SKETCH OF THE CHYENNES. 159 



I sliall take occasion in subsequent pages to speak of medicine-making, 

 and would refer the reader to that part for an exp'anation of the peculiar 

 purposes for which the medicine lodge is constructed. 



The river at Chabonard's camp is reduced fully one half in width, com- 

 pared with its size at the forks. The current is also clearer and more 

 rapid. Its banks and islands are much better timbered, and its general ap- 

 pearance indicates an approach to the mountains. 



About noon we bade farewell to our new friends, by whom we had been 

 kindly entertained, and resumed our journey, accompanied by my whilom 

 companion and two others, — increasing our number to six. 



Towards sundown, coming to a small village of Chyennes, we passed the 

 night in the lodge of a chief, called the Tall Soldier. Our host treated us 

 with much civility, but in this he appeared actuated only by selfish motives, 

 and with the sole view of extorting a more than fourfold equivalent by 

 way of presents. 



We were also continually harassed by beggars from all quarters, and 

 gladly availed ourselves of the first dawn of the ensuing morning to pass 

 on, and thus escape their importunities. 



The Chyennes at this time occupy a portion of the Arapaho lands, bor- 

 dering upon the South Fork and its affluents. 



Some six or eight years since, they inhabited the country in the vicinity 

 of the Chyenne and White rivers and the North Fork of Platte, from whence 

 they were driven by the hostile incursions of the Sioux, who now hold in 

 quiet possession the whole of that territory. 



This tribe, in general appearance, dress, and habits, assimilates most of 

 the mountain and prairie Indians, Vv'ith the single exception, perhaps, of be- 

 ing meaner than any other. They are certainly more saucy as beggars, 

 and impudent and daring as thieves, than any other I ever became acquamted 

 with. 



Formerly they were a much better people, but the contaminating effects 

 of intercourse with the whites have made a disposition, naturally bad, im- 

 measurably worse. Contrary to Indian character in general, they are 

 treacherous and unw^orthy of trust, at all times and in all places. 



Their history contains a small speck of romance, which may not prove 

 altogether uninteresting to tlie curious. 



The Chyennes, at tlie present time, number about four hundred lodges, 

 and claim some eight hundred warriors. The tribe is composed of two 

 divisions, viz : the Chyennes and Gros Ventres, — both speaking the same 

 language and practising the same designation of nationality, shovvii in 

 sundry transverse scars upon the left arm. 



Neither of these divisions know their origin, but tell the following curious 

 story of their first intercourse \Vith each other. 



Many years shice, the Chyennes, while travelling from a north country, 

 discovered the Gros Ventre^, who were also upon a journey. As usual 

 among strange tribes, both parties rushed to the attack, and a bloc^dy battle 

 would undoubtedly have been the result, had it not been stayed by the mu- 

 tual discovery of an identity of language. Upon this, hostility at once gave 



14* 



