228 ON THE FRONTIEB. 



a necklet of human teeth ; and another, one made of the 

 dried tips of human fingers with the nails on. 



They were a well-armed party, nearly every man 

 having his Hawkins' rifle, Colt's revolver, knife, toma- 

 hawk, bow and arrows, and lasso. And all were hideously 

 painted. 



One of them had the most beautiful lasso I have ever 

 seen. It was a plaited one, made with thirty-two fine 

 strands of picked buckskin, and sixty feet long. It was 

 soft and supple as a silk cord, strong enough to hold a 

 bull, and worth a horse. 



We went from tepee to tepee trading for trifles, not 

 with any view to profit, but to make our visit more 

 interesting to the Utes, to obtain objects of curiosity 

 examples of Indian handiwork and skill and for the fun 

 of the thing. We were accompanied on our round by an 

 ever-increasing crowd, all in a high state of merriment. 

 Judging by the numbers talking at a time, their laughter 

 and expressive gestures, their glances, signs, and grimaces, 

 it was very evident no end of chaffing was going on. Our 

 trading was only done with the women. The slight value 

 of the articles dealt in, and the smallness of the trans- 

 actions, rendered the traffic quite beneath the dignity of 

 warriors, and unworthy of their serious attention. But 

 the women were delighted at a chance to achieve at the 

 same time two ends, each dear to the (savage) female 

 breast making good bargains, and attracting attention. 

 The fact of our seriously bargaining for such toys, and 

 the eager emulation of the women, seemed to be considered 

 great fun by all. Even Old Deportment, alias Old Silver 



