DRUNKEN CHICKASAW. 69 
giving him any stimulant whatever. Very soon after he took 
a fancy to a calico shirt I wore, and offered a gaily trimmed 
hunting shirt in exchange. I gave him the shirt, and in a 
short time he jumped up suddenly to leave. Springing on his 
horse, we then observed that he had appropriated a knife 
belonging to Lieutenant P—e, and a buckskin coat 
belonging to our servant. We immediately charged him with 
the theft, when he flew into a terrible rage, swearing venge- 
ance and heaping imprecations upon us. We advanced upon 
him in a quiet, but determined manner, when he threw down 
the coat, but galloped off with the knife, swearing bitterly all 
the while, and gesticulating violently as far as we could see 
him. We kept a good look out for him, but saw no more of 
him, though we learned in the morning, that he was one of 
the party who made the night hideous by their howls and 
yells around camp. 
June 30th—Our march to day was very dull and 
uninteresting, our road at first, running over a succession 
- of rough, steep hills, covered with low oaks; the weather 
oppressively hot, and the men suffering from their debauch. 
Five miles brought us to a very wide prairie, which we 
crossed, admiring the beautiful flowers, as usual, and every 
moment starting quails or grouse from their hiding places in 
the rich grass, 
This prairie was almost a level plain, extending to the 
‘horizon, and consequently not so attractive a view as those 
qeeriealy seen. 
; 7 
