26 SCENES AT NORTJI FORK OF BLUE. 



ingenuity to obtain the wherewith to " wet his whistle.^^ He was a shriv- 

 el-faced old man, and occasioned much sport, fi-om his supphcations in 

 broken English, which ran pretty much as follows : 



" Big man, me. Chief, — Black Warrior. Me, American soldier ! Love 

 Americans, heap. Big man, me ! Love whiskey, heap. White man 

 good. Whiskey good. Love whiskey, me, — drink heap whiskey. No 

 give me whiskey drink ? Me, Chief. Me, American. Me, Black War- 

 rior. Heap big man, me ! Love Americans. Take him hand, shake. 

 White man good. Whiskey good. Me love whiskey ! Love him heap ! 

 No give Black Warrior whiskey ? No ? — one leetle drink ? Whiskey 

 good. Me love him. Make Black Warrior strong. Big man, me, — 

 Chief. American soldier. Me love American. Shake him hand. Fight 

 him, bad Indian, no love white man. Kill him. White man good. Me 

 love white man. Whiskey good. Me love whiskey. No give Black 

 Warrior whiskey, — one leetle drink ? Me, Chief. Big man, me." Etc. 



In this strain the old fellow continued so long as he found listeners, but 

 without success, although, as I afterwards learned, two waggons were 

 freighted with the noxious article ; none of it was suffered to find its way 

 down the throats of our thirsty guests. 



Pursuing a westerly course, nearly parallel with the Kansas, for three 

 successive days, we passed the 14th encamped at Big Vermilion, for the 

 purpose of procuring a quantity of hickory for gun-sticks and bow-timber. 

 Hickory is unknown to the Rocky Mountains, and this being the last place 

 on the route affording it, each of our company took care to provide himself 

 with an extra gun-stick. Small pieces, suitable for bows, find market 

 among the mountain Indians, ranging at the price of a robe each, 

 while gun-sticks command one dollar apiece, from the hunters and trap- 

 pers. 



We were also careful to provide an extra quantity of ox-bows, axle-trees, 

 &c., as a resource in case of accidents or breakage. These are articles 

 with which every caravan should be furnished on a journey across the 

 grand prairies. 



In this vicinity a species of shrub, which I had before noticed in various 

 places, (designated as "red-root" by ourvoyageurs,) became quite abundant. 

 The red-root is highly esteemed as a substitute for tea, and my own expe- 

 rience attests its superiority of flavor to any article of that kind imported 

 from China. In appearance it is very similar to the tea of commerce, and 

 it affords at all times a most excellent beverage. It is found only upon the 

 prairies between the frontiers and Big Blue, and in some portions of tlie 

 Rocky Mountains. 



Leaving Big Vermilion, we travelled rapidly the two days subsequent, 

 and arrived at the North Fork of Blue, — a large and deep stream, tributary to 

 the Kansas. We were here detained till the 24th — the creek being im- 

 passable on account of high water. 



However, the beauty of the place and variety of its landscape scenery, 

 served in a great measure to alleviate the weariness of delay. The coun- 

 try was most agreeably interspersed with hills, uplands, and dales — amply 

 watered and variegated with woods and prairies, attired in all the gaudy 

 loveliness of wild-flowers. The busy bee, afraid of the cruel persecutions 

 of man, had here sought a secure retreat to pursue, unmolested, her 



