Rocky Mountains. 179 



purred in greater quantity than at any other time, when it was 

 so extremely dense as to intercept a view of the opposite 

 shore of the Missouri from Engineer Cantonment. 



On the 9th November some rain fell attended with thun- 

 der and lightning. The rain continued on the day following 

 with the wind from the southeast; at evening the smoke was 

 almost entirely dissipated, and the clouds, which were cirro- 

 cumuli passing to the north-north-west, became visible. 



A party of Sioux visited us on the 15th of November, to 

 view the steam boat. As Major Long had left orders to put 

 the steam machinery in action occasionally, in order to pre- 

 serve it from rust, Lieutenant Graham concluded to exhibit the 

 boat with the engine in action. The Indians hesitated to en- 

 ter the boat, fearing, as they said, that it was, or that it con- 

 tained, some great medicine of the Big-knives that might in- 

 jure them. But when on board and at their ease, one of them 

 observed doubtingly, " he hardly thought the Big-knives had 

 any medicine to hurt them." They appeared much delight- 

 ed with the boat; its size seemed to surprise them; several 

 measured the width of the deck by straddling, instead of 

 pacing as we do. We exhibited to them the air-gun, magnet, 

 &c. which considerably excited their attention. Two of the 

 howitzers were discharged, loaded with case-shot; the effect 

 produced, of the shot falling into the water, at unequal dis- 

 tances and times, was new and unexpected, and they covered 

 their mouths with the hand, to express their astonishment. 

 Of these warriors, three are Tetons, one a Tancton and a Sa- 

 ho-ne, three different tribes of the great Dacota, or Sioux na- 

 tion. They are fine looking men, with very prominent cheek 

 bones. They are more attentive to their dress, and are much 

 neater than the other Indians we have seen, though it is pro- 

 per to observe that, as visitors, they are clothed in their best 

 attire. They decorate their hair with a profusion of feathers 

 of the war eagle, and of a species of owl, which we have not 

 seen. They also suspend in the head dress an entire skin of 



