My purpose, therefore, in writing this book, is to record the results of fifteen years’ close association with the old Blackfoot chiefs, medicine men, and common people. I have retained the narrative form of my original notes, in order to give as faithful a record as possible of their character, environment, and family life. W. McC. CONTENTS I. My Indian Guide 3 II. Crossing the Rocky Mountains 8 III. Our Camp near the Summit 15 IV. Home of the Scout 21 V. Stories by the Scout’s Mother-in-Law 32 VI. My Adoption by Mad Wolf 35 VII. Mad Wolf tells the Legend of the Beaver Bundle 42 VIII. I am given an Indian Name and made a Member of the Blackfoot Tribe 54 IX. Home of Mad Wolf 68 X. Marriage Customs 80 XI. The Head-Chief and his Wife 85 XII. Legend of the Smoking Star 92 XIII. My Night Experience with a Grizzly Bear 100 XIV. Indian Summer 109 XV. A Frontier Dance 119 XVI. Hunting Rocky Mountain Goats 124 XVII. The Blizzard 130 XVIII. Snow-Bound 139 XIX. The Mad Indian 144 XX. Coming of the Chinook 149 XXI. Beginning of Spring 153 XXII. Our Camp in the Mountains 158 XXIII. Our North Expedition 166 XXIV. Onesta and his Sacred Bear Spear 174 XXV. Camp of the Blood Indians 179 XXVI. Country of the North Piegans 184 XXVII. Camp of Brings-Down-the-Sun 191 XXVIII. Onesta gives his Crow Water Ceremony 199 XXIX. The Rival Medicine Men 206 XXX. Brings-Down-the-Sun tells about his Father 210 XXXI. Brings-Down-the-Sun tells about Men’s Societies 219 XXXII. Brings-Down-the-Sun tells about the Birds and the Stars 226 XXXIII. Legends of Star Boy and Scarface 232 XXXIV. Beginning of the Sun Dance 241 XXXV. Forming the Great Circle Camp 247 XXXVI. Life in the Circle Camp 253 XXXVII. Painted Tepees and Picture Writing 258 XXXVIII. A Native Doctor and his Patient 267