THE SHOSHONIS OR SNAKE INDIANS. 331 



they do not entertain at all. Material pleasures alone are those which 

 a Shoshoni understands. lie can conceive of none aside from those 

 which go towards nourishing the body or appeasing the appetite. The 

 voting man after death continues to hunt, while the old man has every- 

 thing necessary for himself without labor. 



A Shoshoni warrior dressed in all his finery is a picturesque object. 

 He has a fine blanket of blue; blue leggings heavily trimmed with red 

 cloth and masses of white beads; a hunting-shirt of tanned buckskin 

 adorned with heavy fringes of the same along the seams, on the shoul- 

 ders and around the waist and skirts, and dense rows of white and pink 

 beads on the shoulders and outside of the sleeves. His hair is braided 

 up and adorned with brass bosses; huge hoops of brass wire are in his 

 ears, and his fingers are plentifully adorned with brass rings — as many 

 as ten frequently being on one finger. His moccasins are well beaded 

 over, and his broad-brimmed black hat adorned with feathers. His 

 horse, too, comes in for his share of adornment; the check-pieces of the 

 bridle being made of red cloth; the brow-band finely ornamented, and 

 the bit heavy with curved horse-shoe nails. The stock of his rifle is 

 studded with brass nails, as is also the sheath of his knife, while the saddle 

 is covered with heavy cloth. Xo people in the world are more fond of dis- 

 play. These beaux of the wilderness have a high opinion of themselves, 

 and are as grave and dignified as can be; they think the world beside does 

 not contain such finery as is done up on the outside of a Shoshoni brave. 



They are not bloodthirsty as a race, but are inclined to be peaceful, 

 nor are they quarrelsome, but love to take their ease. They know how 

 to appreciate a good horse, and some of them have small herds of cattle. 

 Their history, so far as known, is not a bloody one, they as a general 

 thing preferring to seek the fastnesses of the mountains to fighting. But 

 it must not be inferred from this that they are a cowardly race, they 

 being brave, adventurous, and excellent guides. Until the last few 

 years they were very poor indeed. Words can scarcely express their 

 extreme poverty when first met by white people. They seemed to have 

 very few worldly goods, w.ere indifferently armed, and with great diffi- 

 culty succeeded in taking a tew buffaloes. In the fishing season they 

 caught great quantities of salmon-trout in Snake River, which they pre- 

 served as well as they could for winter use. At times, too, they suc- 

 ceeded in capturing many antelopes, but still they often suffered from 

 hunger and cold, beiug improvident and unskilled in the ways of. pre- 

 serving fish and meat. 



The men among the Shoshonis are true republicans, each one being 

 a sovereign, and subject to no man. lie is sole owner of his wives and 

 daughters and can dispose of them as he sees lit. The children are 

 seldom if ever chastised, as the Indians say it breaks their spirits, and 

 they are ever afterward cowed down. Plurality of wives is very com- 

 mon, an Indian buying as many as he can maintain. Female children 

 are betrothed when very young, and sent oil' to the lodges of their hus- 



