Rocky Mountains. 205 



peating also the names of the chiefs who were present, and 

 thanking them for their kindness to the old criers, who, 

 they say, are disqualified by age, for any other occupations 

 than those of eating, smoking, and talking ; they also com- 

 municate to the people the resolutions of the council. 



The prospect of a journey is highly grateful to the squaws 

 who lose no time in preparing for the day of departure, by 

 actively and assiduously occupying themselves, in mending 

 mockasins, and other clothing, preparing their pack-saddles 

 and dog-sleds, and depositing in the earth, for safe keeping, 

 all the moveables, which are not to be transported with 

 them on the journey. 



1 he men in the mean time amuse themselves with hunt- 

 ing, playing with the hoop and stick, cards, dancing, &c, 

 whilst at night the young warriors and beaux, are oc- 

 cupied with affairs of gallantry, or contriving assignations. 

 The young men also adorn themselves with paint, and do 

 honour to chiefs, and distinguished braves, by dancing in 

 their respective lodges. 



The day assigned for their departure having arrived, the 

 squaws load their horses and dogs, and take as great a weight 

 upon their own backs, as they can conveniently transport, 

 and, after having closed the entrances to their several habi- 

 tations, by placing a considerable quantity of brushwood be- 

 fore them, the whole nation departs from the village. 



Those affluent chiefs and warriors, who are the owners of 

 many horses, are enabled, to mount their families on 

 horse-back, but the greater portion of the young men and 

 squaws are necessarily pedestrian. 



Many of the latter, besides the heavy load upon their - 

 backs, surmounted perhaps by an infant, lead a horse with 

 one hand, on the load of which another child is often pla- 

 ced, and properly secured there in a sitting posture. In the 

 other hand, they often bear a heavy staff of wood, sharpen- 

 ed to a broad edge at one end for the purpose of digging up 



