- cit A GENERAL HISTORY

in various direftions, he repofes it on the forks: he then makes a {peech

to explain the defign of their being called together, which concludes
with an acknowledgment of paft mercies, and a prayer for the continu-
ance of them, from the Mafter of Life. He then fits down, and the whole
company declare their approbation and thanks by uttering the word ho /
with an emphatic prolongation of the laft letter. The Michiniwais then
takes up the pipe and holds it to the mouth of the officiating perfon,
who, after fmoking three whiffs out of it, utters a fhort prayer, and then
goes round with it, taking his courfe from Eaft to Weft, to every perfon
prefent, who individually fays fomething to him on the occafion: and
thus the pipe is generally {moked out; when, after turning it three or
four times round his head, he drops it downwards, and replaces it in
its original fituation. He then returns the company thanks for their
attendance, and wifhes them, as well as the whole tribe, health and long
life.

Thefe fmoking rites precede every matter of great importance, with
more or lefs ceremony, but always with equal folemnity. The utility of

them will appear from the following relation.

If a chief is anxious to know the difpofition of his people towards him,
or if he wifhes to fettle any difference between them, he announces his
intention of opening his medicine-bag and {moking in his facred flem;
and no man who entertains a grudge againft any of the party thus aflem-
bled can fmoke with the facred ftem; as that ceremony diflipates all dif-

ferences, and is never violated.