modern Indian mode of exhaling the fumes of the tobacco, by which so
small a quantity suffices to produce the full narcotic effects of the
favorite weed. They would rather seem to confirm the indications
derived from the other sources, of an essential difference between the
ancient smoking usages of Central America and of the mound-builders,
and those which are still maintained in their primeval integrity
among the Indians of the North West.

Of the mound-builders Foster says:

"The mound-builders were well aware of the narcotic
properties of tobacco, a plant which indigenous to America,
and which since the discovery of the western continent has
been domesticated in every region of the earth where the
soil and climate are favorable to its cultivation. No habit
at this day, it may be said, is more universal or more
difficult to eradicate than that of smoking. With the
mound-builder tobacco was the greatest of luxuries; his
solace in his hours of relaxations, and the choicest
offering he could dedicate to the Great Spirit. Upon his
pipe he lavished all the skill he possessed, in the
lapidary's art.

"From the red stone of the quarry
With his hand he broke a fragment
Moulded it into a pipe head
Shaped and fashioned it with figures."

Many of these pipes are sculptured from the most obdurate stones and
display great delicacy of workmanship. The features of animals are so
truthfully cut that often there is no difficulty in their
identification, and even the plumage of birds is delineated by curved
or straight lines which show a close adherence to nature. The bowl and
stem piece wrought from a single block, are as accurately drilled as
they could be at this day, by the lapidary's art. Both the War pipe
and Peace pipe are the most sacred and the most highly valued of all
the various kinds.

[Illustration: Peace pipe.]

"The calumet, or pipe of peace, ornamented with the war
eagles quill, is a sacred pipe, and never used on any other
occasion than that of peace making, when the chief brings it
into treaty, and unfolding the many bandages which are
carefully kept around it, has it ready to be mutually smoked
by the chiefs, after the terms of the treaty are agreed
upon, as the means of solemnizing it; which is done by
passing the sacred stem to each chief, who draws one breath
of smo