172 A TEMPERANCE NATION. 



They were Crows, and. having discovered us the afternoon before, now 

 came for a morning call. 



The chief of tlie band bore the name of Little Robber, and was a large, 

 portly, well-made man, as, in fact, were all his party. He wap recognized 

 by one of us as an old acquaintance, and was greeted as such, when several 

 of his people came forward to shake hands, and we were soon on most 

 friendly terms. 



They informed us, by means of signs, that they were advancing againsi 

 the Sioux, and tlieir village was encamped upon a neighboring creek, 8 

 little to the right, — after which they insisted upon our accompanpng them 

 to it. 



Not waiting for further ceremony, they drove up our horses and com 

 menced saddling them. Supposing it useless to resist, we yielded compU 

 ance to their wishes, and, in about an hour's ride, came to the village 

 Here we were inducted to the chiefs lodge, where commenced a series oi 

 feastings peculiar to Indians on occasions like this. 



The Crows are a nation living upon the waters of the Yellow-st »^e, at 

 a distance of about four hundred miles west-nortliwest of Fort llatte. 

 Their number embraces not far from four hundred and fifty or five hundred 

 lodges, being something near four thousand men, women, and children. 



Ten or tv/elve years since they were enemies to the whites, but, more 

 recently, hare been on friendly terms. 



They never kill or injure the white man who comes within their power, 

 and rarely take from him anything withiout returning for it an equivalent. 

 For instance, — they may take his robe, horse, or gun ; but, in tliat case, 

 they will return anotJier robe, horse, or gun ; acting upon the principle 

 that " exchange is no robbery," even though it be compulsory. 



Less contaminated by intercourse with the whites than most moimtain 

 tribes, tliey will tolerate the importation of liquor among them upon no con- 

 sideration, not even by traders for their own individual use. Whenever it- 

 is ascertained that any one in their vicinity, whether white man or Indian, 

 is in possession of that article, they take it from him, if necessary, by force. 

 and pour it upon the ground. 



Their bitter hatred of this vile stuff", is said to have resulted in the fol- 

 lowing strange manner : 



The whites, as usual, came tirst among them bringing alcohol ; and, at a 

 feast given to the chiefs, soon after, several of the latter became intoxicated 

 from too la\dsh potations of the new and curious drink. 



In common with inebriates of civilized society, they acted very foolishly, 

 and, on appearing before their people, the drunken chiefs became tlie sub- 

 ject of ridicule. This so shamed them, that, upon the return of sobriety, 

 they could not be persuaded to taste another drop, and thereafter made use 

 of their united influence to prevent its introduction and sale. 



Ever since the above occurrence, alcohol has received, from the Crows, 

 the appellation of " FooVs Water,'' a term at once attesting their nice 

 moral discernment and good sense. 



Several years since, a missionary, on visiting them, began throoffh 

 va. interpreter to rehearse the story how sin first came into the worU, 

 uid how al men had become bad — whether white or red. 



