1G6 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



Bent's Fort is situated on the left or northern bank of 

 the river Arkansa, about one hundred miles from the foot 

 of the Rocky Mountains on a low and level bluff of the 

 prairie which here slopes gradually to the water's edge. 

 The walls are built entirely of adobes or sun-burned 

 bricks in the form of a hollow square, at two corners of 

 which are circular flanking towers of the same material. 

 The entrance is by a large gateway into the square, round 

 which are the rooms occupied by the traders and employes 

 of the host. These are small in size, with walls coloured 

 by a whitewash made of clay found in the prairie. Their 

 flat roofs are defended along the exterior by parapets of 

 adobe, to serve as a cover to marksmen firing from the 

 top ; and along the coping grow plants of cactus of all the 

 varieties common in the plains. In the centre of the 

 square is the press for packing the furs ; and there are 

 three large rooms, one used as a store and magazine, 

 another as a council-room, where the Indians assemble for 

 their " talks," whilst the third is the common dining-hall, 

 where the traders, trappers, and hunters, and all employes, 

 feast upon the best provender the game-covered country 

 affords. Over the culinary department presided of late 

 years a fair lady of colour, Charlotte by name, who was, 

 as she loved to say, " de onlee lady in de dam Injun 

 country," and who, moreover, was celebrated from Long's 

 Peak to the Cmnbres Espanolas for slapjacks and pump- 

 kin pies. 



Here congregate at certain seasons the merchants of the 

 plains and mountains, with their stocks of peltry. Chiefs 

 of the Shian, the Kioway, and Arapaho, sit in solemn con- 

 clave w r ith the head traders, and smoke the " calumet " 

 over their real and imaginary grievances. Now 0-cun-no- 

 whurst, the Yellow Wolf, grand chief of the Shian, com- 

 plains of certain grave offences against the dignity of his 

 nation ! A trader from the " big lodge " (the fort) has 

 been in his village, and before the trade was opened, in 

 laying the customary chief s gift "on the prairie"* has 



* Indian expression for a free gift. 



