354 Expedition to the 



retarish, and the Tappage chief, the presents he intended to 

 make, in as many separate parcels. A difference having for 

 some time existed between the two first mentioned chiefs, the 

 former, who was in fault, having threatened to chastise the 

 other, and on being challenged by him, refused to decide the 

 controversy by single combat, now availed himself of a fa- 

 vourable opportunity to obtain a reconciliation, by presenting 

 to Sharetarish his entire parcel of merchandize: Sharetarish 

 then proceeded to parcel out his double portion, consisting of 

 fusils, powder and ball, strouding, blankets, calico, &c. 

 amongst the multitude, reserving nothing for himself. He 

 laid a portion at the feet of Tarrarecawaho, and this chief 

 again performed the part of a donor, retaining only a United 

 States' flag, and expressed his satisfaction and thanks to the 

 agent, for the merchandize they had received. Sharetarish 

 said, that if agreeable to his father, (Major O' Fallon,) he 

 would return in a reasonable time, and bring some of his 

 young warriors, for the purpose of performing a dance. 



Towards evening, Sharetarish arrived with his dancers, 

 thirty or forty in number, who were all accoutred and paint- 

 ed for the occasion. This exhibition, which would have ap- 

 peared to us to partake much of the terrific, did we not feel 

 assured of their pacific disposition, bore considerable resem- 

 blance to that performed by the Otoes at Engineer Canton- 

 ment, already described, excepting that less pantomimic ac- 

 tion was used, and striking the post formed no part of the 

 ceremony. At the termination of the dance, Sharetarish pre- 

 sented Major O' Fallon with a painted bison robe, represent- 

 ing several of his own combats with the enemy, as well as 

 those of his friends, all of which he explained to us. 



27th. The tents were struck, and we departed for the vil- 

 lage of the Pawnee Loups. At the distance of four miles, 

 we passed the Republican village about a mile on our left ; 

 from thence the distance is about three miles to the Loup 

 village, over a beautiful bottom plain of the width of a mile 



