e a more exciting spectacle
than that of the war dance among the Sioux. It exhibits Indian manners
on the approach of war. As, among civilized people, soldiers are
raised either by recruiting or other means; so, among the Indians,
something like recruiting prevails. The red pipe is sent through the
tribe, and every one who draws a whiff up the stem thereby declares he
is willing to join the war party. The warriors then assemble together,
painted with vermilion and other colours, and dressed in their war
clothes, with their weapons and their war-eagle head-dresses.

_Austin._ What a sight that must be!

_Hunter._ When the mystery man has stuck up a red post in the ground,
and begun to beat his drum, the warriors advance, one after another,
brandishing their war-clubs, and striking the red post a violent blow,
while the mystery man sings their death-song. When the warriors have
struck the post, they blacken their faces, and all set to dancing
around it. The shrill war-whoop is screamed aloud, and frantic
gestures and frightful yells show, but too plainly, that there will be
very little mercy extended to the enemy that falls into their hands.

_Brian._ That war dance would make me tremble.

_Hunter._ The Mandan boys used to assemble at the back of their
village, every morning, as soon as the sun was in the skies, to
practise sham fighting. Under the guidance and direction of their
ablest and most courageous braves and warriors, they were instructed
in all the mysteries of war. The preparations, the ambush, the
surprise, the combat and the retreat, were made familiar to them. Thus
were they bred up from their youth to delight in warfare, and to long
for opportunities of using their tomahawks and scalping-knives against
their foes.

When you next come to see me, I will give you an account of the cruel
customs of the mystery lodge of the Mandans; with the hope that it
will increase your abhorrence of cruelty and bloodshed, render you
more than ever thankful for the blessings of peace, and more anxious
to extend them all over the earth. The hardest of all lessons now, to
a red man, is, as I have before intimated, to forgive his enemies; but
when, through Divine mercy, his knowledge is extended, and his heart
opened to receive the truths of the gospel, he will be enabled to
understand, to love, and to practise the injunction of the Saviour,
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and