IN THE OLD WEST 129 



of the liquor and cheeks distended, through the 

 throng, and is instantly surrounded by his par- 

 ticular friends. Drawing the face of each, by 

 turns, near his own, he squirts a small quantity 

 into his open mouth, until the supply is exhausted, 

 when he returns for more, and repeats the gener- 

 ous distribution. 



When paying for the robes, the traders, in 

 measuring out the liquor in a tin half-pint cup, 

 thrust their thumbs or the four fingers of the hand 

 into the measure, in order that it may contain the 

 less, or not unfrequently fill the bottom with melted 

 buffalo fat, with the same object. So greedy 

 are the Indians that they never discover the cheat, 

 and, once under the influence of the liquor, cannot 

 distinguish between the first cup of comparatively 

 strong spirit, and the following ones diluted five 

 hundred per cent., and poisonously drugged to 

 boot. 



Scenes of drunkenness, riot, and bloodshed last 

 until the trade is over. In the winter it occupies 

 several weeks, during which period the Indians 

 present the appearance, under the demoralizing 

 influence of the liquor, of demons rather than of 

 men. 



