652 LIFE ON T&JS MISSISSIPPI.
He then laid aside his hunting-dress and accoutrements, and soon after
both his feet began to turn black, so that he could not move. Still he
directed his sister where to place the arrows, that she might always have
food. The inflammation continued to increase, and had now reached his first
rib; and he said: * Sister, my end is near. You must do as I tell you. You
see my medicine-sack, and my war-club tied to it. It contains all my medi-
cines, and my war-plumes, and my paints of all colours. As soon as the in-
flammation reaches my breast, you will take my war-club. It has a sharp
point, and you will cut off my head. "When it is free from my body, take it,
place its neck in the sack, which you must open at one end. Then hang it
up in its former place. Do not forget my bow and arrows. One of the last
you will take to procure food. The remainder, tie in my sack, and then hang
it up, so that I can look towards the door. Now and then I will speak to
you, but not often.' His sister again promised to obey.
In a little time his breast was affected. ' Now,' said he, 'take the club
and strike off my head/ She was afraid, but he told her to muster courage,
* Strike,' said he, and a smile was on his face. Mustering all her courage,
she gave the blow and cut off the head. ' Now,' said the head,' place me
where I told you,' And fearfully she obeyed it in all its commands. Be*
taining its animation, it looked around the lodge as usual, and it would com*
mand its sister to go in such places as it thought would procure for her the
flesh of different animal a she needed. One day the head said: ' The time is
not distant when I shall be freed from this situation, and I shall have to
undergo many sore evils. So the superior manito decrees, and I must bear
all patiently.' In this situation we must leave the head.
In a certain part of the country was a village inhabited by a numerous
and warlike band of Indians. In this village was a family of ten young men
—brothers. It was in the spring of the year that the youngest of these
blackened his face and fasted. His dreams were propitious. Having ended
his fast, he went secretly for his brothers at night, so that none in the village
could overhear or finfl out the direction they intended to go. Though their
drum was heard, yet that was a common occurrence. Having ended the
usual formalities, he told how favourable his dreams were, and that he had ,
called them together to know if they would accompany him in a war excur-
sion. They all answered they would. The third brother from the eldest,
noted for his oddities, coming up with his war-club when his brother had
ceased speaking, jumped up. i Yes/ said he,' I will go, and this will be the
way I.will treat those I am going to fight;' and he struck the post in the ,
centre of the lodge, and gave a yell. The others spoke to him, saying:
* Sow, slow, Mudjikewis, when you are in other people's lodges.' So he sat
down. Then, in turn, they took the drum, and sang their songs, and closed
with & feast. The youngest told them not to whisper their intention to their