he First People Hobowakan, the calumet."

Thus the First People and the mighty people with many villages on the
shore of the lake smoked together the pipe of council. So there was
peace.

[Illustration: TATTOOING, SHOWING CONVENTIONAL DESIGN OF THE PEACE
PIPE

_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]

[Illustration: BULL BOAT

Made of the hide of the buffalo bulls. The only boat used by the
plains Indians.

_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]

THE SACRED POLE

_Omaha_

A young man who had been wandering came back to his village. When he
reached his home he said, "Father, I have seen a wonderful tree." Then
he told his father about it. The old man was silent because all was
not yet settled between the tribes. The Cheyenne, the Arikara, the
Omaha, Ponca, and Iowa were having a great council, so as to adopt
rules concerning the hunting of game, and of peace, and war.

After a while, the young man went to visit the tree. When he reached
home, he told his father again of it. The old man was silent, for the
chiefs were still holding their council. At last, when the council was
over and the rules decided upon, the old man sent for the chiefs. He
said, "My son has seen a wonderful tree. The Thunder Birds come and go
upon this tree. They make a trail of fire which leaves four paths on
the burnt grass that stretch towards the Four Winds. When the Thunder
Birds alight upon the tree, it bursts into flame. The fire mounts to
the top. The tree stands burning, but no one can see the fire except
at night."

When the chiefs heard this tale, they sent runners to see what this
tree might be. The runners came back and told the same story. In the
night they had seen the tree burning as it stood. Then all the people
held a council as to what this might mean. The chiefs said, "We shall
run for it. Put on your ornaments and prepare as if for battle."

The warriors painted themselves as if for war. They put on their
ornaments. They set out for the tree, which stood near a lake. They
ran as if it were a race to attack the enemy. All the men ran. A Ponca
was the first to reach the tree and he struck it as if it were an
enemy.

Then they cut the tree down. Four men, walking in a straight line,
carried it on their shoulders to the village. The chiefs for four
nights sang the songs made in honor of the tree. They held a council
about the tree. A tent was made for it, and it was set up in the
circle of lodg