Rocky Mountains. 203 



suiting respecting the proper course to pursue in our next 

 hunting excursion, or whether the quantity of provisions at 

 present on hand, will justify a determination to remain here 

 to weed our maize. If it be decided to depart immediately, 

 the subject to be then taken into view, will be the direction, 

 extent, and object of our route ; whether it would be proper 

 to ascend Running- Water Creek, (Ne-bra-ra, or Spreading 

 water), or the Platte, (Ne-bres-kuh, or Flat water), or hunt 

 the bison between the sources of those two streams ; or whe- 

 ther we shall proceed farther, towards the Black hills of the 

 south-west, in pursuit of wild horses, &c." 



Having thus disclosed the business of the council, he is 

 frequently succeeded by an old chief, who thanks him for his 

 attention to their wants, and advises the assembly to pay 

 great attention to what he has said, as he is a man of truth, 

 of knowledge, and of bravery ; he further assures them, that 

 they have ample cause to return thanks to the great Wah- 

 conda or Master of life, for having sent such a man amongst 

 them. 



The assembly then take the subject into consideration, 

 and after much conversation, determine upon a route, which 

 Ongpatonga proposed in his speech. This chief, previous 

 to the council, is careful to ascertain the opinions and wish- 

 es of his people, and he speaks accordingly. 



He sometimes, however, meets with opposition from per- 

 sons who propose other hunting grounds, but their discour- 

 ses are filled with compliments to his superior knowledge, 

 and good sense. 



The proceedings of the council, are uniformly conducted 

 with the most perfect good order and decorum- 



Each speaker carefully abstains from militating against 

 the sensibility of any of his hearers, and uncourteous expres- 

 sions, towards each other on these occasions, are never 

 heard. Generally at each pause of the speaker, the audi- 

 ence testify their approbation aloud, by the interjection heh; 



