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all countries, while waiting for their dinners ; there was no laughing or jest- 

 ing unbecoming the serious business before them, but the various pipes were 

 passed round in profound silence. They were all in full dress, presenting an 

 amusing mixture of savage and civilized costumes ; many of them had fur 

 caps, decorated with handsome plumes of the ostrich feathers, dyed red ; 

 others had on the much coveted soldier coat, and all wore highly orna- 

 mented Indian dress. There was a most agreeable variety of faces, exhi- 

 biting all degrees, from that of the stern old brave to the light-hearted 

 daring young scalp taker. There were several who had an amiable and 

 intellectual expression of countenance ; they were tall, lightly framed, and 

 with the features of the face delicate and long. Among these were four 

 brothers, noble-hearted fellows, the sons of an old man, whose bones I hope 

 to carry away with me. 



These were the Indians that Gilpin traded with, and he said they were 

 all strongly attached to him — that they are most excellent men, although 

 they certainly bear a bad name with the other traders. He said that the 

 young braves of noble families despise a mean action, such as not paying for 

 anything a trader might advance them on credit — that they would cast it up 

 as a reproach to any one who should fail in so doing. One of them who 

 sat near recognized me as a brother of Alexander ; he asked Gilpin if 

 I was not, and then gave me a friendly shake of the hand. After all were 

 in, and each had his pan, (they provide their own utensils for eating here,) 

 this one arose, shook hands with Gilpin, myself and the Little Bear, a chief 

 of another tribe, and made a short speech, returning thanks for the feast, 

 &c. When he closed, an old pale-fliced warrior came forward, shook hands 

 with us, and remaining on his feet began a speech. "Ah," said Gilpin, 

 " that old fellow can speak, he is a second John Q.Adams. " I regarded 

 him attentively ; he was of the common height, broad shouldered, with an 

 expansive forehead, and that style of prominent and large features which 

 indicates intellect and sternness. He stood erect, with his left hand holding 

 his blanket, and with his right making gestures continually. Never did I 

 listen to a more ready flow of language, or to a more self composed, dig- 

 nified speaker, whether he addressed us or turned to the Indians on either 

 side of him. His speech was also a complimentary one, and was short, as 

 the dinner was getting cold. He concluded, and two young men took the 

 office of waiters ; they had no light task, and before they got through had 

 burnt their fingers, and made the sweat roll from their faces. It was 

 pleasing to observe the quiet and decorum throughout the whole scene ; 

 each one waited patiently until his turn came, and then modestly received 

 his cracker, meat or coffee. The Little Bear, the old man and an invited 

 guest, had no dish, and when the coffee was being served out, a large tin 

 mug was got for him ; the young man who was serving, instead of passing 

 on, waited until the mug was brought, and then gave the old man a treble 

 portion, being a very pleasing instance of politeness and respect. As they 

 drank their coffee nearly every one, especially the old man, made their 

 compliments to us, as we do in drinking wine. The feast went on cheer- 

 fully, and towards the conclusion, our old man started a song, or rather a 

 howl of thanks, which was caught up and echod by several. Gilpin tells 

 me that these songs have only an occasional word and that it is the same 

 with nearly all their songs. The tobacco was then distributed, two plugs 

 being given to each ; but the young men, being able to kill buffalo and buy 

 tobacco, gave their portion to some of their friends too old for the hunt. I 



