Rocky Mountains. 355 



and a half, extending along the Loup fork of the Platte. 

 This plain is nearly thirty feet lower than that over which 

 we had travelled, and which terminates abruptly at the Grand 

 Pawnee village. When within two miles of the village of the 

 Loups, a messenger requested the party to halt, in order to 

 give the chiefs the requisite time to make their preparations 

 to receive us in a manner suitable to the representative of a 

 nation " so great and powerful as that of the Big-knives." 



After waiting a short time, we observed, at the distance 

 of a mile before us, a great number of mounted Indians 

 emerging suddenly, apparently from the plain itself, for we 

 could not then see a ravine that had previously concealed 

 them from our view. They immediately began to ride in 

 various directions, and to perform numerous evolutions until 

 the whole were arranged in a widely extended line. These 

 rapid movements, which attracted our attention from other 

 objects, having ceased, we perceived a small body of men in 

 front, whose movements were independent of the others, and 

 who were advancing at a moderate pace. When all were 

 formed, they set forwards, slowly at first, but gradually in- 

 creasing their speed as they approached, until they surround- 

 ed us at a full charge. It is impossible by description to do 

 justice to the scene of savage magnificence that was now dis- 

 played. Between three and four hundred mounted In- 

 dians, dressed in their richest habiliments of war, were rush- 

 ing around us in every direction,, with streaming feathers, 

 war weapons, and with loud shouts and yells. The few whom 

 we had observed in advance of the main body, and whom, as 

 they came near, we recognized to be the chief men, present- 

 ed a perfect contrast to the others in their slow movements, 

 and simplicity of dress. Courtesy obliged us to shake hands 

 with each individual, as they came to us in succession for 

 that purpose, nor was a single soldier of our train forgotten 

 on this occasion by any one of them. They expressed great 

 satisfaction on account of our visit, rubbing their breasts in 



