in precisely the same posture as before, and smoking their pipes as composedly as if all were asleep.

A council is generally called together by the Head-Chief. The occasions for calling it as various as can arise from the public affairs of the tribe. Perhaps he has received a message from some other tribe,-generally in the shape of a Pipe of Peace, a wampum war-belt, or some other customary symbol. This is considered a formal communication, the meaning of which may be relied upon. Any flying rumor to the same effect which may chance to reach the ears of the Chief ever so long before, he considers nothing of public concern. It is only the song of a bird which has flown by.' But when the pipe or the belt comes,-together, perhaps, with a quantity of tobacco, to be smoked in sign of alliance or peace, then the council is summoned forthwith, and the Chief announces what he has heard.' If the council, after debate, refuse to smoke the pipe, or receive the belt, as the case may be,-it amounts to a refusal of the invitation of the other tribe; and it is the business of the Chief to communicate their decision, whatever it may be.

Among the Five Nations of New York, and

some other tribes, the following mode of remembering what was said by the speakers on either side, at a conference between two tribes, was commonly observed. The Speaker made a pause at the close of every few sentences, whether to present a wampum-belt in confirmation of what he uttered, or take breath. The Head-Chief of the other party took that occasion to hand a small stick to one of his underchiefs who sat beside him, which was as much as to say-You are to remember that part of his speech; we depend upon you for that.' Thus, at the close of each important article or sentiment in the speech, some one of the party addressed was charged with the duty of recollecting it. When it was all attended to in this manner, the council broke up until afternoon, or for the rest of the day, so as to give the tribe addressed an opportunity of determining in private upon a suitable reply. In this secret conference different persons were charged, in the same manner as before, to recollect each one the answer agreed upon to be made to some particular part of that day's address, by an orator selected for that purpose. When the latter, therefore, came to deliver the result of their discussions, at the public council, if he

mistated or forgot any part of his business, he was immediately prompted by one of these men with the stick, who, of course, paid the closest attention to the proceedings.

We shall close this chapter with some account of a modern council between the Indians and the whites. As a fair specimen, may be selected the one which took place in August, 1826, at the establishment of the American Fur Company on the shores of Fond du Lac, at the mouth of the River St. Louis, between large numbers of the Chippewas of that region on one hand, and commissioners appointed by the American Government to treat with them, on the other. It will be observed, that assemblies of this kind, which occur frequently on the frontiers, differ much from the genuine Indian council, and especially in the fact, that the mode of conducting them, and the business done at them, are both chiefly under the management of the commissioners alone.

In the present instance, the arbor used for this purpose, was erected on the shores of the Lake. From day to day, until the appointed time arrived, one band of Indians after another came in, some of them from a distance of hundreds of miles. Generally, as they landed,

or during the evening after their arrival, they performed a Pipe-Dance, such as we have heretofore described, accompanied with singing and drumming in abundance.

By different bands it was performed with many curious variations. Some rounded their bodies in front like a bow, with their arms pinioned down close to their sides, their elbows projecting just behind their hips, while their arms, making a sharp angle at the elbow, rose up with the hands on a line with the neck.-. Each brandished a pipe and a rattle. Then, with their knees bent forward, the whole company would jump or hop to the time of the drum; or, first with one foot, and then with the other, stamp pompously round the circle.*

The council began at twelve o'clock on the 2d of August, about three hundred and fifty chiefs, head-men and warriors of the Chippewas being on the spot, besides a large number of women and children, of every age, who were hot allowed to come in. The two Commissioners, Governor Cass and Colonel Mc'Kenney, had a seat reserved for themselves at one end of the arbor; the chiefs and warriors occupied

*See Mc'Kenney's Tour to the Lakes,' from which we borrow this whole account.