IN THE FAR WEST. 261 



as I had a load of peltries, and went back to the settlements 

 for three months. 



" I saw Jem again during the Snake War, as I was a 

 Government scout, and did him a good turn when the Injuns 

 were whipped ; I have also met him several times since 

 then, and always treated him kindly, so that he ought 

 to remember me, and if he didn't do me a kindness, I should 

 consider he was meaner than a rattlesnake, or a tarantula and 

 a skunk put together." 



While this tale was being told he was preparing breakfast, 

 and when we finished that, he proposed that we should visit 

 the Indian camp and call at the cemetery on our way back. 



A walk of twenty minutes brought us to their village, which 

 was picturesquely situated on the banks of the rivulet, and on 

 the edge of the forest. When we entered, the chief met us 



~ ' 



and led us to his wigwam, and we were soon reinforced by 

 several others, who had come in to meet the friendly strangers. 

 As soon as all were seated, the chief drew a long and large 

 black slate pipe out of a dirty bag, and filled it with tobacco ; 

 and while he was doing this my companion told me it was 

 intended as a sign of welcome, and that when it was passing 

 around I should not speak a word, as even a whisper was con- 

 sidered to be bad medicine, and sure to bring them ill-luck, 

 and to break its spell the pipe would have to be refilled and 

 the same ceremony gone through with ab initio. " I know 

 you don't want to keep that pipe long in your mouth/' said 

 he naively, " for it's old, foul, and dirty." I promised com- 

 pliance with his request, and the ceremony commenced. The 

 chief first took a few whiffs in the most grave and formal 

 manner, then handed the pipe to my friend, and when he had 

 taken two or three pulls it was handed to me, and so it went 

 all round the squatters. When all had taken a puff, the 

 chief told them in short, broken sentences, which were vigorous 

 though solemn, how kind a friend my companion had been, 

 and when he finished his oration there was a unanimous 

 " uch " of approbation, which proved how thoroughly the 

 friendship was appreciated. 



The guest answered them sententiously, and explained to 



