Eockij Mountains. 109 



to very fine fragments, it was mixed with bison tallow, a 

 little water added, and the whole boiled together. 



After the chief had finished his meal, a council was held 

 between all the men of the band. They met behind the chief's 

 lodge, and we were not greatly pleased to perceive that they 

 seemed anxious to conceal their meeting from us. At night 

 we determined to collect all our horses, and placing them as 

 near as we could around our lodge, to watch them until 

 morning, but, upqn examimation, a few of them only could 

 be found, the remainder, as we believed, having been secret- 

 ed by the Indians. The crowd, which had been assembled 

 about us during the day, dispersed, as the evening advanced, 

 and, at dark, all became still in and about the encampment. 

 At this time, the chief, whose lodge was near ours, standing 

 at the entrance of his dwelling, harangued with great vehe- 

 mence, in a voice sufficiently loud and clear to be heard by 

 all his people, who had now retired to their several lodges. 

 As we had no interpreter of their language, we could under- 

 stand nothing of the import of his speech. Every thing re- 

 mained quiet during the night, and as soon as day dawned 

 on the following morning, a loud harangue, similar to that 

 iji the evening, was pronounced by the chief, and immediately 

 afterwards the whole camp was in motion. The lodges were 

 taken down, the packs placed upon the horses, and the whole 

 body were in a short time ready to move off. As several of 

 our horses, our kettles, and other articles of the greatest im- 

 portance were missing, we were unwilling to part from our 

 hosts in the hasty manner they seemed to intend. We ac- 

 cordingly summoned the old Indian interpreter, and made 

 our complaint and remonstrance to the chief. He told us 

 our horses had strayed from the camp, and that several of 

 his people were then out, searching for them, and made other 

 excuses, evidently designed to gain time until his band could 

 move off. Perceiving we had no time to lose, Major Long 

 ordered horses and other articles to be seized, correspond- 



