72 EXPEDITION TO WHITE RIVER. 



The winter trade was now considered fully opened. Parties were sent 

 with goods from the Fort to different villages, lor the purpose of barter, 

 and aflairs began to show a business-like appearance. 



Some two weeks subsequently, a band of Brule s arrived in the vicinity. 

 They had come for a drunken spree, and soon opened a brisk trade in 

 liquor. 



Our visitors crowded the Fort houses in quest of articles of plunder, 

 and became an incessant source of annoyance to the engages. One room, 

 in particular, was thronged almost to the exclusion of its regular occu- 

 pants. The latter, losing all patience, at length hit upon a plan to rid 

 themselves of the intruders. 



After closely covering the chimney funnel, by aid of some half rotten 

 chips a smoke was raised ; the doors and windows being closed to prevent its 

 egress. In an instant the apartment became filled to suffocation, — quite 

 too much so for the endurance of the wondering savages, who gladly with- 

 drew to gain the pure air of the exterior. On being told it was the Long- 

 knifo's medicine,* they replied : 



" Ugh ! Wakea sutiello ha Mena-huska tour !" (Ugh ! The Long-knife's 

 medicine is strong !) 



During their stay at the Foil, an incident occurred which will serve to 

 illustrate a, singular trait in the character of these Indians. 



A brave, named Bello-tunga, (Big Eagle,) received a blow over tlie head 

 from a half crazed drunken trader, which came very near terminating in 

 serious consequences. What would have been the result, it is hard to tell, 

 had not the whites promptly interfered, and, with much effort, succeeded in 

 pacifying the enraged savage by presenting him a horse. 



At first he would admit of no compromise short of the offender's blood — 

 he had been struck by the pale-face, and blood must atone for the aggres- 

 sion, — unless that should wipe out the disgrace, he could never again lilt 

 up his head among his people, — they would call him a coward, and say the 

 white man struck Bello-tunga and he dared not to resent it. 



The services of his father, hereupon, were secured in behalf of the 

 offending party, which, after great ado, finally eflected an adjustment of 

 the difficulty. 



An Indian considers it the greatest indignity to receive a blow from any 

 one, even from his own brother ; — and, unless the affair is settled by the 

 bestowment of a tres^iass offering on tlie part of the aggressor, he is almost 

 sure to seek revenge, either through blood or the destruction of property. 

 This is a more especial characteristic of the Sioux than of any other nation. 

 In fact, the Snakes, Crows, Arapahos, Chyennes, and most other tribes are 

 far less nice in its observance, — though all regard the like an insult that 

 justly calls for revenge. 



Soon after, an expedition was detached to Fort Lancaster, on the South 

 Fork Platte, and another to White river, an affluent of the Missouri, some 



*Tliis word, in Indian si^niification, means any person or thing possessed of extra- 

 ordinary or supernatural powers, as well as any act for conciliating the favor and 

 obtaining the assistance of the Great Spirit. That medicine is the strongest which is 

 tlie most efficient for its intended purposes. 



