Volume 1

FILIAL AND PATERNAL REGARDS. 389
occasion, posted himself in front of the hut and uttered a
long oration, inviting everybody to the ceremony. Many
of our party accordingly took their seats on each side of
the stem, but not a Schian or Sioux came near us. The
singing recommenced, and continued for some time, after
which the secretaries rose up from their seats ; one of them,
taking up the stem, marched off with it, dancing as he went
to the drum and rattle, which the others sounded close
behind him. One of them carried on his back a bull's
head, whose nostrils and eyes were stuffed with hay. Next
came a young man leading three horses, and after him a
great crowd of our party, merely as spectators. They
directed their course to the tent of the Schian whom Le
Borgne intended to adopt, where the bearer of the stem
danced for a few moments. Then one of the elder Big
Bellies widened the door by pulling out the pegs from
above and below ; the three secretaries entered ; and, after
dancing before the intended son, who held down his head
in a very sullen manner, presented him with the stem and
rattle. At first he decUned it, nor would he accept it for
some time, but after a long conversation with his own
people, he at last took it in a careless manner, and apparently
much against his inclination. Le Borgne, who
sat in the tent during all this part of the ceremony, wrapped
up in an American flag, said not a word, but cast many a
sardonic grin at his adopted son. At its conclusion he
arose, and wrapped the flag around the adopted son, giving
into his hand the three cords which tied the three horses at
the door, which the Schian instantly handed to his wife.
Le Borgne then took him by one arm, and Chief of the
Wolves held him by the other; they thus raised him gently
from the ground, and conducted him to the medicine tent,
attended by the three secretaries with their music.
On their
arrival he was placed in the center, opposite the fathom
of red strouds, holding the stem in his right hand Le
;
Borgne was seated on his right hand, and Chief of the
Wolves on his left ; near them were the three secretaries,