Rocky Mountains. 241 



early promise of a great warrior. But though he does not 

 scruple thus to insult his parents, he would unhesitatingly 

 revenge an indignity offered them by another. 



He soon becomes ambitious of martial distinction, in con- 

 sequence of frequently hearing the old warriors narrate their 

 feats of arms, and eagerly anticipates the age which will jus- 

 tify his enrolling himself in the ranks of a war party. 



At the age of twelve or thirteen, having received every 

 instruction respecting their mode of warfare, his wishes are 

 gratified, and he is accepted as a volunteer in the path of 

 honour. 



As an instance of high chivalric ideas, sometimes instilled 

 into the mind of the Indian, which in some cases almost su- 

 percede the feelings of nature, and which are eminently cal- 

 culated to excite a degree of enthusiasm in the youthful war- 

 rior, the following anecdote may be narrated. 



The Osage nation a few years since, marched to attack 

 the Konza village. They encamped unobserved, at a mode- 

 rate distance from the village, and dispatched two of their war- 

 riors, with pipes to the Konzas, to invite all their chiefs to a 

 pretended peace conference, and to inform them that presents 

 of horses and merchandize would be made to them, to com- 

 pensate for two individuals of their nation whom the Osa- 

 ges had killed. 



The Konzas, suspecting the treachery intended, at first 

 proposed to put the messengers to death, but on further con- 

 sideration, supposing them sincere, the chiefs determined 

 to accompany them. On the following morning, how- 

 ever, when they were about to set out for the Osage camp, 

 a chief arose and harangued them, stating that he had had a 

 dream in the night, from the interpretation of which, he was 

 confident that the Wahconda was averse to their proposed 

 visit. 

 This information deterred all from going, with the ex 

 vol. i. 31 



