Rocky Mountains. 323 



have told you that the white people do not like to see bowls 

 cleaned in that manner, give me the vessel, and I will show 

 you how they clean them." He then drew out one corner 

 of his breech-clout, and substituting it for a towel, wiped the 

 bowl thoroughly, and returned it to the squaw. The trader, 

 as in duty bound, tasted of the contents, but he would have 

 preferred the agency of the finger of the squaw, to that of the 

 old breech-clout of the husband. 



An unknown stranger is led to the lodge of the principal 

 chief, where the inhabitants collect to see him, and do not 

 hesitate to gratify their curiosity, by looking steadfastly in 

 his face. The stranger, if an Indian, appears perfectly at 

 his ease, not seeming to notice the crowd that surrounds 

 him, in order that he may not encounter their eyes. Alter 

 he has eaten and smoked, he delivers his message, states his 

 business, or tells the news. If he is seated in a small skin 

 lodge, which contains but few persons, one of, these will re- 

 peat his words aloud, that the crowd without may hear. 



They are pleased with the society of the Canadian French, 

 but they do not appear to respect them highly, because they 

 permit too much familiarity, and are not forward in reveng- 

 ing an insult. The Spaniards, probably from the represen- 

 tations of the Pawnees, who war against them, are held in 

 but little esteem. But it is readily perceivable, as well from 

 their own deportment as from the representations of the 

 French, that they respect the character of the Americans 

 (citizens of the United states) above that of any other nation, 

 because, they are pleased to say, we are the bravest of the 

 white people. Previously to the late war between the Uni- 

 ted States and Great Britain, the British are said to have 

 been deemed most valorous. But, say they, the Ioways have 

 informed us, that, at the commencement of the war, the 

 British promised to give the Indians who took part with 

 them in the contest, all the territory that lies westward of a 

 great river (the Ohioj, over which they declared they would 



