14 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
invariable practice in such cases. Some sweet grass, platted, was then set on fire and used in 
the manner of incense, both to the bowl and the stem. After lighting the pipe with the 
scented grass it was planted near by in a small hole and burned. 
Preceding the smoking the bearer of the pipe shook hands with each member of our party, 
handing the pipe after this ceremony was over. "Then a bowl of water was handed around by 
a second individual, who also shook hands with each one of us, before we drank of the contents 
of the bowl. Next came the eating of soup, made of buffalo and Typsina, a species of turnip, 
which was rich and greasy but quite palatable. 
Soon after this ceremony, which completed the reception, an old man advanced to me and 
shook hands, after which he shook the hand of each member of our company. His appearance 
was much in his favor, carrying himself with great dignity. With considerable fluency, and, 
at times, with many gestures, he addressed me substantially as follows: 
“Му father, the Great Master of Life made us all for good purposes. He had a design when 
he made me. I have not yet fulfilled his wishes; but before I die, though an old man, I hope 
to be able to do something for my people. 
“Му father, we are glad to see you here to-day to hear from the Great Father afar off, who 
sent you. We have never yet been taken under his protection, nor experienced his kindness. 
We are glad of this opportunity to show our own kind feelings towards him, and we hope the 
peace now commenced may last forever. 
“Му father, you see us now as we are. We are poor; we have but few blankets and little 
clothing. The Great Father of Life who made us and gave us these lands to live upon, made 
the buffalo and other game to afford us subsistence; their meat is our only food; with their skins 
we clothe ourselves and build our houses. "They are our only means of life—food, fuel, and 
clothing. But I fear we will soon be deprived of these; starvation and cold will destroy us. 
The buffalo are fast disappearing and before many years will be destroyed. As the white man 
advances, our means of life grow less. We will soon have to seek protection in our poverty 
from the Great Father, who can so well supply it. 
‘(My father, we hear that a great road is to be made through our country. We do not know 
what this is for; we do not understand it; but I think it will drive away the buffalo. We like 
to see our white brothers; we like to give them the hand of friendship, but we know that аз. 
they come our game goes back. What are we to do?" 
Again shaking hands with all of us he sat down, and after a short interval of silence the chief, 
peer his interpreter, signified a desire to hear me reply, which I did, in substance, as 
"I am happy to meet you this day. I shake hands with you all as friends and brothers. I 
feel deeply grateful to you for your expression of kindness made to me this day, and for the 
hospitality you have shown my party. My four men who first met you were safe, though so 
few among so many of you. They enjoyed your best accommodations, and a lodge was built 
for them to sleep in. 
ài "I will write to the Great Father at Washington of all we do to-day. Iwilltell him of your 
— and кеа will toward his people; of your dependence on the buffalo for food and 
elothing. I will tell him that when you are deprived of these by the advance of the whites he 
