.MTA1MQ.NzAzMTc

58 Offensive or voluntary war.

 In declaring the war, the great war chief, and his right hand man consulted together, and whatever They concluded the whole nation acceded to.  Their consultation however was little more than a mere expression of opinion.  Being seated together the great war chief, after stating some circumstances of the case, said to his fellow, It is my wish to engage in the war.  What is your opinion.  I also wish for war, replied his right hand man.  The great chief then arose, saying We will mourn (or give ourselves up) He then took a rattling gourd in his hand, went out into the yard, -- raised the war whoop, and commenced singing the following line, repeating it four times ri gi wea ne e shaking at the same time his rattling gourd.  Being in the back side of his door yard, he walked back and forth, frequently raising the war whoop, and singing the above line.  At length he went into his house, laid down his gourd and took his seat.  His fellow then arose, took the gourd, went through the same maneuvers, and took his seat.  The warriors living near heard the war whoop, and immediately sounded it again for their fellows who lived more remote, and started.  Others again hearing them, again raised the whoop themselves, and ran.  Thus the information spread almost immediately far & wide, that in a few minutes vast numbers had gathered about the house from all parts of the town.  The warriors being assembled, the great war chief arose and told them that it was now determined to comfort those who were still mourning for their friends who had been killed by such a nation, and whose blood had not been revenged.  Messengers were then dispatched to every war chief throughout all the towns in the nation.  Each war chief, on receiving the message, consulted his fellow, or the next in authority, in the same manner that the great war chief did at first, took the rattling gourd, walked the yard, raised the war whoop and in short they went through all the maneuvers of the first two; in order to gather the warriors of the town.  And on the arrival of the warriors, all marched under the direction of the town war chief & under officers.  Thus the whole nation strikeout were almost instantly at the place of rendezvous, that is, the house of the Great warrior. The seven counsellors of the great warrior, called Ka- tu gi a ni gu sta, decided which of the war priests