138 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



extracting their lactiferous sustenance from the breast, which 

 was thrown over the shoulders. 



It is ahiaost needless to say, that I did not remain long in the 

 Snake camp; for although I had been a considerable time 

 estranged from the abodes of luxury, and had become somewhat 

 accustomed to, at least, a partial assimilation to a state of nature, 

 yet I was not prepared for what I saw here. I never had fancied 

 any thing so utterly abominable, and was glad to escape to a 

 purer and more wholesome atmosphere. 



When I returned to our camp, the trading was going on as 

 briskly as yesterday. A large number of Indians were assembled 

 around, all of whom had bundles of fish, which they were 

 anxious to dispose of. The price of a dried salmon is a straight 

 awl, and a small fish hook, value about one cent ; ten fish are 

 given for a common butcher knife that costs eight cents. Some, 

 however, Avill prefer beads, paint, &c., and of these articles, 

 about an equal amount in value is given. A beaver skin can be 

 had for a variety of little matters, which cost about twelve and a 

 half cents ; value, in Boston, from eight to ten dollars ! 



Early in the afternoon, we repacked our bales of goods and 

 rode out of the encampment, the Indians yelling an adieu to us 

 as we passed them. We observed that one had wrapped a 

 buffalo robe around him, taken a bow and arrows in his hand, 

 and joined us as we went off'. Although we travelled rapidly 

 during the afternoon, the man kept with us without apparent 

 over-exertion or fatigue, trotting along constantly for miles 

 together. He is probably on a visit to a village of his people 

 who are encamped on the " Big river." 



2Sd. — Towards noon, to-day, we fell in with a village, con- 

 sisting of thirty willow lodges of Bannecks. The Indians flocked 

 out to us by hundreds, leaving their fishing, and every other 

 employment, to visit the strangers. The chief soon made him- 

 self known to us, and gave us a pressing invitation to stop a 



