[ I ] 126 



but they are hieroglyphics, as easily read by an intelligent Indian as words by 

 us, and perhaps containing a whole history of some great event. 



The Blackfeet do not place their dead on seaffolds but either in a hole 

 well covered to keep off the wolves, or they leave them in the lodge with 

 everything just as it is when they die. In that case the wolves of course 

 eat their bodies very soon ; and I am told that in this way the body of 

 nearly every Blackfoot is disposed of. When one of them is in mourning 

 he puts white earth on his head and goes out before his lodge wailing most 

 piteously ; as soon as the neighbors see that they all rush to his lodge and 

 take it and everything it contains, leaving him nothing but his horse. The 

 death of a relation is "therefore a very serious affair, since a man loses all 

 his property as well as his friend. How different with us — where a man 

 frequently gains property with the death of a relative. 



A Blackfoot has complete power over his wife ; if he finds her unfaithful, 

 he generally cuts hei- nose off, but he can shoot her down if he chooses to 

 do so, and it is said that it is very common to see good looking young women 

 o-oing about noseless. If a man loves his wife and wishes to overlook any 

 indiscretion of this kind, her own brother may walk into the lodge and say 

 " it is only to-day that you have made me ashamed," and shoot her 

 dead before her husband's face, while he can say not a word. The Blackfeet 

 are taught to beg from their infancy and are adepts in the art. 



Six o'' clock. — We have just started, after the longest detention we have 

 had except for business ; we reached this point about twelve o'clock, and 

 have been here ever since fixing one of the wheels. However, the time 

 was not lost, for the hands have cut enough of wood to take us down to the 

 Fort, and will not have to detain for that purpose after we have unloaded. 



Milk river is said to be about twenty-five miles distant, but we would 

 have reached it to-day, had we not been detained long. The face of the 

 country to-day has been generally rolling prairies, frequently stretching many 

 miles from the river. About eleven o'clock we passed the outlet of a lake 

 or pond a short distance to the north of the river. In twenty-four hours we 

 shafl probably have our face turned homewards, when I shall hurrah for 

 the States. 



Wc have just passed the outlet of a lake which, according to one account 

 is the same as that mentioned this morning ; but according to another, it 

 belono-s to a different lake — if there be but one, it must be ten or twelve 

 miles long. A part of it could be seen when we reached the end of the 

 wood, and it is narrow like a creek and winds considerably. The woods 

 are known as the places where the free men, (those not in the employ of the 

 company,) built themselves a fort, and the lake is sometimes called Free- 

 mens' lake from that circumstance. 



This lake is in one of the most magnificent prairies I have seen ; we are 

 still opposite it, and it sweeps away for miles, at first very level and then 

 terminating in hills, gradually rising and covered with grass. To the south 

 a fine prospect is also seen, but then the hills rise from the river and in the 

 distance black spots show that buffalo are there. The bute at Milk river is 

 now easily seen. Just passed a small stream called the Little river, coming 

 in from the south, marked but not named on the map. 



Thursday, June 20 — Eight o^ clock. — This morning we were off as 

 usual, about half-past three o'clock ; soon afterwards passed a small stream 

 on the south, generally called Dry Fork, though at present it contains 

 water. At half-past seven o'clock we passed Porcupine river coming in 



