INDIAN MOURNING.

439

they allowed me to ride close up to them without leaving it; and I could have shot half a dozen of them with a pocket-pistol. The desolation of

the scene was rather increased than diminished by two small circular lodges, the apertures to which were closed, and from which proceeded the low wailing chant of Indian mourning.

This I observed to be a common custom among the Pawnees. After the rest of the village had been for several hours on the march, a mourning family would remain behind and sing this melancholy kind of dirge. I should think that it must be a very dangerous mode of lamentation while in these remote excursions; because, if any hostile war-party was hovering on the Pawnee trail, they would inevitably fall victims to the pursuers. But this risk may be the very reason for its being esteemed so great a tribute to the dead; or, possibly, they may trust to the distant out-posts of wellmounted warriors, with which the Pawnees always secure their rear and flanks.

The duration of mourning among this tribe seems very unfixed: the widow always mourns a year for her husband; but I have sometimes seen squaws moaning and chanting in the evening at a little distance from camp; and, on inquiry, have learnt that they were mourning for a relative, who had been some years dead.

About ten miles beyond this spot, we found the Pawnees encamped, and made our way straight

440

RECEPTION AT THE

to the lodge of Sâ-ní-tsă-rish; for V did not wish to trust himself again in that of Pat-ta-la-cha'rò, so importunate in his demands, and so insolent in pressing them, had that young chief become of late. Indeed, just before our former departure, he had refused to sell us a horse, although he had thirty, and we offered him the full complement of articles usually given in exchange; his temper was by no means improved by his having lost his two best horses in gambling at the game of the hoop and dart before described. So it was agreed that we would only stay till V was able to travel, and until we could procure fresh guides and another horse, in the place of the "wild beast."

The old chief received us in his usual kind manner; and, agreeably to Indian custom, testified not the least surprise at our return, nor curiosity to know what had so suddenly caused it, until we were seated, and chose to explain to him, by signs, that V had been, and still was, much hurt by a bad horse, and that our guide, his brother, had thought it "bad medicine" to proceed.

Sâ-ní-tsă-rish said he was sorry my white brother was hurt, and that one of his young men should try and find a horse in exchange for the wicked one. When he found that V- would not return to the lodge of Pa -ta-la-cha'rò, he shook his head, and looked somewhat grave and disconcerted. I knew that he had not room nor provisions for all our party, and that we ought not to put the old

man to much inconvenience, especially in drawing upon him the ill-will of the haughty young chief; I, therefore, told him that, if he would procure us the horse and two fresh guides, that we wished to go immediately; for V said he was well enough to sit upon a horse, though not to make long marches at first. I do not think that Sâ-ní-tsă-rish was well pleased with the conduct of his brother (who was, indeed, a timid foolish Indian), nor do I think that the latter was very well satisfied with his own performances; for as soon as we reached the camp, he had gone off to his lodge, and, during our stay, he neither came to us nor to his brother.

442

A COMMISSION.

CHAPTER XXII.

Commission intrusted to the Canadian Interpreter. Arrangement with two Indian Guides.-Pa-ta-la-cha'rò-Indications of his Malignity.-Leave the Pawnees.-Harangue of the Guide.-Dinner.-March resumed.-Fearful Storm.-Indian Superstition. Morning after the Storm.-Ramble in Search of Game. Antelope. A narrow Escape. An Indian Hunter Conversation with him.-Lose my Party.-Visit to an Indian Camp.-My Reception there.

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I NOW sent up to the Republican Band for the Canadian interpreter, and requested him to assist in changing the horse, and in hiring two guides for the fort, and asked him to secure, if possible, two bold active fellows, who would not turn back for a trifle. The first part of this commission he executed by giving me an animal of his own, which looked tolerably well at first, but a few days' experience showed him to be lame from a concealed disease in the foot. How he executed the second, the sequel will show. He brought me two young men; the elder was called a hunter and a warrior (having been out with a war-party); and they both said that they were willing to guide the white chief to his home, and to see his white brothers. I

was inclined favourably towards the elder of these young men, because he was a relative of our old chief. I then repeated carefully with the interpreter what I would give them when we reached the fort; so many blankets, knives, papers of paint, strings of wampum, pieces of cloth, a horse, &c.; - all this I wrote with my pencil, and read to them. They said, "Their white father was good; his hand was open; they would go to his home."

Having arranged this matter, we all slept under, or near, the lodge of Sâ-ní-tsă-rish. I found the interior of the lodge so close and offensive during some of these mild nights that I frequently spread my bearskin before it, where my brother, the chief's son, slept near me, and sung me to sleep with his low monotonous war-song. Indeed, a great many of the young Pawnee warriors prefer sleeping on the damp ground, wrapped in their buffalo-skin or blanket, to the interior of a lodge, which last they consider effeminate. In the morning I was rejoiced to find that V- was so much better as to declare himself able and anxious to escape, a second time, from the vermin nest, to which we had so unwillingly returned.

We then collected our packs of skins, and whatever few other articles we possessed; having also contrived to purchase a small additional supply of dried maize and buffalo meat, and began to load our horses before our old chief's lodge. While this