and reconciliation take place, where any differences have occurred,
and a promise on the part of the aggressor or to try to do better for the
future; which done, the council then assembled forgive them.

They then institute a dance round or near a wooden image, which
stands a little distance from the Chief's door, being formed of a huge
block of wood into the similitude of a man, and artfully painted; em-
bellished with skin, handkerchiefs, fine ribands, and feathers of a va-
riety of colours. Both sexes join promiscuously in the dance - two
men being seated near the feet of the image, make music by pounding
on a skin drawn over the mouth of a kettle, or some other vessel, the
sound of which has some resemblance to that of a drum. As they
move round in a circle, each one has a spoon, ladle, or some other in-
strument in the left hand, and frequently give a frightful halloo or
scream. The men are all naked from the waist up, and their bodies
painted a variety of hues. They have also various kind of trinkets
suspended from their ears and noses, and abundance of ornaments, such
as belt and deer's hoofs strung like beads, fastened about their legs,
which make a great rattle during the process of the dance.

After a day pent at this general rendezvous, they divide into smaller
companies, men and women apart, and keep up the dance in each
house in the town. These dancing companies are preceded by two
men appointed for the purpose, who are dressed in the most frightful
manner imaginable, being covered with bear skins, and a bag of ashes
tied round their middle, behind them, with a hole to suffer the ashes to
fly about as they move. Their faces are covered with a large painted
mask, having a high mane on the crown, made of long coarse horse
hair standing almost erect, and large eyes encircled with a flame-co-
loured ring. The mouth is open, and shows their own teeth, with
which they grin in a terrific manner, and their hands are blackened so
as to leave the marks on every person they lay them on. They carry
the shell of a mud tortoise, which has been dried for the purpose, with
a stick thrust through it, which stretches the neck and large head to
their full extent, and inside of the shell are a quantity of pebbles, with
which they make a wonderful rattle.

These men go from house to house, and rub this shell on the sides
and up and down the door posts. They also frequently enter into the
house, but say nothing, nor do any injury. As they travel about, if
they meet with any person, male or female, in their way, they pursue
them - those who turn and receive them in a friendly way, they shake
hands with, but say nothing - but it is rather expected that many
should run as if terrified; these are pursued, and if overtaken before
they get into a house, are laid hold of, and blackened with their hands,