Previously to undertaking a national expedition against an enemy, the sacred shell is consulted as an oracle. For this purpose, the magi of the band seat themselves around the great medicine lodge, the lower part of which is then thrown up like curtains, and the exterior envelop is carefully removed from the mysterious parcel, that the shell may receive air. A portion of the tobacco, consecrated by being long suspended to the skin mats, or coverings of the shell, is now taken and distributed to the magi, who fill their pipes with it, to smoke to the great medicine. During this ceremony, an individual occasionally inclines his head forward, and listens attentively to catch some sound which he expects to issue from the shell. At length some one imagines that he hears a sound like that of a forced expiration of air from the lungs, or like the noise made by the report of a gun at a great distance. This is considered as a favourable omen, and the nation prepare for the projected expedition with a confidence of success. But, on the contrary, should no sound be perceived, the issue of the expedition would be considered doubtful. 2. _Enk-ka-sa-ba._—This band will not eat red maize. They ascribe to their family the greatest antiquity, and declare that their first man emerged {49} from the water, with an ear of red maize in his hand. The principal chief is Ishkatappe. 3. _Wa-sa-ba-eta-je_; or, those who do not touch bears.—This band refrains from eating the flesh of bears. 4. _Ka-e-ta-je_, or those who do not touch turtles or tortoises. 5. _Wa-jinga-e-ta-je_, or those who do not touch any kind of bird, excepting the war-eagle. 6. _Hun-guh._—This band does not eat white cranes, as the down of that bird is their medicine. 7. _Kon-za._—This band must not touch the green clay, or even verdigrise, both of which are used as pigments by the other bands, for ornamenting their persons. 8. _Ta-pa-taj-je._—This band must not touch deers' heads, neither must they wear deer-skin mockasins. Many of the individuals of this band are partially gray haired. This change of the hair, which they consider as a deformity, is attributed to a violation of the abovementioned laws prescribed by their medicine. The second division, or tribe _Ishtasunda_, is subdivided into five bands. 1. _Ta-pa-eta-je._—This band does not touch bison heads. 2. _Mon-eka-goh-ha_, or the earth-makers.—Of this band was the celebrated Black Bird. They are not forbidden the use of any aliment; and are said to have originated the present mode of mourning, by rubbing the body with whitish clay. 3. _Ta-sin-da_, or the bison tail.—This band does not eat bison calves, in the first year of the age of that animal.