AN INDIAN CAMP. 351 



panion ; " for, I confess, I am beginning to grow tired ; 

 all the way from St. Louis we have not had a chance of 

 a shot at anything larger than a bird or a hare." 



While thus conversing, we arrived at a place called 

 Ehail Bosiudatak, or " River of the Lofty King," by 

 the Indians, in front of an encampment of the Sioux In- 

 dians, whose wigwams were raised along the bank in a 

 picturesque situation. 



This camp wore a singularly curious aspect in the eyes 

 of a European. The wigwams, with their conical roof, 

 made of tanned deer-skin, and ornamented with fantastic 

 designs, formed a semicircle, in the midst of which, sepa- 

 rated from the others, rose a tent much larger and more 

 sumptuously embellished than those which surrounded it. 



Mr. Simonton, being presented to the chief of the tribe, 

 showed him the cabalistic pass which he had procured at 

 Washington, at the office of the Indian Commission ; and 

 Rahm-o-j-or (for so the chief was named) gave orders that 

 we should be treated as chiefs and brothers. 



Faithful to the traditions of his fathers, and the cus- 

 toms of his nation, the chief filled with fragrant tobacco 

 a pipe made of a red stone, and having solemnly inhaled 

 a few puffs, passed it on to Mr. Simonton, explaining that 

 was the most sacred pledge he could give a pledge from 

 which nothing could release him to protect his new 

 guests, each of whom in turn had the honour of smoking 

 with him the calumet of peace. 



The tribe of Sioux, among whom we were now located, 

 was called Whapootas, and counted four hundred warriors, 

 and five hundred females. Their language was the nur- 



