168 THE CAPTIVE HANDED OVER. 
All the chiefs assembled at the fort in the 
evening to receive payment, and hand over the 
slave. Squatting on their heels, nose and knees 
together, their backs against the wall, they 
formed a circle. The pipe produced (nothing 
can be done without it); I say pipe, for one 
only is used; filled snd lighted, it passes from 
imouth to mouth; each, taking a good pull, puffs 
the smoke slowly from his nostrils. The thirty 
blankets and two guns being piled in the centre 
of this strange assemblage, the slave was led 
in. Each blanket underwent a most careful 
inspection ; the guns, snapped and pointed, were 
finally approved of. A husky grunt, from each 
of the council, denoting general approval, the 
euns and blankets were carried off in triumph, 
and we became the fortunate possessors of this 
strange purchase. 
Whilst in the fort I was tolerably exempt 
from the insatiable and most annoying curio- 
sity, that induces Indians to watch everything 
a stranger does. One oily old chief, however, 
always contrived to get into my room in time to 
see me dress. He used to stalk in, squat down 
rolled in a dirty blanket, and testify his pleasure 
by a series of grunts slightly varied im tone. 
He was certainly the most blubbery-looking 
