University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XX.

STAY AT FORT MC KENZIE, FROM AUGUST 9TH TO SEPTEMBER 14TH.

Fort Mc Kenzie, at the time of our arrival, was inhabited by people of several nations, and
pains were taken to occupy the motley multitude in various ways. Handicraftsmen, of various
kinds, were set to work, and our hunters, among whom were two Spaniards from the neighbourhood
of Santa Fe, were sent out whenever circumstances permitted. Yet all these people were
not sufficiently employed, and measures were, therefore, taken to reduce the number. Having
made our arrangements on the first day of our arrival, and viewed the Indian camp, with its
many dogs, and old dirty brown leather tents, we were invited, on the following day, together with
Mr. Mitchell, to a feast, given by the Blackfoot chief, Mehkskéhmé-Sukahs (the iron shirt). We
proceeded to a large circle in the middle of the camp, enclosed with a kind of fence of boughs
of trees, which contained part of the tents, and was designed to confine the horses during the
night, for the Indians are so addicted to horse stealing that they do not trust each other. The
hut of the chief was spacious; we had never before seen so handsome a one; it was full fifteen
paces in diameter, and was very clean and tastefully decorated. We took our seats, without
ceremony, on buffalo skins, spread out on the left hand of the chief, round the fire, in the centre
of the tent, which was enclosed in a circle of stones, and a dead silence prevailed. Our host was
a tall, robust man, who at this time had no other clothes than his breechcloth; neither women

nor children were visible. A tin dish was set before us, which contained dry grated meat, mixed
with sweet berries, which we ate with our fingers, and found very palatable. After we had
finished, the chief ate what was left in the dish, and took out of a bag a chief's scarlet uniform,
with blue facings and yellow lace, which he had received from the English, six red and black
plumes of feathers, a dagger with its sheath, a coloured pocket-handkerchief, and two beaver
skins, all which he laid before Mr. Mitchell as a present, who was obliged to accept these things
whether he liked or not, thereby laying himself under the obligation of making presents in return,
and especially a new uniform. When the chief began to fill his pipe, made of green tale, we rose
and retired (quite in the Indian fashion) in silence, and without making any salutations. We
crept through the small door, which was besieged by numerous dogs, and stepped over the foremost,
who grinned at us maliciously. Mr. Mitchell was immediately invited to three or four
similar feasts, an honour which can only suit an Indian stomach. In the afternoon the engagés
of the fort gave us what they call baptism; namely, a welcome on our happy arrival in this
remote wilderness by firing several salutes in the court-yard of the fort, for which it is usual to
give them something to drink, or else a present. Our entertainment for the evening was the
noise of the drum of the Indian camp, which is employed not only to drive the evil spirit out of
the sick, but in their dances and other amusements, and is, therefore, heard almost every day and
every hour. We were likewise much entertained by the antics of three young bears (Ursus ferox),
which ran about in the court-yard. Another very pretty animal had been brought up in the fort:
this was a young prairie fox (Canis velox, Say), which Mr. Mitchell made me a present of, and
which, by its tameness and vivacity, helped to amuse us during the following winter. Our new
lodging swarmed with mice, which ran over our feet while we were writing, and kept the traps set
for them continually in motion. We trained my pretty little fox to this sport, which was new to
him, and he soon became a capital mouser.

On the 10th of August preparations were made for the solemn reception of the Indians,
which always precedes the opening of the trade, and which is considered by the Indians as a
matter of great importance. The flag being hoisted, two small cannons, placed in the middle of
the court-yard, fired signals for the commencement of the trade. It was full half an hour before a
noise arose in the Indian camp: we heard singing, firing of guns, and saw the mass of the
Indians advancing on all sides. When Ninoch-Kiaiu (the bear chief) approached the gate, it
was opened, and the two cannons were again fired. He entered, followed by three or four chiefs,
who approached Mr. Mitchell with their heads inclined; and, after shaking hands with him, were
made to sit down in the Indian apartment. Soon afterwards another body appeared, and Mr.
Mitchell went out of the gate to meet them. They advanced in small parties, headed by their
chiefs, who always bring a present consisting either of some beavers' skins or of a horse. The first
horses that we received in this manner were two greys and a light bay, which were variously

painted with red, chiefly on the forehead, the shoulders, and the haunches, and marked on the
legs with transverse stripes like a zebra, and on each side of the backbone with figures in the
shape of arrow heads. The chiefs and about thirty of the principal warriors were admitted, and,
after being seated on buffalo hides in the dining apartment, they refreshed themselves by drinking
and smoking. In this manner three or four different bands advanced with rapid strides, repeatedly
discharging their guns, and singing their rude songs. We observed some remarkable,
martial-looking physiognomies among these men, painted in the strangest manner, marching
with a very warlike air. The chiefs wore, for the most part, the uniform received from the
Company, made in the fashion of a great coat, with round hats and tufts of feathers, on which
they prided themselves greatly, but which disfigured them most lamentably. Their faces, painted
of a bright red, surrounded with their thick, lank hair, and surmounted by a round hat with a tuft
of feathers, such as our German post-boys used to wear, had such a ridiculous appearance, that
we could not refrain from laughing. Some of their uniforms were of two colours—one half red,
and the other half green, not unlike the dress of some of our prisoners in Bridewell. Mehkskéhmé-Sukahs
was dressed in the true Indian fashion, and interested us more than any of the others.
His face was black, with the eyelids, mouth, and some stripes on the forehead and cheeks, vermilion.
After three or four bands of the Blackfeet had been received, they were followed by one
of the dangerous Blood Indians, under their chief and medicine man, Nathos (the sun), and
these, too, were admitted; after which a detachment of from sixty to eighty of the Gros Ventres
des Prairies arrived, who, having likewise brought a horse and some beaver skins as a present,
were treated like the others. The chiefs were always welcomed by firing the cannon, and then
delivered up their colours, most of which they had received from English merchants, and which
were carried before them on long ensign staffs, quite in military style. Mr. Mitchell had
attempted, in the preceding year, to dispense with these salutations, but the Indians immediately
took offence, and were even going to part without transacting any business; for they are extremely
punctilious in points of honour.

While the company of Indians were employed in smoking, Mr. Mitchell took Ninoch-Kiaiu
(who had always been very faithful and devoted to the Whites and the Fur Company), into his own
room, and presented him with a new uniform, half red and half green, with red and green facings,
and trimmed with silver lace; a red felt hat, ornamented with many tufts of feathers; in short, a
complete dress, and a new double-barrelled percussion gun. Mr. Mitchell wished particularly to
distinguish this man, because he had never been to the north to trade with the Hudson's Bay Company.
When he had equipped himself in his new uniform, which was worth 150 dollars, and
entered the assembly of the chiefs in the court-yard of the fort, it immediately became evident
that the distinction conferred upon him made no favourable impression on them; some chiefs who
had made presents to Mr. Mitchell, and had not yet received anything in return—for instance,

Mehkskéhmé-Sukahs, could not conceal their feelings; the latter hid his head behind the person
who sat next to him, while others hung down their heads, and seemed lost in thought. When
Mr. Mitchell perceived this, he caused it to be intimated to the chiefs, that "they saw how the
American Fur Company distinguished its faithful friends; that they, on the contrary, had generally
taken their beaver skins to the English; that he, therefore, could not give them much now, but
would make every chief a present. That it would be their interest to deal with him in future, like
Ninoch-Kiaiu, and then it would be in his power to make them more considerable presents." The
Bear Chief was then made to mount his grey horse, that he might show himself out of the fort in
his new dress. In a rather constrained manner he made a speech to the warriors assembled before
the fort, then rode into the camp, returned, and alighted. It must be observed, that this man was
not popular, and that his situation at this time was very dangerous; and we afterwards saw him
sitting, with his head drooping, like a proscribed person, and afterwards retiring to Mr. Mitchell's
room, where he remained alone. Soon there arose violent debates among the chiefs; and as Berger,
the proper interpreter for the Blackfoot language, was absent, this circumstance, perhaps, increased
the misunderstanding. Several Indians rose, among whom was Haisikat (the stiff foot, formerly
the old head), who, with violent gesticulations, made a long speech. He was brother-in-law to
the Bear Chief, and plainly advised him to go home, and keep himself sober, because otherwise
something serious might happen. The Blood Indians were offended; they spoke loudly of
shooting Ninoch-Kiaiu, between whom and his friends long conferences took place. While this
was passing, we saw all the other Indians sit down in half circles before the gate of the fort, as
represented in the accompanying woodcut: a a, the warriors sitting in seven semicircular lines;
b, the main body of the Indians; c, the front of the fort, with a block-house, d.

[ILLUSTRATION]

The warriors sat on the ground, and, while liquor and tobacco were distributed among them,
they sang without ceasing, and sometimes fired their guns. At six in the evening, when we were
relieved from these troublesome guests, and hoped to have some repose after the fatigues of the
day, a violent dispute arose among the engagés, which might have had serious consequences.
Blows had been exchanged, and the example which the Whites gave the Indians was not very
creditable to them. It was late before this dispute was ended, and, during the night, there was
no rest, as the trade with the Indians continued till a late hour in their camp, which was, indeed,
detached, but at no great distance.

The offence taken by the Indians, at the distinction conferred on Ninoch-Kiaiu, gave rise to
a report, that the Blood Indians would attack the fort, and murder all the Whites; and, though
this report was not literally correct, it was a proof of a hostile temper, which manifested itself in
various ways; for example, they thought of withdrawing, and endeavoured to steal our horses. They
had already got one in their power, but it was recovered, and six armed men were sent to keep
guard in the meadows. The ill-temper of the Blood Indians made Ninoch-Kiaiu expect no good
from them, and he had brought all his horses, during the night, into the fort. Some well-disposed
Indians, who came to give us assurances of their devotedness, received refreshments, as they
happened to come just at breakfast-time. Mr. Bodmer had undertaken to paint Mehkskéhmé-Sukahs
in full dress, with his face painted black and red, a leather shirt ornamented with slips of
otter skin and ermine, a large bunch of the feathers of birds of prey, woodpeckers' bills, ermine and
pieces of red cloth in his hand—a remarkably colossal figure. (Plate XLV.) Another Indian,
usually called the Big Soldier, came to have his portrait painted, on being paid for it. His real
name was Haschasto (the orator), his dress very richly ornamented, and his stature nearly six feet.
It was not easy to make a bargain with him, as he estimated his handsome person very high, and
was much offended at our refusal to paint him at such an extravagant price.

Mr. Mitchell having been informed of the speedy arrival of the Blackfoot chief, Kutonapi
(the old Kutona), we undertook, on the 11th, in the afternoon, an excursion to go to meet him, he
having been hitherto kept away by the beaver hunting. We crossed the river near the part where
a great number of young Indians were bathing. They ran across the keel-boat which was lying here,
and leaped from it into the water. Their mode of swimming was not like that of the Europeans,
but perfectly resembled that of the Brazilians. These slender, well-made young men were extremely
active; their colour was a very dark shining reddish-brown, more red than that of most of the
Brazilians that I have seen, whose colour is often more yellowish or grey brown. It was not far
from the landing-place to a small lateral valley full of poplar copses, where a couple of leather
tents were set up. Kutonapi received us, sitting at the further end of his tent, while the other
Indians fired their guns on our arrival. In this small indifferent hunting tent, we had to sit down
on buffalo skins, while all the inmates, consisting of four or five men, several women, and many
children, crowded about the door to see us. The Spanish hunter, Isidore Sandoval, acted as interpreter.
There were fifteen or twenty horses grazing about the tent, but there are Blackfeet
who possess a much greater number. After we had shaken hands with the men, a vessel, with
very fresh water from the Missouri, was presented, to cool ourselves, on which Mr. Mitchell distributed

some small presents, tobacco, &c., which Kutonapi accepted with thanks, and immediately
began a song in praise of the sun (Natohs), or the lord of life. A wooden dish was set before
each of us, containing boiled beaver's tail, with prairie turnips (pomme blanche). The beaver's tail
was cut into small slices, and was boiled very tender. It did not taste amiss, and is reckoned a
good dish even in the United States. After the Indians had eaten what was left, bundles of beaver
skins were produced, and the chief presented Mr. Mitchell with nine skins, and the son gave me a
tenth, and continually squeezed my hand to thank me "for having come so far to visit them."
The interpreter translated the compliments on both sides, and I can with truth affirm, that the
cordiality and the unaffected, respectful politeness with which we were here received, could not
be surpassed among civilized nations. The beaver skins were very carefully cleaned and dried, so
that they resembled parchment. My double-barrelled gun pleased them much, and the son
wished to fire it off, which he did, with the right-hand barrel, which was loaded with ball. The
old women smoked with us, but remained before the door of the tent. The merry dark brown
children seemed to be cleaner than usual, which might, indeed, be said of the whole of Kutonapi's
family. We cordially took leave of these friendly people, and the chief said he should shortly
pay us a visit.

On our return to the fort, the trade had been resumed, and was going on very briskly; it
gave occasion to many droll scenes; pleasure and discontent were expressed in many different
ways. Many Indians were quite affectionate, and embraced the Whites; others were noisy and
angry. There was a woman feeding her four or five small children with meat, the youngest of
whom, though it had no teeth, had got a little piece crammed into its mouth. There we saw
boys holding a mouse, which they shot from each other's hands with arrows, &c. &c.

On the 12th of August, about noon, Kutonapi arrived in the fort with his band, firing their
guns, and was received with the usual discharge of the cannon. The cheerfulness that then prevailed
among us was immediately interrupted by discord and mourning. Some Blood Indians
had stolen three horses belonging to the fort, and search was made in vain after the thieves,
when, in the afternoon, a much more serious event occurred. Mr. Bodmer had just begun to
paint the portrait of Hotokaneheh (the head of the buffalo skin), with his large, handsomely
ornamented calumet, when we heard a shot in an adjoining room, and immediately saw the people
running together. A Blood Indian, who had often been in the fort, and had, till that time, always
conducted himself well, had shot, with a pistol, one of our young men named Martin. All the
people were assembled round the perpetrator, and nobody knew the cause of this event. The
Indian seemed, indeed, to be rather confounded, but affirmed that his pistol had gone off by
accident. Many of the young men were for having him shot, because, as they said, he had doubtless
committed the murder designedly; but Mr. Mitchell decided with more moderation, considering
the occurrence as an unfortunate accident. When the first moments of exasperation were

past, he forbade the murderer the fort, but at the same time strictly enjoined the engagés to
refrain from all acts of violence towards this Indian. Ninoch-Kiaiu, who was present, did not
take the matter so easily. Though he had been offended in the forenoon, because brandy was
refused him, he warmly took part with the Whites, and was going to shoot the murderer; but being
prevented in this, he beat him with the but-end of his gun, and drove him, as well as several
Gros Ventres des Prairies, who happened to be present, with blows, out of the fort. Kutonapi, who
was likewise present, stepped forward, and made a violent speech, in which he described, in lively
colours, the offences of the Blood Indians against the Whites, and exhorted us to take vengeance
for them. Mr. Mitchell thanked him, but persevered in the more temperate course, which, in his
situation, was the most judicious. Berger, the interpreter, returned, whom Mr. Mitchell had sent
to summon a numerous body of Blackfeet of 250 tents, which he had left on the Muscleshell River,
and who might join us in about a week. Most of the Indians about the fort had withdrawn, so
that, on the 14th of August, there were only twenty-three tents; but on the same day others
came, and with them one Bird, a half Indian, and a treacherous, very dangerous man, who had
great influence among the Blackfeet. He had been formerly in the service of the American Fur
Company, had then gone over to the Hudson's Bay Company, and cheated both. He was a tall,
strong man, with a brownish complexion, thick black hair, spoke the language of the Blackfeet
perfectly, and lived constantly among them. At present he was not in the service of either Company,
but lived by catching beaver, and hunting, for his own account. At this time, however, he
came from Fort Union, and brought letters for Mr. Mc Kenzie. Niatohse, the chief of the
Gros Ventres des Prairies, who has been already mentioned, also arrived, and, being a man who
was much esteemed, was very well received. Mr. Patton, clerk of the Company, who had
hitherto had the direction at Fort Mc Kenzie, a man well known in the Rocky Mountains, and
thoroughly acquainted with the business of the fur trade, left us on this day with eleven engagés,
in a strong pirogue, to return to Fort Union, and thence to Fort St. Louis. The vacancy left in
the fort by their departure was soon filled up by the number of Indians who arrived; among whom
we were visited by Mexkemanastan, whom we had lately seen on Bighorn River, whose portrait
was taken by Mr. Bodmer. (See Vignette XX). This business attracted many Indians, who
were often troublesome. When the portrait of such a man struck the Indians as being very
like, they said, "Bodmer could write very correctly," as they have no proper word for drawing.
A certain Blood Indian, with his wife, was present the whole time, and was a constant trouble to
us. He repeatedly invited us to his tent, which we were at last obliged to accept. On our way
to his tent, we saw in the Indian camp a great many women with their noses cut off; a frightful
mutilation, the punishment for infidelity, which, as I have already said, is frequently inflicted
among these people. In the spacious and light tent we found the owner lying on a kind of couch
of basket-work, with a back to it, and covered with a buffalo skin. He was a man of bad character,
who, only the year before, had fired his gun, loaded with small shot, in the face of a white
man. In the centre of the tent there was a small fire, which emitted great heat. Dried berries
were set before us, and this neat tent was not disagreeable, as these people had no children, and
great cleanliness prevailed in their dwelling. Isidore Sandoval acted as interpreter. We had
every day conversations of this kind, in which we always found something new to observe.

Mr. Mitchell thought now of building a new fort, for which he endeavoured to choose the
most suitable situation. On the 16th of August we rode out for this purpose, ascended the chain
of hills behind the fort, where the little prairie dogs retreated into their burrows, and then perceived
two armed Indians, who, as soon as they observed us, turned their horses, and galloped up
to us. They had not noticed our double-barrelled guns, and doubtless came up to frighten us,
and to try their fortune with us; for, as soon as they came near, and saw our arms, they turned
round and trotted away.[1] On our calling after them, they stopped at some distance; one of them
gave his gun to the other, returned to us, and gave us to understand by signs, "that an Indian
had run away with his sister, the wife of a third person, and they had ridden out to look for him,
in order that they might shoot him." Apparently following the traces, they quickly disappeared
from our view. A little further on we met with about twenty of our own people, who were sent to
work at the foundation of the new fort. They were well armed, and had carts with their bedding,
and other necessaries. They had orders to remain out the whole week, and not return till Saturday.
Other men were sent out to burn charcoal for the smith, for which poplar wood is very
serviceable. We rode before these people, and had, on our right hand, a fine prospect into the
valley of the Teton River, which, as a stripe of verdure, made an agreeable break in the yellow,
scorched prairie. In the valley we saw three or four Indian tents under high poplar trees. Looking
to the left hand from this high ridge, we saw, in the foreground, a great bend of the Missouri,
on which there were several beautiful copses of poplar, and bright verdant spots; and further
upwards, on the south bank, the mouth of the stream, called, by Lewis and Clarke, Snow River,
which was the most extreme point of my journey on the Upper Missouri, though at that time I still
hoped to reach the three principal sources of that river, the Jefferson, the Madison, and the Gallatin.
Before us, a little to the left, in a south-western direction, we saw, at some distance, the first
chain of the Rocky Mountains, which does not reach the snowy region, and behind us the beautiful

mountain called the Bear's Paw. From this lofty point we rode to the left, over steep
eminences, to the Missouri, and then along the banks of the river, through thickets of willows and
shady tufts of poplars, maples, and elms, mixed with buffalo-berry, roses, dogwood, and other
shrubs. The ground was covered with luxuriant grass, of which some hay had been made by the
people of the fort, and it was still lying in cocks. The path led along the north bank, under
shady trees, and we overlooked the spot, on the opposite bank, where Mr. Mitchell thought of
building his new fort, in a verdant prairie, near an extensive poplar forest. We there saw several
Gros Ventres walking about, their horses grazing, their tents being pitched in a neighbouring
wood.

We had scarcely set out on our return to the fort, and reached the shady spot on the bank,
when Dauphin, one of our people, came galloping on an Indian horse, quite out of breath, and told Mr.
Mitchell that Ninoch-Kiaiu desired to inform him that his nephew had been murdered by the Blood
Indians—that he should immediately attack them, and, therefore, advised us to return as speedily as
possible. He added, that he had instantly caused the people, who had been sent to work at the
new fort, to return. We rode rapidly back to the eminence, and there found our people, who,
with several Indians, were returning to the fort. Mr. Mitchell very seriously reprimanded them
for their conduct, since he had not revoked his orders; on which Latresse answered, in a very
loud voice, that "they had not come to be shot by the Indians;" in short, they behaved in a
cowardly and rebellious manner; but nothing was to be done, and we all went together to the
fort. We learned, now, that the nephew of the Bear Chief, a very quiet, well-disposed Indian,
had ridden out in the morning to look for a horse which had been stolen from him, and had been
murdered not far off, on the hills near the Teton River, by the Blood Indians, who had attacked
him with their guns, knives, and clubs. Ninoch-Kiaiu was furious. Some Blood Indians had
been immediately pursued, but without success, and then it was proposed to kill the man who
lived near the fort, to whose tent we were lately invited; this idea, however, was abandoned,
because he was quite innocent of the murder; they had spared him, and smoked their pipes with
him. Another of those Indians had been forced, by firing at him, to cross the river; the Bear
Chief now came to Mr. Mitchell to consult with him what was to be done. A sensible old Indian
advised that this matter should not be treated as a concern of the whole tribe, but as a private
affair, and, consequently, they should wait patiently for an opportunity when they might take
vengeance on some member of the murderer's family. The chief, who felt that his honour was
deeply wounded, was silent, and lost in thought. As a sign of mourning, he had put on his worst
clothes, but not cut off his hair, saying that "his head was too great and strong to do this."
He had loaded with ball the double-barrelled gun which he had lately received, and suddenly
hastened away without saying a word. He afterwards sent word to Mr. Mitchell, that he must
go to revenge his kinsman, whose dead body he would not see; but, that it might fall into good

hands, he would make a present of it to Mr. Mitchell, whom he requested to bury it.[2] As the
murder of the Indian was a consequence of the offence which Ninoch-Kiaiu had offered to the
Blood Indians, on the occasion of Martin's death, the present could not well be refused, and we
were obliged to be very cautious how we left the fort, as the Blood Indians were hostilely disposed
towards us.

On the 17th August, early in the morning, the howling and lamenting of the Indians in the
camp was heard; and, soon afterwards, the corpse of the murdered man was brought into the
fort. It was wrapped up very tightly in buffalo skins, and tied to a sledge drawn by one horse.
An old man, with a multitude of women and children, his relations, followed the body with loud
lamentations. An aged woman in the train had just cut off one joint of her little finger as a sign
of mourning, and held the bleeding stump wrapped in a handful of wormwood leaves. When our
people had taken the body from the sledge between the two gates of the fort, and carried it into
the Indian apartment, a young man, the brother of the Bear Chief, made a speech to the weeping
relatives, saying—"Why do you lament and cry?—see, I do not cry: he is gone into the other
country, and we cannot awaken him; but, at least, two Blood Indians must accompany him, and
wait upon him there." An infant, and a boy, the brother of the deceased, died on the same
night; and the Indians said that the murdered brother had called the others away. Thus we
had three dead bodies in the fort. As that of the Indian had been long exposed to the air and
the sun, it was necessary to make haste to get it out of the way; and Berger, the interpreter,
had the disagreeable office of painting, putting on its best clothes, and ornamenting it in the
Indian fashion. The two Indians were laid in the same grave, wrapped in a red blanket and
buffalo skin, over which was laid a piece of coloured stuff, given by Mr. Mitchell. The bottom
and sides of the grave were lined with boards; the body, too, was covered with wood; his
bridle, whip, and some other trifles, were thrown in, and the grave filled up with earth.

Towards noon, on the same day, a number of Indians, with their loaded dog sledges, and all
their baggage, were seen descending the heights on the other side of the Missouri. It was the
band of the Blackfeet, announced by Berger. Some of these people, handsomely dressed, soon
arrived as messengers, one of whom carried in his hand the ensign of the Crows. Ninoch-Kiaiu
came with them, who now continually talked of going to a little camp of the Blood Indians,
on the other side of the river, to take vengeance, yet still remained with us. His brother, who
likewise made a great noise, walked about the fort with a loaded pistol, and, at last, begged
Mr. Mitchell to have him conveyed over the river, because it was thought that two Blood

Indians had been seen, whom he wanted to shoot; to which Mr. Mitchell very calmly replied, that
"if he intended to kill any body, he would not assist him." With an expression of violent passion,
the Indian, on this, mounted his horse and galloped away, "in order," as the chief said, "to quiet
his heart for the present, by the death of a Kähna, as they might, at some future time, shoot
the real murderer." The chief's aged uncle, Natoie-Poóchsen (the word of life), was one of the
principal mourners. He had cut off his hair, and besmeared it, as well as his feet and legs, with
whitish clay. Mr. Bodmer made a good portrait of him in this dress. He went about howling
and crying, while the Bear Chief thought only of procuring brandy. He had in his hand a little
mustard-glass filled with this precious liquor; and one of his friends, who also possessed some
brandy, sipped a small quantity, and, embracing the chief, discharged it into his mouth, which is
considered, among the Blackfeet, as the highest proof of friendship.[3]

The engagés of the Company were now employed in packing up the skins obtained by
barter from the Indians, for which purpose there is a particular machine. It consists of a frame
of laths, which mark the size of the packages, and in which the skins are laid. In putting up
small, light furs, a couple of planks are passed through the frame-work, on each end of which a
man stands to press the skins together, and then to cord them. The buffalo hides, which are
much thicker, are pressed together by means of a thick beam; in this operation six or eight men
are required. Others of our people were engaged in sawing planks, burning charcoal, and the
like; they had, however, much leisure time, which they spent in various amusements. They
fired at a mark with their rifles, at which Papin and Morrin were very expert. In the evening we
generally had an interesting sight, when the great number of horses belonging to the fort returned
from the hills. Eight armed men rode behind and at the sides, and as many Indians, for the sake
of safety, had joined with their horses. The whole body was very numerous, and presented a
striking appearance when, in a cloud of dust, they galloped down the hills with a thundering noise,
and entered the fort.

In order to obtain a handsome, large mountain sheep, Mr. Mitchell gave me the services of
Papin, with whom my own hunter, Dreidoppel, joined to make an excursion. Papin went very
unwillingly, though, for the sake of security, a Blackfoot was sent with them. He affirmed that
he would not undertake this dangerous enterprise for 100 dollars, if he had not bound himself to
the Company. They made arrangements to stay out a couple of nights, and took a pack-horse
with them. Other hunters were sent out with the Indians, and we soon received information that

a good many buffaloes had been killed. At other times we were often short of meat. Bird, who
had set up his tent among the tall poplars near the fort, where Ninoch-Kiaiu also lived, visited us
frequently, and gave out that he was obliged to undertake a journey to the north. We urged him
and the other Blackfeet to persuade Ninoch-Kiaiu not to take vengeance on innocent Blood
Indians, as they were much more numerous and powerful than the Blackfeet, and the Whites
would likewise have felt the bad consequences of such hostility.

Meantime Mr. Bodmer had taken excellent likenesses of several Indians, among whom were
old Pioch-Kiaiu (the distant bear), whose face was painted with blue earth, and was remarkable
for a long chin, unlike that of the Indians; likewise a very pretty young Blackfoot woman, and
an old Kutana or Kutneha, whose name was Homach-Ksachkum (the great earth), and his son,
Makuie-Poka (the child of the wolf), whose mother was a Blackfoot, and was dressed entirely in
the fashion of that tribe, but had adopted several ornaments from their enemies, the Manitaries.
The old Kutana was a good-tempered, friendly man (Plate XLVI., the right-hand figure), with
an extremely characteristic physiognomy, which is most faithfully represented in the portrait. He
gave me some account of his people and some words of their language, which are very difficult to
pronounce. The picture, which was a most striking resemblance, and the other drawings, much
amused the Indians; they at once recognised them all; and the fame of the able writer was so
spread among them, that our lodging was constantly besieged by a numerous assemblage of
Indians, who smoked tobacco, and incommoded us by the heat they occasioned. These men would
often not sit still a moment while their portraits were taking; there were others, on the contrary,
who would sit motionless the whole day, if they were supplied with tobacco, for which care was
always taken. These visits often afforded us opportunities to get acquainted with their customs
and notions. The White Buffalo, who often visited us, one day brought a very beautifully
ornamented bow, taken from the Flatheads, which, however, he could by no means be prevailed
upon to sell. On my making a higher offer, he answered, "I am very fond of this bow." I was,
therefore, obliged to give up my desire to possess it, for the Indians would have greatly increased
their demands if I had persisted after this declaration. This man had a nice sense of honour,
was to be depended upon, and devoted to the Whites, and, at the same time, a distinguished
warrior. He had lately shot his sister, because she kept up an intercourse with a man against
whom he had constantly advised her. A chief of the Blackfeet, with whom he had a quarrel,
shot him through the thigh; he, however, did not lose his presence of mind, and killed his enemy
notwithstanding his wound. Another old man, who sometimes visited us, pretended to be a
great doctor and magician. He said that Death had got into a certain tent to an old woman:
he saw him come in at the aperture for the smoke, and touch the woman, on which our doctor
immediately applied his medicine to the place touched, and remained with the patient the whole
night. Death came again, but all his attempts failed, because the remedy was always applied at
the right time.

Bird introduced to us a chief named Mikotsotskina (the red horn), a handsome Blackfoot
and distinguished warrior, the leader in many warlike expeditions, who had performed several
great exploits. He was well made, with an intelligent, animated, and good-tempered expression
of countenance, and very handsomely and neatly dressed. He brought two white horses
with him, and a fine panther's skin, lined with red cloth. This man had formerly borne the name
of Mastoenna (the chief of the ravens), and was said to have killed more white men than any one
of his nation.

About this time, when we began to be in want of meat in the fort, having, for some time
past, had only a couple of beavers, many unfavourable reports were spread of the hostile disposition
of Ninoch-Kiaiu and his adherents towards the Whites, which had, doubtless, been
excited by the pernicious influence of the treacherous Bird, who was prejudiced against the
Company. An Indian told us that his countrymen would demand double the usual price for the
beavers, and, if that were refused, they would kill all the Americans. We did not suffer ourselves
to be alarmed by such reports, which indicated the unsteady character of the Blackfeet; but the
time was come when we were to be put to a more serious trial.

On the 28th of August, at break of day, we were awakened by musket-shot, and Doucette
entered our room, crying, "Levez-vous, il faut nous battre," on which we arose in haste, dressed
ourselves, and loaded our fowling-pieces with ball. When we entered the court-yard of the fort,
all our people were in motion, and some were firing from the roofs. On ascending it, we saw the
whole prairie covered with Indians on foot and on horseback, who were firing at the fort; and
on the hills were several detached bodies. About eighteen or twenty Blackfoot tents, pitched
near the fort, the inmates of which had been singing and drinking the whole night, and fallen into a
deep sleep towards morning, had been surprised by 600 Assiniboins and Crees. When the first
information of the vicinity of the enemies was received from a Blackfoot, who had escaped, the
engagés immediately repaired to their posts on the roofs of the buildings, and the fort was
seen to be surrounded on every side by the enemy, who had approached very near. They
had cut up the tents of the Blackfeet with knives, discharged their guns and arrows at them, and
killed or wounded many of the inmates, roused from their sleep by this unexpected attack. Four
women and several children lay dead near the fort, and many others were wounded. The men,
about thirty in number, had partly fired their guns at the enemy, and then fled to the gates of
the fort, where they were admitted. They immediately hastened to the roofs, and began a well-supported
fire on the Assiniboins.

In the fort itself all was confusion. If the men had been now and then mustered and inspected,
it would have been found that the engagés had sold their ammunition to the Indians; they
were, therefore, quite unprepared to defend themselves, and it was necessary, during the combat,
to distribute powder as well among the Whites as the Indians. Mr. Mitchell and Berger, the

interpreter, were employed in admitting the Blackfoot women and children, who were assembled
at the door of the fort, when a hostile Indian, with his bow bent, appeared before the gate, and
exclaimed, "White man, make room, I will shoot those enemies!" This exclamation showed that
the attack was not directed against the Whites, but only against the Blackfeet. Mr. Mitchell
immediately gave orders to his people to cease firing; notwithstanding this, single shots continued
to be fired, and our Blackfeet were not to be restrained, nay, ten or twelve of our people, among
whom were Doucette and Loretto, went into the prairie, and fired in the ranks of the Blackfeet,
who were assembling, and every moment increasing in numbers. Loretto had shot, at the distance
of eighty-six paces from the pickets, the nephew of the Assiniboin chief, Minohanne[4] (the left-handed),
and this was the only one of the killed whom the enemy were unable to carry away, for
we saw them lay many others on their horses, and take them off. In the fort itself only one man
was wounded, having had his foot pierced by an arrow, and likewise a horse and a dog. If the
enemy had occupied the heights on the other side of the river, they might, from that position, have
killed all our people in the fort.

When the Assiniboins saw that their fire was returned, they retreated about 300 paces, and
an irregular firing continued, during which several people from the neighbourhood joined the
ranks of the Blackfeet. While all this was passing, the court-yard of the fort exhibited very
singular scenes. A number of wounded men, women, and children, were laid or placed against
the walls; others, in their deplorable condition, were pulled about by their relations, amid tears
and lamentations. The White Buffalo, whom I have often mentioned, and who had received a
wound at the back of his head, was carried about, in this manner, amid singing, howling, and
crying: they rattled the schischikué in his ears, that the evil spirit might not overcome him, and
gave him brandy to drink. He himself, though stupified and intoxicated, sung without intermission,
and would not give himself up to the evil spirit. Otsequa-Stomik, an old man of our
acquaintance, was wounded in the knee by a ball, which a woman cut out with a penknife, during
which operation he did not betray the least symptom of pain. Natah-Otann, a handsome young
man, with whom we became acquainted on our visit to Kutonapi, was suffering dreadfully from
severe wounds. Several Indians, especially young women, were likewise wounded. We endeavoured
to assist the wounded, and Mr. Mitchell distributed balsam, and linen for bandages, but
very little could be done; for, instead of suffering the wounded, who were exhausted by the loss
of blood, to take some rest, their relations continually pulled them about, sounded large bells,
rattled their medicine or amulets, among which were the bears' paws, which the White Buffalo
wore on his breast. A spectator alone of this extraordinary scene can form any idea of the

confusion and the noise, which was increased by the loud report of the musketry, the moving
backwards and forwards of the people carrying powder and ball, and the tumult occasioned by
above twenty horses shut up in the fort.

When the enemy were still very near the fort, Mr. Mitchell had given orders to fire the cannons
of the right-hand front block-house among them; but this had not been done, because the Blackfeet
were partly mixed with the Assiniboins; no use, therefore, had been made of them, of which
the Indians complained bitterly. The enemy gradually retreated, and concentrated themselves in
several detachments on the brow of the hill (see the plan of the action on the map), and this
gave us an opportunity to open the gate, with due precaution, and view the destroyed tents and
the bodies of the slain. The Indian who was killed near the fort especially interested me, because
I wished to obtain his skull. The scalp had already been taken off, and several Blackfeet were
engaged in venting their rage on the dead body. The men fired their guns at it; the women
and children beat it with clubs, and pelted it with stones; the fury of the latter was particularly
directed against the privy parts. Before I could obtain my wish, not a trace of the head was to be
seen. Not far from the river there was a melancholy scene; old Haisikat (the stiff foot) was
lamenting over his grown-up daughter, who had concealed herself in the bushes near the fort, and
had been shot in mistake by Dechamp, who thought she was an enemy.

At the very beginning of the engagement, the Blackfeet had despatched messengers on horseback
to the great camp of their nation, which was eight or ten miles off, to summon their warriors
to their aid, and their arrival was expected every moment. Meantime, Ninoch-Kiaiu came and
called on Mr. Mitchell for assistance, for they had been attacked by another party of the enemy.
Hotokaneheh likewise came to the fort, and made a long and violent speech, in which he
reproached the Whites with being inactive while the enemy were still in the vicinity; they ought
not to confine themselves to the "defence of the fort, if they seriously desired the alliance of
the Blackfeet, but endeavour to attack the common enemy in the prairie," &c. All these
reproaches hurt Mr. Mitchell, and he resolved to show the Indians that the Whites were not
deficient in courage. With this view he made the best hunters and riflemen mount their
horses, and, in spite of our endeavours to dissuade him from this impolitic measure, he proceeded
to the heights, where 150 or 200 Blackfeet kept up an irregular fire on the enemy. We who
remained in the fort had the pleasure of viewing a most interesting scene. From the place where
the range of hills turns to the Missouri, more and more Blackfeet continued to arrive. They came
galloping in groups, from three to twenty together, their horses covered with foam, and they themselves
in their finest apparel, with all kinds of ornaments and arms, bows and quivers on their backs,
guns in their hands, furnished with their medicines, with feathers on their heads; some had splendid
crowns of black and white eagles' feathers, and a large hood of feathers hanging down behind,
sitting on fine panther skins lined with red; the upper part of their bodies partly naked, with a

long strip of wolf's skin thrown across the shoulder, and carrying shields adorned with feathers
and pieces of coloured cloth. A truly original sight! Many immediately galloped over the
hill, whipped their tired horses, in order to take part in the engagement, shouting, singing, and
uttering their war-whoop; but a great part of them stopped at the fort, received powder and
balls, and, with their guns and bows, shot at the disfigured remains of the Assiniboin who was
slain, and which were now so pierced and burnt as scarcely to retain any semblance of the human
form. As the Indians near the fort believed themselves to be now quite safe, they carried the
wounded into the leather tents, which were injured and pierced through and through by the
enemy's balls, round which many dead horses and dogs were lying, and the crying and lamenting
were incessant.

About one o'clock Mr. Mitchell and his people returned, much fatigued by the expedition,
and the great heat, the thermometer being at 84°. Mr. Mitchell's horse had been shot through
the withers; he himself fell off and hurt his arm; another horse was shot through the neck, and
captured by the enemy; Bourbonnais, its rider, had escaped. All our people, however, had
returned safe. The enemy had been driven back to the Maria River, where, from the want of
bravery in the Blackfeet, they were able to maintain their ground behind the trees; nay, they had
sometimes advanced and repulsed their enemies. They were plainly heard encouraging each
other, on which they came forward in parties of twenty or thirty, and renewed the attack. It was
generally observed that the Assiniboins fought better than the Blackfeet, many of whom did not
leave the fort during the whole day. Mr. Mitchell, with his people, had always been in advance
of the Blackfeet, and nearer to the enemy. He had often shamed the Blackfeet, whose numbers
had increased to 500 or 600, calling out—"Why did they lag behind? They had reproached
the Whites with cowardice, but now it was seen who were the most cowardly. Now was the
time to show their courage," &c. The hunter, Dechamp, had especially distinguished himself by
his bravery and well-directed fire at the enemy, of whom he had killed or wounded several.
They called out to him that they knew him very well, for he is a Half Cree Indian, and had many
relations among the enemy. He had been several times in the heat of the action, and a Blackfoot
gave him his horse, on which he saved himself.[5] During this engagement Kutonapi came to
Mr. Mitchell, and asked him for a paper, which he had received on the conclusion of the treaty
with the Fur Company; and, being told that it was in the fort, he said, "Oh, if I had it here, it
would secure me against every ball!" The Indians had fired quite at random, otherwise the loss

must have been much greater on both sides. We learnt, in the sequel, that the Assiniboins had
three killed, and twenty severely wounded. Many Indians took Mr. Mitchell by the hand, welcomed
him as their friend and ally, and offered him several horses, which he did not accept.

After dinner, Doucette, Dechamp, and Berger again rode in quest of the enemy, who still
occupied the valley of the Maria River, and many Blackfeet came back, boasting of their heroic
exploits. Old Pioch (qy. Ninoch?) Kiaiu came full of joy, and told us that "no ball had touched
him; doubtless, because Mr. Bodmer had taken his portrait a few days before." In the afternoon
a number of Blackfeet arrived, and the dust raised by their horses was visible at a great distance
in the prairie. The fort was filled with them; and they were refreshed with water and tobacco.
We visited the wounded in their tents, had the blood washed from their wounds, and their hair,
which was clotted with it, cut off; and gave them medicines and plaster, and, instead of brandy,
which they asked for, sugar and water to refresh them. A child had died of its wounds; they had
daubed its face with vermilion. After the exertions of this day, both Indians and Whites were
covered with perspiration and dust, and quite exhausted. Our people observed the enemy in
their position on the Maria; but, during the night, they retreated in three strong divisions, in the
direction of the Bear's Paw, and the Blackfeet did not molest them.

In the morning of the 29th of August a part of the Blackfeet came to us, fatigued and hungry,
and reported that they had pursued the enemy, and fired at them on both flanks, and had found
one killed; but they had not returned the fire, without doubt, for want of ammunition. During
the night we had lodged the principal chiefs in the fort; among them were Tatsiki-Stomik (the
bull from the centre), Penukah-Zenin (the elk's tongue), Kutonapi, and Ihkas-Kinne (the bent
horn); the latter was a chief of the Siksekai, or proper Blackfeet. Most of the Indians of the great
horde went away, promising to return soon, with their tents and baggage, and begin the trade.
The tents, with the wounded, were all removed, except a few, to better positions higher up the
river. Several Blackfeet having heard that they were accused of cowardice, came to justify themselves.
They alleged that their horses were too much fatigued, which might in some measure be
true; but then they might have dismounted, and fought on foot, as very few of the enemy were
on horseback. Bird, to whom Mr. Mitchell had refused to sell one of his best horses, left the fort
in great anger; and an Indian told us that he had promised the several Indian chiefs to give
them tobacco, if they would no longer dispose of their beaver skins here, but take them to the
north, to the English Company. This man had said just the contrary to Mr. Mitchell; his
insincerity therefore was evident; and it would be highly important to the Company to deprive
this dangerous, influential Half-breed of the power of injuring them.

The expedition to the Kutanas, projected by Mr. Mc Kenzie, set out from Fort Mc Kenzie
on the 30th of August. The object of it was to trade with that people, and especially to obtain
skins of the white mountain goat (Capra Americana). It consisted of Doucette, Isidore Sandoval,

with his Indian wife, four engagés, and two Kutana Indians, one of whom was Homach-Ksachkum,
all mounted, and with nine pack-horses, which carried the goods, the kitchen utensils, and the beds.
They had to proceed two days' journey along the banks of the Teton River, and then to strike directly
to the north, to the mountains; and, if the Kutanas were found in their usual places of abode, they
expected to be able to reach them in twelve days. They did not think that they could be back
before the next spring. This enterprise was very dangerous; and we, in fact, learnt, in the sequel,
that Doucette had been shot by a Blood Indian, and that the expedition had proved a complete
failure. They had scarcely vanished from our sight behind the heights, when a great number of
Blackfeet arrived, and among them many who were quite strangers to us, and who gazed on us
with astonishment, as they had been but little accustomed to the sight of white men. They had
put on their handsomest dresses, and were much dissatisfied when they learnt that the trade
could not begin that day, because Mr. Mitchell was indisposed. The fort was crowded with
them; we saw them smoking in every corner; and they were so idle, or so proud, that they gave
their pipes to the first white man they saw to light them, though they were close to the kitchen
fire. The gate was besieged by Indians, who were by no means all permitted to enter, and we
ourselves all refrained from going out, because the great assemblage of these people inside could
not be trusted. The number of chiefs at this time in the fort was small, in comparison with the
preceding year, when fifty-four of them were there at one time. Among the Blackfeet who visited
us there was an old man, called Homachseh-Kakatohs (the great star), who had a remarkable
hooked nose. He wore the round felt hat with a tuft of feathers, which Mr. Bodmer made him
take off, and then drew his portrait, which was an excellent likeness. When the drawing was
finished, and he had received some tobacco, he rose, went into the court-yard, and delivered,
with good address, a long speech, the tenor of which was—"The chief below (Mr. Mc Kenzie) had
sent his children hither, and recommended them to the Blackfeet; they ought, therefore, to treat
them well, to bring them good meat, that they might not lament and complain, but be merry, and
always have their bellies full."

Soon after the arrival of the Great Star, Tatsiki-Stomik and Ihkas-Kinne came to the fort;
they all asked for brandy, which seemed to be the main subject of their thoughts. Ihkas-Kinne
was a tall, well-looking man, with a very marked countenance. He wore an otter's skin over his
shoulders, with the tail hanging down before, and which was ornamented all over with pieces of
shell. This man had rendered some services to the fort, and was to be depended on. On this
occasion he stepped forward, with a noble, manly air, and delivered a long speech. "The French,"
he said, "must have hearts ill-disposed towards the Indians; for, on the evening after the battle,
they had not given the Blackfeet (he would not say a word of himself) anything to drink; even the
chiefs had received nothing. They had come to the fort hungry and thirsty, and so they had left it,
though they were fatigued by their exertions in fighting for the Whites. He was just this moment

come from an expedition against the Crows, in which they had lost two of their people, and had
no articles to trade with. They had traversed, without shoes, great tracts of prairie; their feet
were sore, and tired, yet he had taken part in the action, and neither he nor others had received
any present from the Whites." Mr. Mitchell answered, that "he would make the chiefs some
presents to-morrow; though he thought that he had done enough, as he had distributed among
them, on the preceding day, a great quantity of powder and ball, and received those that were
in need into the fort. Though it was true that the Whites possessed many medicines which they
could employ to the ruin of the Indians, he had no such thoughts. He would, however, show
them such a one to-day, to give them an idea of the power of the Whites. When a cannon was
fired, they should pay attention. To-morrow he would have the colours hoisted, and a gun fired
as a signal for the solemn reception of the chiefs." One of the Blackfeet chiefs had before
observed, that "he was much surprised that the Whites always appeared in their common everyday
clothes, whereas they (the chiefs) put on their handsomest dresses. They had never seen
the fine clothes of the Whites."

The chiefs having left us about six in the afternoon, the gate of the fort was shut, and, as
soon as it was dark, Mr. Mitchell caused a gun to be fired, and then some skyrockets to be successively
thrown up, which, as it happened, succeeded extremely well, rising to a great height,
and bursting into stars. Most of the Indians, however, did not betray much astonishment at
this exhibition, having already seen the same at the English posts. The Indians before the fort
had already been dancing and singing to the sound of their drum; they now retired, rejoicing, to
their tents. It was a still, moonlight night, but the noise of the Indians continued, and a watch
was kept in the fort.

On the following morning we were surprised by the highly interesting appearance of the great
Indian camp, consisting of about 400 tents, which stood close together, because the enemy was
supposed to be still in the neighbourhood. (See the view of this great camp of the Piekanns in
Plate XLIII.) News had been received that the Assiniboins were scattered, and perhaps concealed,
in many small parties, in the adjacent country.

On the 31st of August the sky was very gloomy, but the clouds dispersed, and at nine o'clock
Mr. Mitchell had a gun fired as the signal for the opening of the trade; on which about twenty-four
of the chiefs and most distinguished warriors of the Piekanns, and with them the Blackfoot,
Ihkas-Kinne, advanced, in slow procession, to the fort. Mr. Mitchell passed through a great crowd
of women and children to meet the men, shook hands with them, and conducted them into the
fort. They had put on their best dresses, and were received with a salute from the cannon of the
fort; but the rain falling in torrents was extremely unfavourable to this interesting ceremony. At
this moment, a numerous body of Blood Indians, with all their baggage, appeared on the heights
on the other side of the river, who intended likewise to encamp near the fort; on this, Ninoch-Kiaiu

immediately appeared, and declared "that he already felt an inclination to fire at those
people; and that there would certainly be blood shed, if they were not kept at a distance; especially
if the minds of the parties were excited by the trade." In consequence of this declaration,
Mr. Mitchell sent Berger, the interpreter, over the river, to represent to the Blood Indians the
state of affairs, and to signify to them that it would be better to defer their trade till that with the
Piekanns was over; with this declaration they were satisfied, and withdrew.

The chiefs who were now in the fort were the leaders of the Piekanns, Tatsiki-Stomik,
Penukah-Zenin, Sachkomapoh (the little boy), Kitsipooch-Kiaiu (the spotted bear), Kiaiu-Stoman
(the bear knife), Ninoch-Kiaiu (the bear chief), who, however, did not enter with the others, and was
meanly dressed on account of his mourning: as also Haisikat, Mikutseh-Stomik (the red buffalo),
Achsapacké (the handsome woman), Ihkas-Kinne (the bent cowhorn), and one or two others,
whose names I have forgotten.[6] Among them there were fine, tall, robust men, and all wore
extremely handsome and costly dresses, many of them ornamented with strips of ermine. Tatsiki-Stomik,
in particular, wore a shirt of very white bighorn leather, embroidered on the sleeves
with blue flowers, ornamented on the right arm with long slips of white ermine, rolled up, with
red feathers, and on the left with tufts of long black hair. Across his shoulder he wore a palatine
of otter skins, at each end of which there was a tassel of slips of ermine. The faces of the
chiefs were painted with vermilion and the blue earth of the Rocky Mountains; they were unfortunately
wet through, especially their beautiful shoes, by the rain falling so inopportunely. The
old Middle-Bull had a venerable look; he was not tall; the expression of his countenance was
goodnatured and thoughtful. He promised to sit for his portrait, which he did in the sequel, unhappily
not in his handsome dress, but in his everyday clothes. The portrait (Plate XLV., the
left-hand figure) is extremely like, and perfectly gives the honest expression of the old man's
countenance.

When the chiefs had taken their places in Mr. Mitchell's room, old Middle-Bull spoke nearly
to the following effect:—"He hoped that the Whites would renounce their bad opinion of them,
and not believe that they took their skins and furs to the English: for it was evidently their (the
Piekanns') own interest to be on good terms with the fort situated in their neighbourhood, the
English settlements being at much too great a distance; that, if some of their people talked of
carrying their beaver skins to the trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, it was merely to try
to obtain goods on lower terms." After this speech the chiefs, having received presents, gradually
withdrew, and the trade began. It was not long before a dispute arose at the gate, in which an
Indian drew his knife against the doorkeeper; but he was turned out by the chief, Penukah-Zenin,
who was still there, and in this manner tranquillity was restored. Meantime, some troops of

Blood Indians had come near the fort, and the Piekanns fired at them with ball, which they
answered, so that the balls whistled over the fort. Mr. Mitchell placed a strong, well-armed guard
at the gate, and we could see, on the heights on the other side of the river, the heads of the
Blood Indians, who had come down to observe what might happen.

We might now be considered completely as prisoners; for, at the gate, there was an incredible
crowd of Indians, who all attempted to enter by force, pushed, crowded, fought, and struggled
with each other, for we could not venture to admit more than a certain number at one time into
the Indian magazines between the two gates. Several well-disposed Indians supported the guard
in this difficult and disagreeable employment; yet, now and then, a man, with desperate violence,
forced his way through the gate, knocked down the guard, and it was a good while before he could
be turned out.

The trade continued on the 1st of September, and we saw in the fort the wife of the chief of
the Blood Indians, who had lately passed by the fort, and who much regretted the misunderstanding
that had arisen between the Piekanns and her tribe. They had entered into a negotiation
with the Piekanns, to atone by presents for their blood-guiltiness, which might lead to an amicable
arrangement.

Among our most interesting visitors were a couple of Sassi Indians; they were slightly-built
men of the middle size, with nothing striking in their appearance, and came to announce the
speedy arrival of a considerable body of their nation, who wished to dispose of their beaver skins.
While the trade was going on very briskly, on account of the number of the men and women, a
report was suddenly spread that the Assiniboins were approaching, on which all the Indians
hastily withdrew; it proved, however, that the alarm had been caused by a new band of the Blackfeet
(Siksekai), who had appeared on the heights. When any single Indians arrived, we saw
them fire their guns at the burnt remains of the enemy lately killed, though they could scarcely
be recognised. Then they generally soon came to us, and looked at Mr. Bodmer while drawing,
which he continued very diligently, and without any opposition being made to it, because he had
remarked that none of the men whose portraits he had drawn, had been lately killed or
wounded. The musical box, in which they fancied that there was a little spirit,[7] and many
other European toys, generally made a lively impression on these people, and afforded them
much amusement.

During the night of the 2nd of September, some Indians had broken a hole through the clay
wall of the Indian magazine, and stolen several articles, among which were some dresses of the
chiefs; and it was evident that the thief must have kept himself concealed in the fort during the

night. Towards seven in the morning we heard some musket shot fired in the fort, and the band
of our friend Kutonapi, about sixty or seventy in number, advanced to the fort, headed by three
chiefs, who were admitted. All the principal chiefs of the Piekanns arrived afterwards, whom
Mr. Mitchell clothed in red uniforms, calico shirts, and every other article of dress—hung about
their necks round looking-glasses, or silver medals with the bust of the president, &c. The most
amusing was when he put on them the new red felt hats, with red plumes of feathers. Their
prodigious, long, thick hair was too large for the hat, and the whole was, therefore, made into a
great bunch, and stuffed into the hat before it could be put on their heads. They suffered themselves
to be dressed like children, and received other presents, such as powder, ball, tobacco,
knives, &c. The dress of every chief might be estimated at ninety dollars. Meantime, the
newly-arrived band of the Siksekai had pitched their tents, and the fort was again surrounded by
a multitude of dangerous men. Sometimes they threatened to fire at our people when they
appeared on the pickets, and several things were stolen in the fort, because many men were still
admitted on account of the trade. The chiefs were constantly begging, as well as the meanest
Indians, and this may be justly stated as a most troublesome habit of the Blackfeet. In this
respect the other tribes have much more delicacy. The Crows, in their visits and negotiations,
presented the Blackfeet with valuable articles, costly feather caps, shields, horses, &c., but
received nothing at all when they came to the latter, by which all the other Indian nations are
incensed against the Blackfeet.

As the Indians became very troublesome towards evening, Mr. Mitchell had all the arms
loaded with ball. Three detachments, each consisting of nine men and an officer, were commanded
to keep guard, and he gave orders to fire from the pickets the instant an Indian attempted
to climb over. All the chiefs were made acquainted with this order, that they might communicate
it to their people. A new report being spread, that a thousand Assiniboins were approaching,
the guards were doubled, and the officers divided, from which we strangers were not excepted.
During this state of imprisonment our horses suffered from want of food, as they could not be
driven into the meadows, and there was but little hay in the fort. The Indians had used or burnt
the hay that was in the prairies higher up on the Missouri, and we were, therefore, much embarrassed
about the horses.

On the 3rd of September, in the morning, some shots were fired, and soon afterwards a new
body of the Siksekai, consisting of between thirty and forty men, arrived, of whom two of the principal
warriors were admitted. They were tall and handsome, in costly new dresses. The name of
the leader was Makuiè-Kinn (the wolf's collar). The other carried in his hand the sign of the
prairie dogs—a long crooked staff wound all round with otter's skin, and adorned with bunches of
feathers. (See the woodcut, page 256.) He told us that this medicine had the effect of rallying
the warriors who were dispersed in the prairie. They told us that the greater portion of their

people were in the north, but that two strong parties of warriors were coming; and, in fact, one
of them, consisting of 150 men, soon appeared on the heights, where it halted, and afterwards came
down to the fort. The chiefs were admitted, but soon dismissed, because they had no articles to
trade with. The proper Blackfeet (Siksekai) and the Blood Indians catch but few beavers, being
chiefly engaged in war parties, and especially selling meat to the Hudson's Bay Company. The
Piekanns, on the other hand, catch the most beavers. Beaver traps (which are lent them) were
distributed among them to-day, and many Indians went away to hunt beavers.

Early in the morning of the 4th of September, the band of the Blood Indians, who had lately
been sent away, were seen approaching the fort, because the trade with the Piekanns was concluded.
Their old chief, Stomik-Sosak (the ox hide), and a medicine man, Pehtonista (who calls himself the
east), entered the fort. The first, a very good old man (see the very striking resemblance of him,
Plate XLVI., the left-hand figure), had saved the life of Mr. Mitchell the year before, when an Indian
was going to run him through with his spear: he is a great friend to the Whites, and resolved, with
his small band, to remain faithful to the fort. He greatly regretted the late unfortunate occurrence,
when his son had shot, by accident, as he affirmed, young Martin; and spoke much of his attachment
to the French, as he called them. He called Mr. Mitchell his son, and added that, "to his
great sorrow, he had been obliged to see the fort every day, without daring to come near it, on
account of the unhappy difference with Ninoch-Kiaiu." One of the Siksekai took off all his
clothes, and laid them down as a present before Mr. Mitchell, on which Stomik-Sosak lent
him his robe to cover him. On such an occasion these people do not hesitate to sit down quite
naked. This was again a very unpleasant day to us, for the press of the savage Siksekai was very
violent. There was no end of their most importunate begging, and dangerous men forced their
way into the fort. Most of them were very characteristic figures; their faces were painted red and
black, with medicine skins trimmed with feathers or bells, with yellow ornaments, or buttons, glass
beads, &c., in their hair. Some of them were excessively curious, clambered about every place,
and wanted to examine everything. An extremely dangerous man forced his way in with the
chiefs, whom we could by no means get rid of, though we repeatedly got the chiefs to desire him
to go out again. His face was painted yellow and red; the expression of his features was that of a
true hostile barbarian. Two years before, at the conclusion of the treaty of peace, he had boasted
to Berger, at the very first interview, that he had already shot five Whites; and it was not without
the greatest difficulty that we could now get rid of this savage.

During the night Mr. Mitchell sent all the good horses belonging to the fort, about twenty
in number, to Fort Union, by land, because we were not able to feed them any longer. Dechamp
and his brother, with Papin and Vachard, were charged with this business, and arrived safe at Fort
Union. The speedy removal of the horses was the more necessary, as the Indians intended to
steal them, and so advantage was taken of the fine moonlight night to send them away.

It was my intention to pass the winter in the Rocky Mountains, and I had the execution of
this project much at heart; but circumstances had arisen which rendered it very difficult, nay,
impossible. A great number of the most dangerous Indians surrounded us on all sides, and had in
particular occupied the country towards the Falls of the Missouri, which was precisely the direction
we should have to take. They had obliged Mr. Mitchell to send away all the serviceable horses; so
that, with the best will in the world, he could not have supplied us with these animals, which were
indispensably necessary. Without an interpreter we could not undertake a journey which was very
difficult for a few persons, and, Doucette having been sent away, Mr. Mitchell had not one left;
at the same time, a long stay, which would be absolutely necessary for our researches in natural
history, was quite out of the question, as we should be obliged, in some sort, to make our way by
stealth. We had before asked old Tatsiki-Stomik whether we should encounter much danger
in such an undertaking? and his answer was, that "the Piekanns might, perhaps, rob us, but would
not probably treat us as enemies; but that the Kahna and the Siksekai were fools, and we must
be on our guard against them;" and, in truth, we might judge of the intentions of the latter, since
they had fired with ball at the Piekanns, though of their own nation, near the fort. For all these
reasons, I therefore found myself compelled to give up my plan of going further up the Missouri,
and therefore asked Mr. Mitchell for a vessel to return down the rivers; but, as he had not one to
spare, he promised to have a new one built for me. As we might any day be attacked by the
Assiniboins, and such an attack might have proved more serious than the preceding, and, at all
events, much valuable time would be lost by our being again imprisoned in the fort, as, in this case,
we should be, not to mention that, autumn being already far advanced, a longer delay promised
us a very unpleasant voyage, I endeavoured to have the work hastened as much as possible, in
which Mr. Mitchell willingly co-operated. We had, besides, got pretty well acquainted with the
Blackfeet Indians, and collected a great number of interesting portraits of them, and could not
hope to observe anything new during the winter, or to add to our collection. As the Assiniboins
were our enemies, to whom our scalps would doubtless have been a very welcome acquisition, I
intended, in case of need, to make use of the night also, and had therefore no time to lose.

Planks were cut for my new Mackinaw boat, and the carpenter or shipwright immediately
set to work in the court-yard of the fort. The weather was rather cool, and the Gros Ventres
des Prairies, who visited us early in the morning, came with their teeth chattering with cold, the
nights being already frosty. A sign of autumn was, that the locusts sought their food on the
shrubs, there being nothing more in the prairies, and the crows began to take their flight in large
flocks to the south.

On the 7th of September, at noon, a band of about sixty Gros Ventres des Prairies, of whom
twenty-nine were mounted, approached the fort. They marched abreast, and then alighted. Mr.
Mitchell went to meet them, and received from them a large horse, blind of one eye, as a present;

after which the Indians were received in the usual manner. Two chiefs, Mexkemauastan and
Eh-Siss (the sun), were the leading men; the latter was a good old man, with a very expressive
countenance. The fort was filled with these Indians, who importuned us for medicines, many of
them having old wounds which had been negleeted. Remedies were given to some for inflammation
in the eye, on which they embraced and kissed us. They had but few things to dispose of. The
women and children begged, and were so troublesome, that it was necessary to shut the gates.

Mr. Bodmer had now taken several views in the environs, and among the rest had begun that
of the Rocky Mountains and the Bear's Paw from the heights behind the fort. (Plate XLIV.) We
went there every day, but were obliged always to have somebody to keep a sharp look-out while
Bodmer was drawing, because we were never safe from a visit of the Indians. Sometimes we
were alarmed by false reports, and returned home without doing anything. We, however,
accomplished our object, and Mr. Bodmer's above-mentioned drawings give a correct idea of that
country.

On the 29th of September, Mr. Mitchell sent Harvey, with thirty more, to begin the
erection of the new fort. They took with them the only pirogue that was left, and also the horses,
for which there was no hay in the fort. After this diminution of our numbers, we had only twenty-eight
persons remaining in the fort. So many Indians had been seen on this day, at a distance,
who did not come to the fort, that it was necessary to have a stronger guard during the night;
and when it was dark, we were alarmed by a shot, but we soon found that it was some of our
people returning from the new fort, who fired as a signal to be brought across the ice. They
brought word that the Gros Ventres had, on the preceding day, killed thirty buffaloes, and we
might, therefore, expect some fresh provision, of which we had been for some time deprived.
Our breakfast as well as our dinner had, for a long time, consisted of old dried meat, in the morning
with coffee, and some bread baked with fat, and at noon with maize boiled in broth. The
maize was now all consumed, and we had only the dry meat, as tough as leather, to eat; we had,
therefore, the more reason to be rejoiced, when, on the 10th of September, the Gros Ventres
brought eighteen horse-loads of fresh meat, all of which we purchased of them with knives, powder,
ball, and other things. On the 11th of September, twenty-one men, belonging to the fort, took
the boat, which had been built for me by the carpenter, Saucier, to the Missouri: the necessary
arrangements for our voyage were made; large cages were made for my two live bears; and kitchen
utensils and beds were procured. The cases, containing my collections, filled a great part of the
boat, which, unfortunately, proved too small. I had received from the Company Henry Morrin
as steersman, and, besides him, three young, inexperienced Canadians, Beauchamp, Urbin, and
Thiebaut, who were ill qualified for such a voyage, and did not even possess serviceable firearms.
Thus, there were only seven persons in the boat, but the time was most valuable, and I
fixed my departure for the 14th of September.