thing he
had to the parents of the murdered man.

The parents were allowed no voice whatever in the discussion which
followed, for they were regarded as incompetent judges, under the
circumstances. It was finally decreed by the council that the man's
life should be spared, but that he must be exposed to the indignity of
a public whipping, and resign all his earthly possessions to the parents
of his victim. This sentence was carried into effect.

In our nomadic life there were a few unwritten laws by which our people
were governed. There was a council, a police force, and an executive
officer, who was not always the chief, but a member of the tribe
appointed to this position for a given number of days. There were also
the wise old men who were constantly in attendance at the council lodge,
and acted as judges in the rare event of the commission of a crime.

This simple government of ours was supported by the issue of little
sticks about five inches long. There were a hundred or so of these, and
they were distributed every few days by the police or soldiers, who kept
account of them. Whoever received one of these sticks must return it
within five or ten days, with a load of provisions. If one was held
beyond the stipulated time the police would call the delinquent warrior
to account. In case he did not respond, they could come and destroy his
tent or take away his weapons. When all the sticks had been returned,
they were reissued to other men; and so the council lodge was supported.

It was the custom that no man who had not distinguished himself upon
the war-path could destroy the home of another. This was a necessary
qualification for the office of an Indian policeman. These policemen
must also oversee the hunt, lest some individuals should be well
provided with food while others were in want. No man might hunt
independently. The game must be carefully watched by the game scouts,
and the discovery of a herd reported at once to the council, after which
the time and manner of the hunt were publicly announced.

I well recall how the herald announced the near approach of buffaloes.
It was supposed that if the little boys could trip up the old man while
going his rounds, the success of the hunt was assured. The oftener he
was tripped, the more successful it would be! The signal or call for
buffaloes was a peculiar whistle. As soon as the herald appeared, all
the boys would give the whistle and follow in crowds after the