The permanent Omawhaw village is situate on Omawhaw Creek, within two and a half miles of the Missouri river, and about one hundred miles by water above Engineer Cantonment, and seventy by land. It consists of dirt lodges, similar to those of the Konzas already described. Omawhaw creek takes its rise from the bluffs in the rear of the village, and discharges into the river at the distance of seven miles below. About two miles from the town it dilates into a large pond, which is filled with luxuriant {182} aquatic plants, amongst which the zizania and nelumbium, are particularly worthy of note both for their beauty and importance for economical purposes. A fertile prairie, of the length of four miles by one mile and three quarters wide, is outspread in front of the village, and is bounded near the river by a narrow line of timber. The inhabitants occupy their village not longer than five months in the year. In April they arrive from their hunting excursions, and in the month of May they attend to their horticultural interests, and plant maize, beans, pumpkins, and water-melons, besides which they cultivate no other vegetable. They also at this season dress the bison skins, which have been procured during the winter hunt, for the traders, who generally appear for the purpose of obtaining them. The young men, in the mean time, are employed in hunting within the distance of seventy or eighty miles around for beaver, otter, deer, musk-rat, elk, &c. When the trading and planting occupations of the people are terminated, and provisions begin to fail them, which occurs generally in June, the chiefs assemble a council for the purpose of deliberating upon the further arrangements necessary to be made. This assembly decrees a feast to be prepared on a certain day, to which all the distinguished men of the nation are to be invited, and one of their number is appointed to have it prepared in his own lodge. On the return of this individual to his dwelling, he petitions his squaws to have pity on him, and proceed to clean and adjust the apartment, to spread the mats and skins for seats, and to collect wood and bring water for cooking. He requests them to provide three or four large kettles, to prepare the maize, and to kill their fattest dog for a feast. The squaws generally murmur at this last proposition, being reluctant to sacrifice these animals, which are so serviceable to them in carrying burdens, like the dogs of the oberrating Tartars; but when they are informed {183} of the honour that awaits them, of feasting all the distinguished men, they undertake their duties with pride and satisfaction.