132 Expedition to the 



Mr. Dougherty and one of the Indians went in quest of 

 game, and having supplied the two remaining Indians with a 

 pipe and tobacco, we were partaking of some refreshment, 

 when one of the party suddenly drew our attention to an exten- 

 sive cloud of dust, which arose from the plain, and which we 

 soon perceived but partially concealed a body of Indians, who 

 had already approached within a quarter of a mile, and were 

 now running with great swiftness. Our Indian followers now 

 displayed all their activity; the chief seized his gun, and ran 

 towards the advancing multitude to obtain his horse, which 

 he mounted and rode off at full speed, whilst his companion 

 disappeared in the bushes in an instant. This was a sufficient 

 intimation that a hostile party was before us, and a timely 

 admonition of the approach of danger. Our men were there- 

 fore drawn up in aline, and all prepared themselves for de- 

 fence in case of extremity. 



The advancing party were armed, decorated and painted 

 for battle, but they manifested, as they rushed up to us, the 

 most pacific deportment, shaking us by the hand, putting their 

 arms about our necks, and raising their hands with the palm 

 towards us, in token of peace. We were not, however, dis- 

 posed to rely upon these assurances of friendship, being fully 

 aware of the difficulties which their partizans would have to 

 surmount, in checking the inconsiderate prowess of the young- 

 er warriors. We now observed some of them seizing our 

 horses, which were staked at some distance :. they mounted 

 them and rode swiftly in the direction that the chief had ta- 

 ken, but they soon returned. It soon became necessary to 

 protect our baggage by arranging ourselves around it; still, 

 however, in despite of our vigilance many cf our small arti- 

 cles were stolen. They begged for whiskey and tobacco, and 

 a small portion of the latter was given them. Amidst the con- 

 fusion arising from the incessant and rapid movements of the 

 Indians, we observed an individual bearing off a small pack- 

 age of very fine pounded meat; I immediately pointed out the 



