94 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
of buffalo marrow, berries, and the scraping of buffalo (lodge) skins. It was of course improper 
to decline. І therefore. took the proffered plate in each lodge, and enjoyed it much, though 
some of our party either declined it or eat very sparingly. Returned to camp about 8 o’clock, 
and fixed the next day for a council. | 
THE GROS VENTRES. 
August 26.—The Pembina train arrived shortly after breakfast, and the main train about 
noon. Тһе necessary preparations were made to prepare the feast, and about 1 o'clock the 
Indians were seated in squads of twenty or thirty around, to the number of nearly two hundred. 
Before the feast the Indians seemed to be in high glee, passing the time in singing their songs, 
accompanying them with rattles made of the hoofs of antelo 
piece of wood about a foot long, with which they marked time. 
Shortly after the feast was over we had a council, at which the chiefs and many of the prin- 
cipal men, as well as several of the gentlemen of the expedition, were present. Mr. Culbertson 
acted as interpreter. When I first commenced talking with them I found they were deeply 
enraged against the Blackfeet for the cause alluded to in the journal of the 24th; that they 
were determined to wage war against that tribe; to fit out war parties of their young men to 
cut off straggling Blackfeet, and steal their horses. 
once made a proposition to them to settle with that 
making a suitable reparation. I 
suffer from it, and how little w 
pes strung very fancifully upon a 
I determined to put an end to this, and at 
tribe on their delivery of the offender, or · 
then explained the folly of going to war, how much they would 
as to be gained ; that it was the desire of the Great Father at 
Washington that all his children should be at peace with each other; that while war parties of 
both tribes were scouring the country the road was dangerous to the whites who should. go 
there, and it was my duty to demand that they should not so act as to endanger the life of a 
single man of my own party, or any white man who should hereafter travel through this 
region. 
I then proceeded to explain the objects of the expedition in passing through their country 
and the motive which prompted this day's meeting. 
“No idle curiosity brings me here, по 
mere desire to see the country or the Indians, 
but I am charged with a great public duty, to 
deliver to you a message of peace and assure you of the kind feelings entertained by the Good 
Father at Washington, of his desire to learn the wants of his children, and to make inquiry as 
to what might be done to ameliorate your condition. To secure the continuance of his good 
wishes you must be at peace with one another. Some of you were present or know of the 
treaty of Fort Laramie. .On that basis I wish to make a treaty of peace between the Gros 
Ventres, Blackfeet, Piegans, and Bloods, and between these and the Indians west of the moun- 
tains who resort to the plains of the Missouri to hunt the buffalo." I then proceeded to 
explain the advantages which would arise to the Indians from entering into such a treaty and 
receiving from the government directly what they now get from other Indians. They would 
then obtain goods, provisions, &c., in the way of annuities; could keep their horses, instead ор 
being obliged to go with their horses and purchase of other Indians, at an increased price, 
what the liberality and benevolence of the Good Father, in his fostering care over his children, 
would at once freely and abundantly supply them. I dwelt upon these and other advantages 
to them, and closed by insisting upon their reflecting upon these matters. ‘‘ Think well of the 
