1 78 Expedition to the 



serts, so far as power had been placed in his hands. But 

 being thus verbally accused, pointedly and repeatedly, of in- 

 justice, for acts not his own, he arose and said," Omawhaws, 

 you say I called the Pawnees here to feast them, and make 

 them presents, after they have killed and insulted us, but it 

 is not true. I did not smoke the pipe of peace with them, 

 neither will I, until our differences are settled. I told the 

 Pawnees that, even if I stood unsupported before them, I 

 would, nevertheless, either compel them to make reparation 

 for their offences, or leave my bones amongst them for my 

 nation to come and bury." 



The Big Elk, and Big Eyes, were the only chiefs acknow- 

 ledged by Major O'Fallon, who then made liberal presents 

 to them for their people. 



Some of these presents were distributed by the Indians 

 after a peculiar manner, but which I learn is very common 

 amongst the Indians of this country. A certain portion of 

 them is placed upon the ground, and whoever can strike the 

 post the most frequently, gains them. Another portion is 

 then staked for any other competitors who may choose to 

 advance. A valuable stake was then offered, and an aged 

 veteran stepped forth, and looking round upon his nation with 

 a majestic mien, in which there was not a little expression 

 of triumph, he seemed to challenge the bravest of the brave, 

 to come forward and compete with him for the possession of 

 it ; but agreeably to his expectations no one advanced, and he 

 bore off the prize by common consent, without going through 

 the ceremony of striking. 



From the 24th of October to the 10th of November, the 

 atmosphere was generally filled with a dense smoke like a 

 fog or stratus, which proceeded from the conflagrated prai- 

 ries. It sometimes affected our vision painfully, sometimes 

 it so far intercepted the rays of the sun, that the disk of that 

 luminary appeared of a blood red, and the eye could repose 

 upon it uninjured. On the morning of the 8th instant it or- 



