ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 247 



conclusion of this, each person rose, and walked to one of tlie 

 doors of the lodge, where, making a low inclination of his body, 

 and pronouncing the words " tots sekan" (good night,) to the 

 chief, he departed to his home. 



I shall hear this ceremony every night and morning while I 

 remain, and so far from being irksome, it is agreeable to me. It 

 is pleasant to see these poor degraded creatures performing a 

 religious service ; for to say nothing of the good influence which 

 it will exert in improving their present condition, it will probably 

 soften and harmonize their feelings, and render them fitter sub- 

 jects for the properly qualified religious instruction which it is 

 desirable they may some day receive. 



The next morning, my friend the chief furnished me with fresh 

 horses, and I and my attendant, with two Indian guides, started 

 for a trip to the mountain. We passed up one of the narrow 

 valleys or gorges which here run at right angles from the alpine 

 land, and as we ascended, the scenery became more and more wild, 

 and the ground rough and difficult of passage, but I had under me 

 one of the finest horses I ever rode; he seemed perfectly acquainted 

 with the country ; I had but to give him his head, and not attempt 

 to direct him, and he carried me triumphantly through every diffi- 

 culty. Immediately as we I'eached the upper land, and the pine trees, 

 we saw large flocks of the dusky grouse, (Tetrao obscnrvs,) a num- 

 ber of which we killed. Other birds were, however, very scarce. 

 I am at least two months too late, and I cannot too much regret 

 the circumstance. Here is a rich field for the ornithologist at the 

 proper season. We returned to our lodge in the evening loaded 

 with grouse, but. with very few specimens to increase my collec- 

 tion. 



29th. — Early this morning our Indians struck their lodges, 

 and commenced makina; all their numerous movables into bales 

 for packing on the horses. I admired the facility and despatch 

 with which this was done ; the women alone worked at it, the 



