Rocky Mountains. 361 



ed, and decorated as if for war. Petalesharoo advanced and 

 gave notice that he had brought some of his warriors for the 

 purpose of honouring his American father with a dance. The 

 dancers were about forty in number, and their movements 

 and evolutions were similar to those of the Grand Pawnees. 

 The deep-toned gong was so entirely concealed in the centre 

 of the mass of dancers, that it was with difficulty we ascer- 

 tained whence the wild and measured sound proceeded, 

 which regulated their simultaneous movements. It was ac- 

 companied by other simple instruments, and occasionally in- 

 terrupted from the ear by the piercing note of the whistle, 

 or the sudden discharge of a gun, with the muzzle directed 

 to the earth. At the termination of the first dance the par- 

 tizan requested the accompaniment of our music for the suc- 

 ceeding dance. The music accordingly struck up, with the 

 renewed beating of the gong, but it immediately threw them 

 all into confusion, and after vainly endeavouring to regain 

 their regularity, they ceased. Again the experiment was 

 tried, and again it produced inextricable confusion. This re- 

 peated result brought a smile to the countenance of the par- 

 tizan, who expressed his conviction, that his party was un- 

 able to dance to the music of the white people. 



The principal men having now arrived agreeably to invi- 

 tation, they were introduced into a large skin lodge which 

 had been erected for us by the orders of Latelesha, as our 

 markee was too feeble to resist a strong wind which prevail- 

 ed during the day. Presents were made to Latelesha and 

 the Metiff chief. The latter transferred his parcel to La- 

 telesha, who laid the" whole before Petalesharoo to dispose 

 of as he thought proper. The young chief appointed two 

 persons to distribute them, and thus the whole was disposed 

 of, though very unequally. The chiefs then returned their 

 thanks and withdrew. 



I passed the night at the lodge of the MetifT chief, and in 

 the evening was amused by the exhibition of another dancing 



vol. I. 46 



