Dance of the CALUMET, is a solemn rite among the Indians on various occasions. They dare not wash themselves in rivers in the beginning of summer, nor taste of the new fruits, without performing it; and the same ceremony always confirms a peace or precedes a war. It is performed in the winter time in their cabins, and in summer in the open fields. For this purpose they choose a spot among trees to shade them from the heat of the sun, and lay in the middle
a large mat, as a carpet, setting upon it the monitor, or god, of the chief of the company. On the right hand of this image they place the calumet, as their great deity, erecting around it a kind of trophy with their arms. Things being thus disposed, and the hour of dancing come, those who are to sing take the most honourable seats under the shade of the trees. The company is then ranged round, every one, before he sits down, saluting the monitor, which is done by blowing upon it the smoke of their tobacco. Each person next receives the calumet in rotation, and holding it with both hands, dances to the cadence of the vocal music, which is accompanied with the beating of a sort of drum. During this exercise, he gives a signal to one of their warriors, who takes a bow, arrow, and axe, from the trophies already mentioned, and fights him; the former defending himself with the calumet only, and both of them dancing all the while. This mock engagement being over, he who holds the calumet makes a speech, in which he gives an account of the battles he has fought, and the prisoners he has taken, and then receives a cloak, or some other present, from the chief of the ball. He then resigns the calumet to another, who, having acted a similar part, delivers it to a third, who afterwards gives it to his neighbour, till at last the instrument returns to the person that began the ceremony, who presents it to the nation invited to the feast, as a mark of their friendship, and a confirmation of their alliance, when this is the occasion of the entertainment.