THE BISON, OR BUFFALO. 287 



up, escorted by the Chief and Duquesne. She 

 wished me to teach her how to phxy upon the guitar. 

 I hardly knew how to phiy upon it myself, and yet 

 I consented to teach the young Indian maiden. 

 Every evening she came to me, and in a fortnight 

 her pretty little hands were more skilful than mine 

 were. 



The day before our departure Otami came to me 

 and asked me as a great favour to exchange the 

 guitar for a very complete and beautifully embroidered 

 Sioux costume, which she had made with her own 

 hands. I had already intended to offer her the toy, 

 which was of no real use to me, so I told her that 

 although it had been my intention to give it to 

 her without any return, I could not resist the plea- 

 sure of accei)ting, by way of souvenir, the beautiful 

 present which she offered me. It was indeed a 

 remarkably well-made costume. It was made of 

 the hide of the deer, prepared as only the Indians 

 know how to prepare it, and embroidered with 

 patterns of porcupine quills in all manner of colours. 

 The hunting- shirt bordered with fringe, the leggings, 

 the moccasins, girdle and head-dress, ornamented 

 with beautiful red, blue, black and green feathers, 

 the calumet, pouch for ammunition, and gloves, all 

 fitted me so well that when I put them on I should 

 have looked like a genuine Sioux warrior if I had 

 only been tattooed in the orthodox fashion. 



The bargain was now concluded, as the reader 



