1 74 Expedition to the 



same animal, but it differs from the description of that spe- 

 cies, both in colour and physiognomy. The ears are pro- 

 portionally longer than those of C. cancrivorus, and, as well 

 as the tail, shorter than the corresponding parts of C. meso- 

 melas. 



This animal, which does not seem to be known to natural- 

 ists, unless it should prove to be the mexicanus, is most pro 

 bably the original of the domestic dog, so common in the vil- 

 lages of the Indians of this region, some of the varieties of which, 

 still retain much of the habit, and manners of this species. 



On the 14th of October, four hundred Omawhaw Indians 

 assembled at Camp Missouri. Major O'Fallon addressed 

 them in an appropriate speech, stating the reasons for their be- 

 ing called to council, upon which Ong-pa-ton-ga the Big Elk 

 arose, and after shaking by the hand each of the whites pre- 

 sent, placed his robe of Otter skins, and his mockasins un- 

 der the feet of the agent, whom he addressed to the follow- 

 ing effect, as his language was interpreted by Mr. Dough- 

 erty. 



" He had heard that his father wished to see him, and he 

 had wished to see and to hear the words of his father, ever 

 since he learned that he was ascending the river. He was 

 informed last fall of his being at the river Platte, and as he 

 could not then go to see him, he had now come to visit him 

 — And here I am, my father. All these young people you 

 see around here are yours, although they are poor and tri- 

 fling, yet they are your children. I have always loved the 

 whites since I first remember to have seen them, and this 

 affection increases with my age. Air my nation love the 

 whites, and always have loved them. Amongst all the good 

 things of this world I place the whites first. But it appears, 

 that there are many nations that live nearer to you than I, 

 that do not love you, though you have done more for them, 

 than you have done for me. When they meet with you, 

 they flatter you, in order to get presents from you, notwith- 

 standing which, they would not hesitate to kill some of your 





