Rocky Mountains. 303 



at the inhabitants, as he passed swiftly by them. As soon as 

 the Konza warriors were collected, they sallied out in pur- 

 suit of the Black-bird, who had now joined his party. The 

 parties closed, and intermingled in fight, and the contest was 

 obstinate and protracted. An Omawhaw pierced the thigh 

 of a Konza with an arrow ; the latter called aloud to inquire 

 the name of his adversary, and was answered, No-zun doj- 

 je, (he who does not dodge). " My name," said the Kon- 

 za, " is — ■ (he who kills brave men,) so come on, we 

 are happily met." They approached each other, leaping 

 laterally and capering, the Omawhaw discharging his arrows, 

 and the Konza endeavouring to get aim with his fusee ; the 

 latter at length succeeded, and shot his opponent. 



The conflict at length became too warm for the Omaw- 

 haws, who retreated eight miles, disputing the ground, how- 

 ever, the whole distance. They now arrived at the prairie, 

 on which we encamped on the evening of twenty-fourth of 

 August last. 



Here the Omawhaws again made a stand, and fought the 

 principal battle, but were overpowered, and obliged to fly, 

 leaving their numerous killed and wounded to the vengeance 

 of the enemy. 



These two nations still continue hostile to each other. 



It is said that, during the youth of Washingguhsahba, he 

 was taken prisoner by the Sioux. That the town of the Omaw- 

 haws was then on the opposite bank of the Missouri, at the 

 mouth of the stream called by Lewis and Clark, Floyd's 

 river, and that the nation had not, at that time, been long 

 resident there. 



Sometime previous to the variolous mortality in the Omaw- 

 haw nation, several bands of Sioux, in conjunction with the 

 Shienne nation, attacked them on their return from a sum- 

 mer hunt, and overpowered them by numbers. 



A few years since, the Pawnees made a general attack 

 upon the Konza village. They were all mounted on horse- 



