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Show Lewis and Clarl'e·s E:rpcdilion to On the south side, 'vhere a c1·owd of men, wowe came men and children were waiting to receive us. Captain Lewis went on shore and remained several hours, and observing that their disposition was fricn~ly we resolved to remain during the night to a dance, wh1ch tl1ey were preparing for ns. Calltains Lewis anll Clarke~ 'vho went on shore one after the other, were met on landmg by ten well dressed young men, who took them up in a robe highly decorated and carried them to a large council house, where they were placed on a dressed butfaloe sldu by tl:e side of the grand chief. The ball or council-room was in the shape . of three quarters of a circle, covered at the top and sitles with skins well dressed ancl sewed togctlwr. Under this shelter sat about seventy men, forming a cit·cle round the chief, before whom were lllaced a Spanish flag and the one we bad given them yesterday. This left a vacant cil·cle of about six feet diameter, in which the pipe of peace was raised on two forked sticks, about six or eight inches from the ground, and under it the down of the swan was scattered: a large tire, in which they were cooking proviaions, stood near, anll in the centre about four hundt·cd pounds of excellent buffaloe meat as a present for us. As soon as we were seated, an old man got up, and after approving what we had done, begged us to take pity on their unfortunate situation. 'fo this we replied with assurances of protection. After be had ceased, the great chief t·ose and dclivct·cd au harangue to the same effect: then with great solemnity ltc took some of the most delicate parts of the dog, which was coolied for the festival, and held it to the flag by way of sacrifice: this done, he hehl up the pipe of I>eacc, and first pointed it towards the heavens, then to the four quar· ters of the globe, ami then to the earth, made a short speech, lighted the pipe, and presentee\ it to us. We smoked, and he again harangued his people, after which the •·epast was served up to us. It consisted of the dog which they had just been cooking, this being a great dish among the Vp the .illissouri. S5 Sioux, and used on all festivals; to this were added, pemitigon, a dish made of buifaloc meat, dried or jerked, and then pounded and mixed raw with grease and a kind of grotmd potatoe, dressed like the prCJlaration of Indian corn called hominy, to which it is Jittlc inferior. Of all tlleSC luxuries which were Jlla~ed before us in platters with horn spoons, we took the pemitigon and the J>Otatoe, which we found good, but we could as yet partake but sparingly of the dog. We eat and smoked for an hour, when it became dark: every thing was then cleared away for the dance, a lal'ge fire being made in the centre of the house, giving at ouce light and warmth to the ballroom. The orchestra was composed of about ten men, who played on a sort of tambourinJ formed of skin stretched across a hoop; and made a jingling noise with a long stick to which the hoofs of deer and goats were hung; the third instrument was a small skin bag with pebbles in it: these, with five or six young men for the vocal part, made up the band. The women then came forward highly decorated; some with poles in their hands, on which were hung the scalps of their enemies; others with guns, speat•s or different trophies, taken in war by their husbands, br·others, or connexions. Having arranged themselves in two columns, one on each side of the fire, as soon as the music began they danced towards each other till they met in the centre, when the rattles were · shaken, and they all shouted and returned back to their places. 'rhcy have no step, but shuffle along the ground; nor does the music appear to be any thing mor·e than a confusion of noises, distinguished only by hard or gentle blows upon the buffaloe skin: the song is perfectly extemporaneous. In the pauses of the dance, any man of the company comes forward and recites, in a sort of low guttural tone, some little story or incident, which is either martial or ludicrous; or, as was the case this evening, voluptuous and indecent; this is taken up by the orchestra and the dancers, who repeat it ill a highe1· strain and dance to H. |