J68 Expedition to the 



lindrical case of skin, prepared like parchment, in which a 

 war dress is deposited. The shield is circular, made of 

 bison skin, and thick enough to ward off an arrow, but not 

 to arrest the flight of a rifle ball at close quarters. 



Defended by this shield, a warrior will not hesitate to 

 cross the path of an arrow; he will sometimes dexterously 

 seize the missile after it has struck, and discharge it back 

 again at the enemy. 



The lodges, or houses, of these three villages, are similar 

 in structure, but differ in size. The description of those of 

 the Konzas will apply to them, excepting that the beds- are 

 all concealed by a mat partition, which extends parallel to 

 the walls of the lodge, and from the floor to the roof. 

 Small apertures, or doors, at intervals in this partition, are 

 left for the different families, that inhabit a lodge, to enter 

 their respective bed chambers. 



In the evening Major O' Fallon presented each of us with 

 a horse. 



Several indians came to our camp, for the purpose of tra- 

 ding with the men. Major O'Fallon wished to obtain one of 

 their horses, in exchange for one that he possessed; but the 

 Indian modestly declined, saying, " My Father, the horse 

 you offer was given by my brother, which is the same as if 

 I had given him myself; I will exchange for almost any 

 other horse." 



Early on the following morning we departed on our re» 

 turn to the Missouri, with a numerous retinue of horses, 

 amounting to more than sixty. On the way several bisons 

 were killed, and three calves were taken alive in the chase, 

 by throwing nooses over their heads. 



On the 6th, we arrived at the Missouri, after an absence 

 of sixteen days. Much of the information we acquired, res- 

 pecting the manners, &c. of the Pawnees, is incorporated in 

 the account of the Indians of the Missouri, in some of the 

 preceding chapters of this work. 



