Many of the Indians to be engaged in the performance were entirely without protection from the severe cold--their bodies being painted and their heads adorned with their choicest ornaments, but throwing aside even their blankets, according to the laws of the ceremony.

The Indians continued to assemble.

At eleven o'clock, the dance commenced.

Although I could not faithfully describe, yet I never can forget the scene.

The dark lowering sky--the mantle of snow and ice thrown over all the objects that surrounded us, except the fierce human beings who were thus, under Heaven's arch for a roof, about to offer to their deities a solemn worship.
Then the music commenced, and the horrid sounds increased the wildness of the scene; and the contortions of the medicine man, as he went round and round, made his countenance horrible beyond expression.