Rocky Mountains. 107 



and that they had mistaken us for traders. We had good 

 reasons for wishing not to carry our resentment farther than 

 was necessary, and accordingly relinquished the attempt to 

 trade with them, informing them, at the same time, that we 

 were hungry. Having received us in a friendly manner, we 

 expected they would, according to the custom of most In- 

 dians, have shown their good will by inviting us to a feast. 

 "VVe had, therefore, waited with some impatience for their 

 good cheer, so long that hope began to fail us. It will be 

 recollected we had for some daj's been almost in a starving 

 condition, and we perceived that the Indians had very plen- 

 tiful supplies of jerked meat. In compliance -with our re- 

 peated requests the wife of Red Mouse at length brought us 

 a little half boiled bison meat, from which we had observed 

 her to select the best pieces, and give them to the children. 

 After we had eaten this we returned the wooden dish on 

 which it had been brought, at the same time asking her for 

 more. This second demand procured us a little more jerked 

 meat, which came so reluctantly, that as our hunger was 

 now somewhat appeased, we resolved to ask them for no 

 more. 



One of the party having asked for water, the paunch of 

 a bison was brought, containing three or four quarts, from 

 which we all managed to drink, though with some difficulty. 

 Little care or labour had been bestowed on the preparation 

 of this vessel. The papillous coat, which formed the internal 

 surface of the stomach of the animal, had not been removed; 

 nor had it lost from long use its peculiar smell. The organ 

 is suffered to retain its original form, as far as is consistent 

 with the uses to which it is applied; one of the orifices is 

 brought nearly in contact with the other, where it is retain- 

 ed by a stick passed through the margin, the depending part 

 is a sack, sometimes large enough to contain six or eight 

 gallons. It may well be supposed, practice is required to en- 

 able a person to drink with ease and adroitness from one of 



