[253] See Plate 55, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv, and p. [285] for illustration of Mandan letter in hieroglyphics.—Ed.
[254] The dentalium shells were by intertribal exchange brought from the Pacific Ocean; the Mandan prized them so highly that white traders began to import them, and Matthews reports (Hidatsa, p. 28) that ten of these shells would buy a superior buffalo robe.—Ed.
[255] See the amusing description by Catlin (North American Indians, i, pp. 197, 198) of a horse-race in which he participated.—Ed.
[256] The following account by Maximilian of the societies or bands among the Mandan is the most complete description by any early traveller, of these peculiar social organizations. J. O. Dorsey, "Omaha Sociology," in United States Bureau of Ethnology Report, 1881-82, pp. 342-355, classifies these societies or corporations according to their purpose—as those organized for sacred ends, for bravery or war, or simply for social pleasure. According to Maximilian's account these purposes would appear to be commingled, and several of the bands to have been organized for general police and governmental purposes.—Ed.
[257] See our volume xxiv.—Ed.
[258] See p. [113] for badge of Raven band.—Ed.
[259] See Plate 56, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.—Ed.
[260] See Plate 51, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.—Ed.
[261] See account of buffalo dance of the Omaha (Dorsey, op. cit., in note 256, pp. 347, 348), also in James's Long's Expedition, our volume xv, p. 127. This is not the same ceremony as that intended to attract the buffalo, or the buffalo-medicine dance, for which see post.—Ed.
[262] A similar dance was practiced among the Omaha, by whom it was known as the grizzly bear dance. See Dorsey, op. cit., p. 349.—Ed.