S5G KXl'EDITION- TO THE 



the Red wood, and rises, in like manner, at the base of the 

 Coteau des Prairies. Nearly opposite to it a small stream 

 falls in ; the Indians call it the Ch^ilba, (that hatches 

 fiparrowhuwks,) the traders term it L\Eau de Vie. On 

 our map we have retained the term Epervier, which, be- 

 ing in use among some of the traders, and intelligible both 

 to French and English travellers, appears likely to prevail. 

 While riding across the prairie that day, we were met 

 by two Indians, who ran towards us with great speed. 

 They proved very friendly in their disposition, and in- 

 formed us, that on the preceding day, they had killed a 

 buffalo bull in that vicinity, and that the Indians on Lake 

 Travers had already killed many, the buffalo being un- 

 usually abundant that season. This news was the more gra- 

 tifying to the party, that they had been for the last few 

 days on short allowance. Having informed the Indians of 

 the spot where we proposed to encamp, they came to it in 

 the evening with their families, and pitched their tents near 

 ours; they then offered us a feast, which we of course ac- 

 cepted, and at which we partook of the buffalo meat, that 

 had been cut into long and thin slices, about one-eighth of 

 an inch thick, eight inches wide, and eighteen long. These 

 had been jerked in the sun, and were subsequently boiled 

 without salt, and served out to us in wooden dishes. It 

 was tough and tasteless, and disappointed those gentlemen 

 of the party who had never eaten of the buffalo meat, and 

 who had heard it highly extolled; this disappointment 

 arose, however, from the circumstance of its being jerked, 

 instead of fresh meat. What remained of the feast was, 

 according to the Indian usage, our proper!}', and we there- 

 fore had it conveyed to our tents. Tlie feast was ushered 

 in with the usual ceremonies of shaking hands;, smoking, 

 &c. 



