ACROSS TlIK ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC 139 



short time with them, for the purpose of trade. Although we 

 had a good supply of fish on hand, and did not expect soon to 

 suffer from want, yet we knew not but we might be disappointed 

 in procuring provision lower in the country, and concluded, 

 therefore, to halt for half an hour, and make a small increase to 

 our stock. We were in some haste, and anxious to travel on as 

 quickly as possible, to Snake river. Captain W., therefore, 

 urged the chief to have the fish brought immediately, as he in- 

 tended soon to leave them. The only reply he could obtain to 

 this request, was " te saiit," (it is good,) accompanied by signs, 

 that he wished to smoke. A pipe was provided, and he, with 

 about a dozen of his young men, formed a circle near, and con- 

 tinued smoking, with great tranquillity, for half an hour. 



Our patience became almost exhausted, and they were told 

 that if their fish were not soon produced, we should leave them 

 empty as we came ; to this, the only answer of the chief was a 

 sign to us to remain still, while he deliberated yet farther upon 

 the subject. 



We sat a short time longer in silent expectation, and were 

 thr3n preparing to mount our horses and be off, wlien several 

 squaws were despatched to one of the lodges. They returned in 

 a few minutes, bringing about a dozen dried fish. These were 

 laid in small piles on the ground, and when the usual price was 

 offered for them, they refused it scornfully, making the most 

 exorbitant demands. As our articles of trade were running low, 

 and we were not in immediate want, we purchased only a suffi- 

 ciency for one day, and pi'epared for our departure, leaving the 

 ground strewn with the neglected salmon. The Indians were 

 evidently very much irritated, as we could perceive by their 

 angry countenances, and loud words of menace. Some loosed 

 the bows from their shoulders, and shook them at us with vio- 

 lent gestures of rage, and a boy, of seventeen or eighteen years 

 of age, who stood near mc, struck my horse on the head with a 



