80 INDIAN SUPERSTITIONS. 



ed marks for his gun, and not long subsequently a mule and an ox belong- 

 ing to us fell to appease his insulted dignity. 



However, the chef cfoiivre of his rascality was exhibited in stealing our 

 whole cavallard* consisting of ten head of horses and mules, which he 

 drove into the mountains. We were compelled to give a quantity of liquor 

 and ammunition, two blankets, and several other articles before we could 

 secure their return. 



From the movement of things, he was evidently instigated by the Ameri- 

 can Fur Company traders to do us all the mischief in his power. Certain 

 it is, he was their regular " soldier," and received from them numerous 

 presents in consideration of his good conduct. 



The employees of this company are frequently guilty of such disgrace- 

 ful conduct. In connection w4th this conclusion I might cite instance 

 upon instance, and string out a volume of proof, were it necessary. 



Soon after Christmas we commenced erecting our chimney. The ma- 

 terials for it were procured from an adjoining bank. While engaged in 

 quarrying them, the operator came to a crevice filled with a strange 

 fleshy substance, coiled together like the folds of a huge rope. " Hallo !" 

 cried he, with astonishment, "here's the Devil, himself!" 



The extraordinary announcement brought all hands to the spot to get a 

 peep at •' Old Nick," and the Indians, also, witnessing the unusual conuno- 

 tion, came hurrying up to learn its cause. 



The result proved, that, if not the Devil, it was his great prototype, — it 

 was that " Old Serpent," with all his progeny. 



By means of a stick, thirty-six large snakes were exposed to view, — 

 some of them six feet in length. They w^ere in a torpid state, the result 

 of the severe cold of winter. 



Having drawn them out, one by one, it was proposed to treat them to a 

 warm bath. Accordingly, after placing them in a hole for the purpose, a 

 keetle of scalding water was thrown upon them. The vivifying effects of 

 this unwonted application restored them to a sudden animation, when, 

 wriggling and twisting for a few moments in all the contortions of agony, 

 they at last tacitly curled up and expired. 



The Indians were much shocked on seeing this, and expressed their 

 astonishment at our reckless presumption by their deeply accented " tula," 

 — turning away from the spot with evident emotions of terror. 

 y On inquiring the cause, I learned in answer, that the various Indian 

 tribes in the vicinity of the mountains are accustomed to regard the snake 

 with a kind of superstitious veneration, and consider the act of killing it 

 a sure harbinger of calamity. In the observance of this singular 

 notion, they are scrupulously exact ; — but, in despite of repeated inquries, 

 I have been unable to obtain the reasons upon which the whim is based. 



These tribes cherish many religious tenets, rites, and customs, — some 

 general and others peculiar only to individuals, 



* This is a mountain phrase of Spanish origin, (cavellardo,) and means a band of 

 horses or mules. 



