N^o 7

grow till it reaches their knees, – that is on one side of the head, and they take as much pains to keep it short on the other Side, lest this lock which hangs down on one Side over under their shoulder should come to meet any violence; when they intend to become intoxicated they coil it like a cable on the top of their head which gives them a very uncouth aspect. That this ridiculous custom is not peculiar to the assiniboines; the Crees follow it as much as they do. These people, Assiniboines, generally winter together in large Camps, and make what the French call Parcs, an inclosure of wood in the form of a fence and circular, into which they drive whole herds of Buffalo.

This seems to be an antient custom amongst all the Indians inhabiting the plains, being a method that all travellers through these parts Speak of, and which they want neither powder or Ball to execute. The night previous to their Sending for the Buffalo, two or more young men make themselves ready by a harangue the chief

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