OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT. 79 



They exercise a kind of supervisory office in the management of affairs 

 which could not well be dipensed with, — and very often have the lives of 

 traders been preserved by the judgment and discretion of these men. 



Dec. 25th. Christmas finds us in our new residence, which, with the ex- 

 ception of a chimney, is now completed. 



This great annual festival is observed with all the exhilarating hilarity 

 and good cheer that circumstances will allow. Several little extras for 

 the occasion have been procured from the Indians, which prove quite whole- 

 some and pleasant-tasted. One of these, called washena, consists of 

 dried meat pulverized and mixed with marrow ; another is a preparation 

 of cherries, preserved when first picked by pounding and sun-drying them, 

 (they are served by mixing them with bouillie, or the liquor of fresh-boiled 

 meat, thus giving to it an agreeable winish taste ;) a third is marrow-fat, 

 an article in many respects superior to butter ; and, lastly, we obtained a 

 kind of flour made from the poinme blanc, (white apple,) answering very 

 well as a substitute for that of grain. 



The above assortment, with a small supply of sugar and coflTee, as well as 

 several other dainties variously prepared, affords an excellent dinner, — and, 

 though different in kind, by no means inferior in quality to the generalit} 

 of dinners for which the day is noted in more civilized communities. 



The day following our turbulent neighbors were augmented in num- 

 ber by the accession of another village of Brules, and Marto-cogershne, of 

 whom I have spoken upon a former occasion, became with his family our 

 constant annoyance. 



Visiting us at one time, squaws and all — as was his daily custom — to 

 beg liquor, (which, some way or other, he always obtained,) the brother of 

 our tormentor demanded a quantity of that article to take with him to his 

 lodge. This, after many sharp words, w^as offered; but, having no vessel 

 for its conveyance, he extended his demands to a kettle, — which, of course, 

 was refused ; whereupon he threatened vengeance unless both were forth- 

 coming upon the mocosco,* (prairie,) and required still farther the gift of 

 a pair of moccasins. 



Our trader replied, " The liquor is for you, and here are the moccasins, 

 (pulling off his own and passing them to him,) but the kettle you cannot 

 have." 



The affair thus ended for the present, and the modest beggar retired to 

 his lodge. The next morning, however, two of our horses were found 

 pierced with arrows, and so badly, that they died soon after. 



At another time, Marto-cogershne became so enraged at being refused a 

 whole keg of liquor " on the prairie," he rushed upon the trader with his 

 butcher-knife to kill him. What would have been the result, it is hard to 

 tell, had I not stayed the descending weapon by seizing the fellow's arm. 

 Here our soldiers interfered and put him out of the house, — closing the 

 door upon him. The exasperated savage then commenced shooting upon 

 us through the door ; — two Indian boys passing in the interval also furnish- 



* Tliis expression implies the bestowment of anything as a free gift. It is also used 

 to denote a random way of speaking with regard to truth. 



