162 



CHAPTER XX. 



01(1 acquaintances. — Indian murders. — Mode of travelling in a dangerous country.— 

 Mexican traders. — Summary way of teaching manners. — Fort Lancaster and sur- 

 rounding country. — Resume journey. — Clierry creelc and connecting observations. — 

 Sketch of the Arapahos, their country, character, &c. — Camp of free traders.— 

 Blackfoot camp. — Daugherty's creek. — Observations relative to the Divide. — Mex- 

 ican cupidity.— Strange visitors.— The lone travellers.— Arrive at the Arkansas. — 

 General remarks.— Curious specimens of cacti — Fontaine qui Bouit, or Natural 

 Soda-fountain. — Indian superstition. — Enchanting scenery. — Extraordmary wall of 

 sandstone. 



At Fort Lancaster I was gratified by meeting with several acquaintances 

 of the previous winter, two of whom had been comrades during a part 

 of my unfortunate and adventurous voyage down the Platte. 



My appearance created no little surprise and pleasure, on all sides. 

 Queries of various kinds were industriously plied, relative to the latest 

 news from the States, and also in reference to the miseries and hardships 

 undergone during the interval of my absence. The dangers of our mode 

 of travelling were freely expatiated upon, and numerous instances of recent 

 Indian hostilities cited to prove our " fool daring." 



Among the latter was an outrage perpetrated by the Chyennes, only two 

 weeks previous, in the murder of three white men, — one of whom was the 

 oldest trapper in the mountains, and had been for some time engaged in the 

 fur trade. 



The murderers had the impudence to ask a scalp-feast from the com- 

 mandant of the Fort, according to custom in case of overcoming their ene- 

 mies in battle ! The hair, however, being recognized as that of a white 

 man, no feast was given. When accused of the murder, they apologized 

 by saying the poor fellow was suffering greatly at the time from recent 

 wounds, and they had killed him out of pity ! 



In our mode of travelling, we always used due precaution to avoid sur- 

 prise and attack. This is easily done, while among buffalo, by noticing 

 their movements, — as these animals invariably flee across the wind upon 

 the approach of man, and neither Indians nor w^hites can traverse their 

 range without setting the whole cotmtry in motion. 



We observed another plan of caution by frequently ascending some emi 

 nence, and scanning the wide expanse, far and near. 



Our general practice was to travel till night, and camp without fire in the 

 open prairie, thus precluding the possibility of being discovered, even though 

 in the immediate vicinity of Indians. 



A party of three or four men can pass through a dangerous country and 

 avoid coming in contact with enemies, provided they exercise a needful vigi- 

 lance much more easily than one of larger numbers. With a large company 



