310 Expedition to the 



to himself, to his nation, and to his friends, to avail himself 

 of every possible advantage over his enemy, and even to kill 

 him, if he can, without any risk of his own person. But a 

 warrior must never yield in battle ; he must contend until 

 death, if he cannot escape from his enemy. And if entirely 

 surrounded, he rushes amongst them, and endeavours to des- 

 troy or injure as many as possible, and in death he exhibits 

 traits of passive courage, which form no part of the charac- 

 ter of civilized men. 



The succeeding narrative may serve, better than any general 

 remarks, to convey an idea of the formalities attendant on«a 

 negotiation for peace, amongst the Missouri Indians. 



During the stay of our detached party at the Konza vil- 

 lage, several chief men of the nation requested Mr. Dough- 

 erty, to lead a pacific deputation from their nation, to 

 their enemies the Otoes, Missouries, and Ioways, then dwell- 

 ing in one village on the Platte. Circumstances then pre- 

 vented the gratification of their wishes, but he gave them to 

 understand, that if the deputation would meet our party near 

 Council Bluff, he would probably then be authorised to bear 

 them company ; on which they determined to send a party 

 thither. Accordingly, on the day preceding the arrival of 

 our steam boat at the position chosen for our winter canton- 

 ment, a deputation from the Konzas arrived for that purpose. 

 It consisted of six men, led by He-roch-che, or the Real 

 War Eagle, one of the principal warriors of the Konza na- 

 tion. 



Mr. Dougherty having made their pacific mission known 

 to Major O' Fallon, the latter expressed to them his cordial 

 approbation of their intentions, and the following day he des- 

 patched Mr. Dougherty with them, to protect them by his 

 presence, on their approach to the enemy, and to assist them 

 by his mediation, in their negociations, should it be found 

 necessary. 



They had not proceeded far on the way, when one of the 



