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second sheet, p. 9. lived near, on hearing the war whoop, immediately raised it again, and started for the place of rendezvous. Others again, hearing this second war whoop immediately gave it to others still farther off, and thus almost instant notice was given through the whole town. The warriors through the town having assembled, the great warrior and his companion told them they had determined to comfort those who were mourning for their friend, killed by such or such a nation. The great warrior then dispatched messengers to all the towns in the country, that is, to each war chief. Each chief on receiving the information consulted his fellow next in office and, being agreed, took the rattling gourd, raised the war whoop, sung the war song &c. taking the same measures to collect the warriors of their town that the two first had done. And immediately on the arrival of their warriors, started for the place of rendezvous. Thus with every town, and the entire army was almost immediately collected. The seven counsellors of the great war chief then selected a war priest, or stated who the war priest was who was to officiate for the first company, or that under the immediate devotion of the great war chief. These seven counsellors were called Ka tu gi a ni gu sta. The seven counsellors who from each town chose, or might choose, a war priest from among their own war priests to accompany them. The war priests being specified, a messenger was sent to each, who should, after carrying him the notice, become his assistant during the war.
The messengers, on notifying the war priests. and receiving an assurance of their willingness to officiate during the war, went to a place or places where dressed deer skins were deposited and each took seven to his respective war priest. The priest then took his stone and wrapped it up in the midst of the seven deer skins, and gave them to his assistant to carry, which he himself carried the holy fire, in the second vessel made for the purpose, which for the present we will call the sacred ark. It was made of clay. and burnt as any Indian earthen ware. It was generally six or eight inches long, shaped like a trough, with a lid to cover it. It had handles at each end. It was however sometimes made like a pot with handles on each side. The war priests having arrived, a day and night was devoted to fasting and watchfulness. During this time no one could take any thing from the hand of another, but whatever was to be conveyed from one to another, must be laid on the ground, and taken from there. On this day the seven counsellors