is the famous calunlet, and here are the ceremonies
with which it is accompanied when one gives it.
 Let us suppose that a party of 15 to 20 savages leaves its village to go to
present the calumet to the chief of some other nation, with the intention of
asking from him the continuation of his friendship, or of obtaining assistance
against their enemies, or for somle other reason, whatever it inny be. This
party having arrived near the village where it has planned to go, immediately
deputies a courier to go to the chief in order to declare to him the intention
they have of coming to present tile calunet to liiit. and to ask of him permlis-
sion to enter his village. The visit is ordinarily accepted, and the deputy
returns ilmiediately to inform hlis iroop of it, which, after his report, pre)pares
for the cerenonuy which is to be gone through with next day. Meanwhile all
the (womtlen of the village are busy crushing lmauize and making other prepara-
tions necessary for tie reception of ltese strangers. The latter oni their side
prepare themselves suitably. Some daub their fices with red. Others have one
side of the face red and the other black. Some are covered only with a shirt
open at the neck, without stockings or drawers. Many are absolutely naked,
having for their entire clothing only the breechcloth. All have their heads orna-
mented with feathers of different colors. They even wear them in their ears,
which are pierced. with rattles hanging from their belts, sometimes even bells,
and tails of hoItrses hanging behind theia. They dress themselves magnificently
according to themselves, and according to us like veritable nmsqueraders.
 The next day at earliest dawn this entire troop begins to march, having at
its head the most skillfull along thiem. who bears the calnlIlet, and las soon as
they alpprotach the village all begin to sing and dance. One of them carries
in his left hand an earthen pot covered with a dressed tleer skin stretched
tightly over this pot, around which it is fastened with a cord ; an, with a
single drumnstick, which he holds in his right hand. he beats lime on this pot,
which serves hint as a drum. All answer him with cries which they utter in
cadence. Some bear chitichoiias [rattles] or empty calefbashes, in which are
some beads or little stones to make a noise, and move them at the same time
in cadence. However, the one .who bears the calulnet nmkes it spring about,
solletimes low down, sometimes ill' tle air, nlaking a thousand different con-
tortions with his legs and his entire body, and advancing continually toward
tihe cabin of tile chief whom they wish to honor. IIe is followed by those who
bear the presents. Arrived finally at the cabin they find this chief seated with
his legs crossed, surrounded by all his officers-that is to say, warriors and
HonIored mlen. The one who bears tile calumet having killed tie pipe with to-
bacco presents the tube end of the pipe to the month of tihe chief, holding a
lighted coal to the tobacco. The chief lights the pile and draws two or three
mouthfuls, after which the calumet passes to all the spectators from hand to
hand, or rather from mouth to mouth. During this time tile presents which
it is desired to offer are placed before the chief. These are ordinarily dressed
bison tand deer skills, bear's oil, sometimes one or two slaves. Finally the
calumet comes back to tlie one who had presented it. who smlokes last, after
which there is a great silence. Then the bearer of the ('lunell('t harangues tlhe

 SThe same nathor says that the skins of certain small snakes not larger than a
writing-pen." alnl "speckled with yellow, wlile, and red," were used to cover these
calumets.-DUMONT, Mem. Hist. sur La Louisiane, 1, 110-111.