274 PRESENTS. 



In the meantime the old squaw had drawn near, 

 with her two hopefuls clinging to her. When the 

 pipe was produced she squatted, but as the pou-wow 

 was not one in which her sex is allowed to share, 

 she amused herself in searching the black elfin locks 

 of her youngest child for certain unnecessary para- 

 sites. The skill with which the monkeys at Regent's 

 Park Gardens perform this office for each other, and 

 the celerity with which the captives are secured and 

 dealt with, was on this occasion quite equalled by 

 the loving and anxious mother. Assuming an ad- 

 ditional air of pompousness I drew the eyes of all 

 towards myself, while with great gravity I produced 

 a small package of scarlet cloth, which, while the 

 eyes of all glittered with curiosity, I unfolded with 

 the greatest care, taking from it two brightly-tinned 

 fish-hooks. These I gave to the youngest son, who 

 accepted them with diffident eagerness, while the 

 orbits of his parents and brother glowed with covet- 

 ousness. Two more hooks were handed to the elder 

 boy, who smiled with pleasure as he received them. 

 Three were then handed to the old woman, and four 

 to her lord and master, all evincing the most indis- 

 putable evidences of satisfaction. 



As it was now late in the afternoon I took leave 

 of this happy family, with many protestations of 

 friendship, and joined my friend about sunset. My 

 protracted absence had caused him some alarm, for 

 in his route he had passed trails that indicated the 

 presence of Indians ; and, like a true American, their 



