a tuft of white
feathers.

A fire burned in the centre of the enclosure, round which the Indians
seated themselves according to seniority, and with deep solemnity; for
it is a trait in the Indian's character that all his ceremonies are
performed with extreme gravity. Each man brought a dish or platter, and
a wooden spoon.

The old chief, whose hair was very grey, and his face covered with old
wounds and scars, received either in war or in hunting, having seated
himself, allowed a few minutes to elapse in silence, during which the
company sat motionless, gazing at their plates as if they half expected
them to become converted into beef-steaks. While they were seated thus,
another party of Indians, who had been absent on a hunting expedition,
strode rapidly but noiselessly into the enclosure, and seated themselves
in the circle. One of these passed close to Charley, and in doing so
stooped, took his hand, and pressed it. Charley looked up in surprise,
and beheld the face of his old friend Redfeather, gazing at him with an
expression in which were mingled affection, surprise, and amusement at
the peculiar alteration in his visage.

"Redfeather!" exclaimed Charley in delight, half rising; but the Indian
pressed him down.

"You must not rise," he whispered, and giving his hand another squeeze,
passed round the circle, and took his place directly opposite.

Having continued motionless for five minutes with becoming gravity, the
company began operations by proceeding to smoke out of the sacred stem--
a ceremony which precedes all occasions of importance, and is conducted
as follows:--The sacred stem is placed on two forked sticks to prevent
its touching the ground, as that would be considered a great evil. A
stone pipe is then filled with tobacco, by an attendant appointed
specially to that office, and affixed to the stem, which is presented to
the principal chief. That individual, with a gravity and _hauteur_ that
is unsurpassed in the annals of pomposity, receives the pipe in both
hands, blows a puff to the east (probably in consequence of its being
the quarter whence the sun rises), and thereafter pays a similar mark of
attention to the other three points. He then raises the pipe above his
head, points and balances it in various directions (for what reason and
with what end in view is best known to himself), and replaces it again
on the forks. The company meanwhile observe his proceedings with sedate
interest