After A Few Minutes' Conversation An Invitation Was Given To The Chief
And His Hunters To Smoke The Calumet With Us As A Token Of Our
Friendship:
This was loudly announced through the camp and ten men from
the other tents immediately joined our party.
On their entrance the women
and children withdrew, their presence on such occasions being contrary to
etiquette. The calumet having been prepared and lighted by Mr. Prudens'
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 afterwards 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 presented 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 everywhere and that plenty
might come into their pound. He next prayed that the other animals might
be numerous and particularly those which were valuable for their furs,
and then implored that the party present might escape the sickness which
was at that time prevalent and be blessed with constant health.
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