Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/270

THE TOBACCO EUCPARIST. 255 mlz^^ part osier bark or red-wood bark, two parts, one of which being put with One of tobacco." Tatarrax has filled the pipe and handed it to the Osage chief on his right, who lights it, and haviAg tav ken a few whiffs hands it back; then Tatarraz, with- out a word, &low;iy and with great dBliberation inhales the smoke. The ceremony is not conducted hke an ordinary cDnvivial party of smokers, puffing and blowihg it as does a locomotive, but with as much reverence as Christian folks partake of the Eu- charist. There is no hurry; and one tiling an In- dian has to' acquire; is, not to moisten the stetp, (as we are accustomed to doing). "On gaining a mouth- ful of smoke, (the lips are slightly parted-Hit either side or toward the corner of the mouth^ — and air is in- haled so as to mix with and pass down the throat into and litling the lungs. The slight sound of rushing air Y,-iiich is heard forms an essential part of Indian etiquette, for it is indiciitive of satisfaction and enjoy- ment. After a moment's suspense the contents of the lungs and air passages are exhaled, the smoke is- suing from the mouth as well as in two distinct vol- umes from the nostrils." After the chief has taken several draws he hands it to the next man on the left (always left), who goes through the same performance until it passes around the circle, and no conversation is permitted except on the business or compact, then in few sentences and in whispers. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Coronado pre- sents a number of presents to the chiefs, which ter- minated the meeting very happily. Then business is taken up. The commander wishes to go north to fur-