Rocky Mountains. 255 



implacable enemies. They immediately conceab d themselves 

 in a deep ravine, which, at bottom, was covered with dry 

 reed grass. The Sioux surrounded this spot, and set fire to 

 the windward side of the reeds, in order to drive them out. 

 When the conflagration had nearly reached the fugitives, 

 one of the brothers remarked, that the Wahconda had cer- 

 tainly not created him to be smoked out like a raccoon ; (the 

 Indians smoke this animal out of hollow trees by kindling a 

 fire at the root) ; he urged his brother to attempt his escape 

 in one direction, whilst he would attract the attention of the 

 enemy, by sallying out upon them alone, and endeavoured to 

 destroy as many of them as possible, in anticipated revenge 

 for that death which he considered as inevitable ; " one or 

 both of us," said he, "must certainly be sacrificed, save 

 yourself if you can ; I will be the victim, and may fortunately 

 receive a death blow in the conflict, and thus escape the dis- 

 grace of captivity." He then rushed forth amongst the 

 Sioux, shot one, and with his knife wounded several before 

 he was dispatched. His brother availing himself of the ab- 

 stracted attention of the enemy, effected his escape, but the 

 squaw was burned to death. In this magnanimous self devo- 

 tion, the gallant brother exhibits an instance of chivalric he- 

 roism which would have immortalized a Roman warrior. 



1 he young men are generally coupled out as friends ; this 

 tie is very strongly knit in youth, but is usually enfeebled by 

 matrimony or the concerns of more advanced age ; yet it is 

 sometimes as lasting as the life of the individuals. 



The Omawhaws, as we before observed, preserve no account 

 of their ages, they think that some evil will attend the num- 

 bering of their years. Me-chah-pa the Horse-head, who is an 

 intelligent medicine man, asked one of our party, whom he 

 was informed was an eminent medicine man of the white peo- 

 ple, amongst many other questions, how old he was ; he was 

 answered, about forty -five, at which he expressed his regret 



