ht their aid,
No Ricara paints as a warrior paints,
Red on the cheek,
Red on the brow,
Till he has thrice before them bow'd,
And said to them, "Make me strong!"
And the maiden and the priest
Petition there for aid.

[Footnote A: The North Star.]

[Footnote B: Clear sky, domestic peace, absence of family brawls.]

[Footnote C: The Indian warriors shave off all their hair, except a
single lock on the top, of the head, which is left for the enemy to take
the scalp, in case he overcomes.]

[Footnote D: Maize, Indian corn--"Cobbett's corn."]

[Footnote E: The tree-toad is an object that impresses the Indians with
great fear.]

[Footnote F: Rocky Mountains.]

[Footnote G: The Indians suppose the shooting of stars to be occasioned
by spirits who are at war with the moon, and assail her in this way.]

NOTES.

(1) _Okkis._--p. 175.

The particular object of the devotion of an Indian is termed his
"Okkis," or "Medicine," or "Manitou," all meaning the same thing, which
is neither more nor less than a "household God." The latter, however,
may mean a spirit of the air; the former is tied to one predicament. It
is selected by himself, sometimes at a very early age, but generally at
the period when he enters the duties of life, and is some invisible
being, or, more commonly, some animal, which thenceforward becomes his
protector or intercessor with the Great Spirit. The Indians place
unbounded confidence in these Okkis, and always carry them wherever they
go, being persuaded that they take upon them the office of sentinels.
Hence, they sleep in perfect security, convinced of the entire good
faith of the guardian. There is no possible form which they have not
permitted these "medicines" to take. Birds, beasts, and especially of
the carnivorous species, are most frequently the adopted sentinels; but
sticks, trees, stones, &c., have been known to be selected for that
responsible office. If they prove treacherous, and permit any disaster
to happen to their charge, they are frequently soundly whipped, and
sometimes committed to the flames.

Not only are inanimate objects elected to take the guardianship of
individuals--they sometimes become protectors of the national interests.
There is a large, fiat rock, about ten miles from Plymouth,
Massachusetts, which continues to receive tribute from the Indians,
probably from having, at a former period, been their tutelary genius. It
is called, if I m