124 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



mountaineer. Throwing aside all the qualms and 

 conscientious scruples of a fastidious stomach, it must 

 be confessed that dog-meat takes a high rank in the 

 wonderful variety of cuisine afforded to the gourmand 

 and the gourmet by the prolific " mountains." Now, 

 when the bill of fare offers such tempting viands as 

 buffalo beef, venison, mountain mutton, turkey, grouse, 

 wildfowl, hares, rabbits, beaver and their tails, &c. &c., 

 the station assigned to " dog " as No. 2 in the list can 

 be well appreciated No. 1, in delicacy of flavour, 

 richness of meat, and other good qualities, being the 

 flesh of panthers, which surpasses every other, and all 

 put together. 



" Painter meat can't ' shine' with this," says a hunter, 

 to express the delicious flavour of an extraordinary cut 

 of " tender loin," or delicate fleece. 



La Bonte started with his squaw for the North Fork 

 early in November, and arrived at the Laramie at the 

 moment that the big village of the Sioux came up for 

 their winter trade. Two other villages were encamped 

 lower down the Platte, including the Brules and the 

 Yanka-taus, who were now on more friendly terms with 

 the whites. The first band numbered several hundred 

 lodges, and presented quite an imposing appearance, the 

 village being laid out in parallel lines, the lodge of each 

 chief being marked with his particular totem. The 

 traders had a particular portion of the village allotted 

 to them, and a line was marked out, which was strictly 

 kept by the soldiers appointed for the protection of the 

 whites. As there were many rival traders, and numerous 



