again after death. When any warrior died, they buried his weapons with his body, that he might use them again in the happy hunting-grounds of the blest in heaven. Their religious services were strange and noisy, with peculiar songs and dances; and they had “medicine-men,” who were something between priests and physicians, and claimed to cure by magic spells, as well as by the simple remedies they knew. The Indians had no written language, but had ways of communicating to one another by signs on rocks and trees. They had no money, but used wampum-beads for coins; and these were so neatly made, and so convenient, that the first European settlers used them also, at the rate of four black beads, or eight white beads, for a penny. They had belts made with this wampum, which were used to record all important events in the history of the tribe; and treaties were thus kept in memory for years.

Schoolcraft gives a copy of a drawing made by two Indian guides on a piece of birch bark. It was placed upon an upright pole, for the purpose of informing their comrades that a party of fourteen white men and two Indians had encamped at that place.

The eight figures in the upper row, with hats on, and with muskets beside them, represent as many white soldiers. In the second row, No. 1 represents the officer in command, with a sword; No. 2, with a book, the secretary; No. 3, with a hammer, the geologist; 4, 5, 6, attendants, one of these being the interpreter. Nos. 7 and 8 represent the two guides, who are distinguished as Indians by being without hats. Figure 11 represents a prairie-hen, and 12 a tortoise, which had been eaten by the party. Figures 13, 14, 15, indicate that there

were three separate fires. The inclination of the pole showed the direction of the proposed march, and three notches in the wood showed that it was to be a threedays' expedition.

The Indians had great courage, self-control, and patience. They were grave and dignified in their manners, on important occasions: in their councils they were courteous to one another, and discussed all important

questions at great length. They were often kind and generous, and sometimes even forgiving; but they generally held sternness to be a virtue, and forgiveness a weakness. They were especially cruel to captives, putting them to death with all manner of tortures, in which women took an active part. It was the custom among them for women to do most of the hard work, in order that the bodies of the men might be kept supple and active for the pursuits of the chase and war.

When employed on these pursuits, the Indian men seemed incapable of fatigue; but in the camp, or in travelling, the women carried the burdens, and, when a hunter had carried a slain deer on his shoulders for a long distance, he would throw it down within sight of the village, that his squaw might go and bring it in.

Most of the Indian tribes lived in a state of constant warfare with one another. When there was a quarrel between tribes, and war seemed ready to break out, strange ceremonies were used. Some leading chief would paint his body black from head to foot, and would hide himself in the woods or in a cavern. There he would fast and pray, and call upon the Great Spirit; and would observe his dreams, to see if they promised good or evil. If he could dream of a great war-eagle hovering before him, it would be a sign of triumph. After a time he would come forth from the woods, and return among his people. Then he would address them, summon them to war, and assure them that the Great Spirit was on their side. Then he would bid the warriors to a feast at his wigwam. There they would find him no longer painted in black, but in bright and gaudy colors, called "war-paint." The guests would be also dressed in paint and feathers, and would seat themselves in a circle. Then wooden trenchers, containing the flesh of dogs, would be placed before them; while the chief would sit smoking his pipe, and would not yet break his long and exhausting fast.

After the feast, the war-dance would follow, perhaps at night, amid the blaze of fires and lighted pine-knots. A painted post would be driven into the ground; and

the crowd would form a wide circle round it. The war-chief would leap into the open space, brandishing his hatchet, and would chant his own deeds and those of his fathers, acting out all that he described, and striking at the post as if it were an enemy. Warrior after warrior would follow, till at last the whole band

would be dancing, shouting, and brandishing their weapons, striking and stabbing at the air, and filling the forest with their yells.

Much of the night would pass in this way. In the morning the warriors would leave the camp in single file, still decorated with paint and feathers and ornaments; and, as they entered the woods, the chief

would fire his gun, and each in turn would do the same. Then they would halt near the village, would take off their ornaments and their finery, and would give all these things to the women, who had followed them for this purpose. Then the warriors would go silently and stealthily through the forest to the appointed place of attack. Much of their skill consisted in these silent approaches, and in surprises and stratagems, and long and patient watchings. They attached no shame to killing an unarmed enemy, or to private deceit and treachery, though to their public treaties they were always faithful. They were desperately brave, and yet they saw no disgrace in running away when there was no chance of success. Their weapons were, at first, the bow-and-arrow, and a sort of hatchet, called a tomahawk ;" and they had shields of bison-hide, and sometimes breastplates of twigs interwoven with cord. Af terwards they learned the use of fire-arms from the whites, and became skilful with these weapons, losing much of their skill with the bow-and-arrow. Some tribes built strong forts, with timber walls, palisades, banks, and ditches. In these forts they had magazines of stones to hurl down upon those who attacked them and there were gutters by which to pour down streams of water, should the fort be set on fire.

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When first visited by Europeans, the Indians were said to be already diminishing in number, through war and pestilence; and they have diminished ever since, till many tribes have wholly disappeared. At first they were disposed to be friendly with the white men; but quarrels soon arose, each side being partly to blame. The savages often burned villages, carried away cap