72 EXPEDITION TO WHITE RIVER. 



The winter trade was now considered fully opened. Parties were sent 

 with goods from the Fort to different villages, for the purpose of barter, 

 and affairs 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 the Fort houses in quest of articles of plunder, 

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

 in particular, was thronged almost to the exclusion of its regular occu- 

 pants. The latter, losing all patience, at length hit upon a plan to rid 

 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 the apartment became tilled 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-huska tour !" (Ugh ! The Long-knife's 

 medicine is strong !) 



During their stay at the Fort, an incident occurred which will serve to 

 illustrate a singular trait in the character of these Indians. 



A brave, named Bello-tunga, (Big Eagle,) received a blow over the head 

 from a half crazed drunken trader, which came very near terminating in 

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

 had not the whites promptly interfered, and, with 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 aggres- 

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

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

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



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

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

 the difficulty. 



An Indian considers it the 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 tresjja^s offering on tlie part of the aggressor, he is almost 

 sure to seek revenge, either through blood or the destruction of property. 

 This is a more especial characteristic of the JSioux than of any other nation. 

 In fact, the Snakes, Crows, Arapahos, Chyennes, and most other tribes are 

 far less nice in its observance, — though all regard the like an insult that 

 justly calls for revenge. 



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

 Fork Platte, and another to White river, an affluent of the Missouri, some 



* This word, in Indian signification, means any person or thing possessed of extra- 

 ordinary or supernatural powers, as well as any act for conciliating the favor and 

 obtaining the assistance of the Great Spii-it. Tliat medicine is the strongest wliich ia 

 tlie most eftjcient for its intended purposes. 



