ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 133 



US, we rode on and suffered the same process by the next, and 

 so on until we had passed the whole, every Indian crying with a 

 loud voice, " Tahihoo sant, tahihoo sant /" (white man is good, 

 white man is good.) 



In a short time the chief joined us, and our party stopped for an 

 hour, and had a "talk" with him. He told us, in answer to our 

 questions, that his people had fish, and would give them for our 

 goods if we would sleep one night near their camp, and smoke with 

 them. No trade, of consequence, can ever be effected with 

 Indians, unless the pipe be first smoked, and the matter calmly 

 and seriously deliberated upon. An Indian chief would think his 

 dignity seriously compromised if he were expected to do any 

 thing in a hurry, much less so serious a matter as a salmon or 

 beaver trade ; and if we had refused his offered terms, he would 

 probably have allowed us to pass on, and denied himself the 

 darling rings, bells, and paint, rather than infringe a custom so 

 long religiously practised by his people. We were therefore 

 inclined to humor our Snake friend, and accordingly came to a 

 halt, on the bank of the river. 



The chief and several of his favored young braves sat with 

 us on the bank, and we smoked with them, the other Indians 

 forming a large circle around. 



The chief is a man rather above the ordinary height, with a 

 fine, noble countenance, and remarkably large, prominent eyes. 

 His person, instead of being naked, as is usual, is clothed in a 

 robe made of the skin of the mountain sheep ; a broad band 

 made of large blue beads, is fastened to the top of his head, and 

 hangs over on his cheeks, and around his neck is suspended the 

 foot of a huge grizzly bear. The possession of this uncouth or- 

 nament is considered among them, a great honor, since none but 

 those whose prowess has enabled them to kill the animal, are al- 

 lowed to wear it, and with their weak and inefiicicnt weapons. 



