104 EXPEDITION TO WHITE RIVER. 



The winter trade was now considered fully opened. Parties were sen* 

 witli goods from the Fort to ditFerent villages, for the purpose of barter, 

 and alpdirs began to show a business-like appearance. 



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

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

 liquor. 



Our visitors crowded tlie Fort houses in quest of aiticles of plunder, 

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

 in particular, was tlironged almost to the exclusion of its regular occu* 

 pants. The latter, losing all patience, at lengtli hit upon a plan to lid 

 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 tiie 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- 

 knife's medicine,* they replied : 



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

 medicine is strong .') 



During their stay at the Fort, an incident occurred which w^ill 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 drunl^en trader, which came very near terminating in 

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

 had not the whites promptly interfered, and, wuth 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 aggies- 

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

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

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



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

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

 the difficulty. 



An Indian considers it tlie 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 trespass offering on the part of the aggressor, he is almost 

 sure to seek revenge, either tlirough blood or the destruction ol propeiiv- 

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

 In fact, the Snakes, Crows, Arapahos, Chyennes, and most other tiibes arc 

 far leas nice in its observance, — tliough all regard the Uke an insult thai 

 justly calls for revenge. 



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

 Fork Platte, and another to White "ft ver, an affluent of the Missouri, some 



*This word, in Indian signification , means any person or tiling possessed ot '.xtta- 

 '"-;'■ tti7 or supernatural powers, as well as any act for conciliating the favor ary» 

 obtaining the aasistanoe of the Great Spirit. TJiai medicine is the strongest which w 

 the most efficient for its intended purposes. 



