LIFE AMONG THE IXDIANS. 107 



It was an Indian camp, and all were occupied in 

 pitching their tents, and preparing for the night. 

 Here, were some cutting tent-poles with their toma- 

 hawks ; there, women collecting firewood for cooking ; 

 men securing the horses by hobbling their fore-legs ; 

 another skinning a deer. In short, it was life in the 

 wilds in highest force. I should never have tired 

 of looking at these noble muscular figures, their faces 

 marked with various ochres, their heads adorned with 

 feathers, and their bright-colored dresses. 



I was not long allowed to remain a spectator, for the 

 dogs barked and ran at me. Breaking oil' a green 

 bough, I went with it to the camp. The Indians 

 called off the dogs, and all eyes were now directed 

 towards the stranger. Going up to a group of young 

 men, who were stretching a deer-skin, I asked if any of 

 them spoke Kngli.-h, and was directed to an elderly 

 man, who was sitting smoking under a tree and 

 watching me. I told him that I was a traveller, that 

 I wished to return to the banks of the lied river, and 

 asked if I could pass the night in his camp. A con- 

 siderable group of young men had in the mean time 

 assembled round us. At length the old man asked 

 "Are white- men so scarce that you come alone into 

 the wilderness ?" I replied that I had only come for 

 the sake of shooting, and now wished to return. In- 

 stead of an answer, he silently gave me his pipe, out of 

 which I took a few whin's, and then handed it to one of 

 the [ndians standing near me. lie did the same. :md 

 returned it to the chief. I now sat down beside him. 

 lie asked a great manv questions, amon^.-t others, how 

 I had torn my coat so badly? "\Yhcreupon I related 



