I have painted him at full length, with a head-dress made entirely of ermine skins and horns of the buffalo. This custom of wearing horns beautifully polished and surmounting the head-dress, is a very curious one, being worn only by the bravest of the brave; by the most extraordinary men in the nation. Of their importance and meaning, I shall say more in a future epistle. When he stood for his picture, he also held a lance and two “medicine-bags” in his hand; of lances I have spoken,—but “medicine-bags” and “medicine” will be the text for my next Letter. Besides the chiefs and warriors above-named, I have also transferred to my canvass the “looks and very resemblance” of an aged chief, who combines with his high office, the envied title of mystery or medicine-man, _i. e._ doctor—magician—prophet—soothsayer—jongleur—and high priest, all combined in one person, who necessarily is looked upon as “Sir Oracle” of the nation. The name of this distinguished functionary is Wun-nes-tou, the white buffalo (+plate+ 15); and on his left arm he presents his mystery-drum or tambour, in which are concealed the hidden and sacred mysteries of his healing art. And there is also In-ne-o-cose, the iron-horn (+plate+ 16), at full length, in a splendid dress, with his “medicine-bag” in his hand; and Ah-kay-ee-pix-en, the woman who strikes many (+plate+ 17), in a beautiful dress of the mountain-goats’ skin, and her robe of the young buffalo’s hide. [Illustration: 15] [Illustration: 17] [Illustration: 16] LETTER—No. 6. MOUTH OF YELLOW STONE, _UPPER MISSOURI_. Now for medicines or mysteries—for doctors, high-priests, for hocus pocus, witchcraft, and animal magnetism! In the last Letter I spoke of Pe-toh-pee-kiss (the eagle ribs), a Blackfoot brave, whose portrait I had just painted at full length, in a splendid dress. I mentioned also, that he held two medicine-bags in his hand; as they are represented in the picture; both of them made of the skins of otters, and curiously ornamented with ermine, and other strange things. I must needs stop here—my painting and every thing else, until I can explain the word “_medicine_,” and “_medicine-bag_;” and also some _medicine operations_, which I have seen transacted at this place within a few days past. “Medicine” is a great word in this country; and it is very necessary that one should know the meaning of it, whilst he is scanning and estimating the Indian character, which is made up, in a great degree, of mysteries and superstitions. The word medicine, in its common acceptation here, means _mystery_, and nothing else; and in that sense I _shall_ use it very frequently in my Notes on Indian Manners and Customs.