196 NOTES TAKEN. 
August 19th—The first thing wild Indians ask for on 
coming into camp, is something to eat, they are always ready 
and consume large quantities. 
The Captain had an ox killed for them this morning, and 
the women were soon busy in preparing it for present and 
future use. Every edible part was consumed, even the 
entrails, which are considered a choice delicacy, were drawn 
through the coals and devoured, reeking with excrement. 
The women boned the flesh and then split it, haggling and 
earving it into long chains of lumps and then throwing it over 
poles, dried it in the sun, when it looked like links of stale 
sausage. The caul, suet, and other inside fat, were dried 
whole, and the cannon bones and hoofs first scorched before 
the fire and then hung up in the sun. 
The portions of meat intended for present use, were pre- 
pared by placing them upon a rude ‘scaffold over a slow fire, 
in the same way as previously described among the Kicka- 
poos, and which I have seen done by the frontier squatters. 
It dries the meat, without depriving it of its juices, and pre- 
vents decomposition. A supply of corn from the rancho above 
us, together with some coffee and sugar, capped the climax 
of their happiness, and their bivouac wore a very cheerful 
appearance during the day. 
The men of the party spent the day in painting themselves 
and lounging in their shealings, or wandering listlessly from 
tent to tent, expressing either surprise or pleasure by a grunt 
or @ grin. 
