218 Expedition to the 



proceeds to relate to it the adventures of the day, that his 

 squaw mav be informed of them. " I have been active all 

 day, but the Master of Life has prevented me from killing 

 any game, but never despond, my children and your mother, 

 I mav be fortunate to-morrow." After some time, he retires 

 to rest, but the wife remains to dry his clothing. He often 

 sin.^s until midnight, and on the morrow, he again sallies 

 forth before the dawn, and may soon return with a supera- 

 bundance of food. Such is the life of the Indian hunter, and 

 such the privations and pleasures, to which his being is ha- 

 bitually incident. 



The squaws, in addition to their occupation of flaying 

 the animals which their husbands entrap, and of preparing 

 and preserving the skins, are often necessitated to dig 

 the Pomme de terre, Noo; and to scratch the ground-pea, 

 Himbaringa* (the same word is also applied to the bean,) 

 from beneath the surface of the soil. This vegetable is produ- 

 ced on the roots of the Apios tuberosa, they also frequently 

 find it hoarded up, in the quantity of a peck or more in the 

 brumal retreats of the field mouse, (Mus agrarius, VarP^) for 

 its winter store. The seeds of the nelumbium luteum, 

 analogous to the sacred bean of the Bramins, also contribute 

 to their sustenance ; these are distinguished by the name Te- 

 row-a, or bison-beaver, [Te bison, and row-a, beaver, in the 

 Oto dialectj and when roasted are much esteemed. The 

 root of this plant is also an article of food during the priva- 

 tions of this portion of the year; it is either roasted or boil- 

 ed ; and is prepared for keeping by boiling, after which it is 

 cut up in small pieces and dried ; in taste it is somewhat si- 

 milar to the sweet potatoe. 



With the skins of the animals, obtained during this hunt, 

 the natives again repair to the traders, to compensate them 

 for the articles which they had obtained on credit. But owing 

 to the intrigues of rival traders, the Indians are, with, how- 

 ever, numerous exceptions, not remarkable for any great 



