Rocky Mountains. 295 



It is not the mere shooting down of an enemy, that con- 

 fers great honour upon a warrior ; this, the Indians say, can 

 be done by any person, however cowardly he may be. But 

 high distinction is due to the gallant soul, that advances 

 upon the field of battle, and captures an enemy, or who first 

 strikes, or even touches the body of a fallen enemy, in pre- 

 sence of the friends of the deceased, who are generally watch- 

 ing their opportunity to revenge his death. 



This is, indeed, an extraordinary proof of courage, as the 

 act is not to be accomplished without the greatest hazard of 

 life ; the adventurer is obliged to expose himself, often, to a 

 great number of assailants, besides the danger of falling into 

 an ambush, in attempting to strike the decoy. It is this strik- 

 ing, that is numbered amongst their war feats by the war- 

 riors, at their dances. 



The capture of a prisoner confers the highest honour on 

 the captor. Striking an enemy, whilst active, appears to be the 

 second in rank, of their great martial achievements. Striking 

 his dead, or disabled body, confers the third honour. Cap- 

 turing a horse may be regarded as the fourth ; presenting a 

 horse to any person, the fifth, and the shooting, or otherwise 

 killing an enemy, by a missile, is the sixth in point of rank 

 of military deeds, in the estimation of the Omawhaws. The 

 taking of a scalp is merely an evidence of what has been 

 done, and, of itself, seems to confer no honour. 



The prisoners are well guarded, and not roughly treated, 

 unless a strong party of the enemy are in pursuit, when thev 

 are put to death. 



On the battle ground, the wounded of the vanquished are 

 killed, and their dead are cut and hacked by the victors ; 

 but if it should chance to be accessible to the squaws, they 

 perform the chief part in this tragedy. They sever the limbs 

 from the bodies, and attaching them to strings, drag them 

 about with vociferous exultation ; etiam genitalia excidunt, 

 and tying them about the necks of their dogs, they drive 



