330 ON THE FBONTIER 



distributed, fuel collected, fires lit, and our wild visitors were 

 grinning, chattering, laughing, and singing, elated with the 

 anticipation of the coming revel. There was no immediate 

 danger to be apprehended ; and we, as spectators, were as 

 much amused at the scene as the Indians were pleased at 

 being performers ; Indians in a state of hilarity and friend- 

 liness, their women singing and quarrelling, and the little 

 ones playing about, being a most novel sight to the soldiers, 

 and an entertaining one to us all. 



Pah-Squal stated there could be no council that day, 

 for that as soon as his people commenced to eat they 

 would think of nothing else, and never stop until they 

 could hold no more, which would not be before night. 

 The event more than proved the truth of this statement; 

 for, indeed, they were eating all night ; those who had 

 " choked off" first sleeping awhile, and then, recovering a 

 second appetite towards the small hours, going to work 

 again, and trying to eat some more. But daylight found all 

 the Apache- Yumayas lying around, sleeping soundly, like so 

 many gorged boa-constrictors. 



