Original - North Central Michigan College Library

atifcThe master of the family was the master ofthe feast. Still in the dark he asked every oneby turn for his dish and put into each twoboiled ears of maize. The whole being served,he began to speak. In his discourse, whichlasted half an hour, he called upon the manesof his deceased relations and friends, beseechingthem to be present to assist him in thechase, and to partake of the food which he hadprepared for them. When he had ended weproceeded to eat our maize, which we did withoutother noise than what was occasioned byour teeth. The maize was not half boiled, andit took me an hour to consume my share. I62was requested not to break the spikes, asthis would be displeasing to the departedspirits of their friends.When all was eaten Wawatam made anotherspeech, with which the ceremony ended. Anew fire was kindled with fresh sparks fromflint and steel; and the pipes being smoked, theburied in a hole made inspikes were carefully the ground for that purpose within the lodge.This done, the whole family began a dance,Wawatam singing and beating a drum.Thedance continued the greater part of the night,to the great pleasure of the lodge. The night ofthe feast was that of the firstday of November.On the twentieth of December we took anaccount of the produce of our hunt and found62The grains of maize, called also Indian corn, growin compact cells round a spike. Author.