3S8 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



brought a large wooden bowl filled with pemmican mixed with 

 corn and some other stuff: I ate a mouthful of it, and found it 

 quite palatable. Both lodges were alike dirty with water and 

 mud ; but I am told that in dry times they are kept more 

 cleanly. A round shallow hole was in the centre, and a chain 

 hung from above near the fire, and on this they hang their 

 meat and cook. On leaving I gave our guide a small piece of 

 tobacco, and he seemed well pleased, but followed us on board 

 the boat ; and as he passed my room, and saw my specimens of 

 stuffed animals and birds, manifested some curiosity to see 

 them. 



. " The general appearance of the fort is poor, and the country 

 around is overgrown with the weed called 'family quarter.' 

 And I saw nothing here corresponding to the poetical descrip- 

 tions of writers who make their clay-banks enchanted castles, and 

 this wretched savage life a thing to be desired, even by the most 

 happy civilized men. These Indians are mostly Eecarees: 

 they are tall, lank, and redder than most others that I have 

 seen, but they are all miserable-looking and dirty. They 

 occupy the village where the powerful tribes of Mandans once 

 lived, but which were swept away by the dreadful scourge of 

 the small-pox ; only twelve or fifteen families survive, and they 

 removed three miles up the river. 



" June 8. To-day we have had a famous Indian council on 

 board our boat. It consisted of thirty-four Indians of the first 

 class ; they squatted on their rumps on both sides of our long 

 cabin, and received refreshments of coffee and ship-bread, and I 

 assisted in doing this duty ; and a box of tobacco was then 

 opened and placed on the table; the captain then made a 

 speech to them, and one Indian interpreted it to the others. 

 They frequently expressed their approbation by grunting, and 

 were evidently much pleased. Two Indians came in, dressed 

 in blue uniforms, with epaulettes on their shoulders, and 

 feathers in their caps, and with ornamented mocassins and 

 leggings : these were the braves of the tribes, and they did not 

 grunt or shake hands with any of us. 



" As soon as the tobacco was distributed, the whole company 

 rose simultaneously, and we shook hands with each one, and 

 gladly bid them good riddance. The two braves waited until 



