(102 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ann. 46 



bare head 41 and let something gay 42 appear there, that my young 

 men may know that I am respected at the fort. 



" My leggings 43 are worn out and the cold enters, and my breech 

 flap no more covers what is beneath. My body 44 and neck 44 are laid 

 bare in hunting skins in this cold weather. I lack some mark 45 of 

 my standing with the fort to make my young men listen to my words 

 to be good to the whites and hunt. If you wish many robes, recollect 

 the young men are hunters and can not kill buffalo without ammuni- 

 tion. 4 ' 5 The women have hard work dressing skins; their arms are 

 sore; some beads and vermilion 47 would give them strength; and the 

 tobacco 48 you will no doubt furnish me will be smoked by all my 

 people in talking over matters for the good of the fort and in the 

 councils for hunting. I know you are a chief and good father to your 

 red children and will never refuse them what they ask. Remember 

 our hardships, dangers, and exposures in hunting for you. Open 

 your heart and lengthen your measure and reduce, 49 if ever so little, 

 on the prices of trade. Indians suffer for everything; even the 

 tobacco chewed and spit out by the whites is picked up and smoked 

 by them. Your store is large ; let your heart be so also. Let me be 

 able to sing your praise; 50 your name is in the clouds; your father 

 was a chief; you will be greater than he. Listen to the words of your 

 poor friend. I have spoken." 



The Sioux make better speeches and use more figures than the 

 Assiniboin, but none of the many we have heard among both and 

 other nations are as replete with metaphor as is represented by 

 fiction writers. Either the Indians treated of by them were of a 

 superior order or the speeches have been liberally interpreted. The 

 foregoing presents their style as it now exists among all the upper 

 Missouri tribes, though subjects of more importance, such as war, 

 peace, or religious rites, are accompanied by a proportionate earnest- 

 ness of oratory and boldness of gesture. They do not pride them- 

 selves on making fine or flowery speeches, but bold, pointed, and 

 sensible ones, and, if begging be the object, will descend to the grossest 

 flattering of their auditor, and vainness of their own merits. 



41 Hat desired. 



'- Feathers desired. 



43 Leggings wanted. 



44 Shirt and -neck handkerchief desired. 



45 Medal or gorget. 



40 Hint for general present of ammunition to the party. 



" Some to each woman. 



48 An intimation that tobacco is not only wanted but plenty of it. 



4n This is an invariable request, and would be so no difference how long the prices 

 were. 



m Whoever makes a liberal present to Indians has his name sung around the camp 

 or fort in a song of thanks. 



