The women must go into the forest to cut poles for their wigwams.
Before starting on the hunt the chief called a council.
The council was opened by a prayer to the Great Spirit thanking him for the safety of this friendly Indian tribe and asking that, with the help of the Great Spirit, they might have a fine hunt. The Indian men smoked their pipes in silence.
When the chief had finished speaking, the men arose and clasping hands, they danced in a circle, chanting a song as they danced.
It was a song of sadness, to which their feet kept perfect time.
While the Indian men were in council the squaws were getting the food ready for the hunt.
Many corn cakes must be made so that the men need not start out hungry.
How quickly they made the corn flour into a thick paste and pressed it into cakes! Then they threw the cakes into boiling water.
A MORTAR FOR POUNDING CORN