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Show 256 SIOUX LODGE- BUFFALO- FEAST- SUPERSTITION. trader that might come among them for the purpose of traffic, and was accordingly called " The Trader's Lodge." It was made of twenty- six buffalo- hides, perfectly new, and white as snow, which, being sewed together without a wrinkle, were stretched over twenty-four new poles, and formed a conical tent of thirty feet diameter upon the ground, and thirty- five feet in height. After we had seated ourselves upon the skins provided for our accommodation, the pipe was duly passed around, and the feast was introduced. It consisted of a tin pan containing a parcel of dried buffalo- meat, which had been boiled in simple water, without salt, and suffered to get cold. This was brought in by an old squaw, and placed upon the ground before us, with a basin of water. Although we had not long before breakfasted heartily upon roasted rib and tender- loin, we were in courtesy obliged to partake of this rather lean fare with apparent satisfaction, notwithstanding that the pan containing it looked as if a thorough cleansing would most* materially have improved its appearance. We accordingly ate a morsel or - two, when, most fortunately, an old Indian came in, who, after taking a few whifls of the pipe which was passing round, reached out his hand for the pan, and very soon discussed the whole of its contents without the slightest scruple. The feast being finishe^, we rose to take our leave; when the chief courteously motioned us to remain, saying that they were haranguing the village in hopes of recovering our loBt property. Although I had not the least idea that we should ever see any of the stolen articles again, yet we continued to sit, listening to the bellman- like proclamation going on outside, until at length I explained to the chief that I could wait no longer; that my young men had gone forward, and that it was necessary I should overtake them; whereupon we shook hands and parted. He was a remarkably fine- looking man, of about forty- five, with a face denoting strong character, great firmness, and yet, as I thought, a kind heart. His influence with his people was said to be very great. One thing in his manner struck me with surprise: I observed, during our interview, that he always passed the pipe without smoking ; and upon afterward inquiring the reason of an omission so unusual, found that it was " against his medicine" to smoke in the presence of others, and that whenever he indulged in this Indian luxury, it was when alone. Returning to the lodge of the fat old chief, whose merry laugh and cheerful physiognomy denoted a great love of fun, and not a little of good eating, we soon found that |