CHAPTER XI. 



Arrapaho war-party — Cowbunting — Rattlesnakes — Burrow- 

 i7ig-owl — Departure of Bijeau and Ledoiix for the Paw- 

 nee villages — Scarcity of timber — Great herds of bisons 

 — wolves. 



On the 30th, about sunrise, a dense fog intercepted the 

 view of the surrounding scenery, which was soon dissipated 

 as we moved on, exhibiting all the variety of partially reveal- 

 ed, and unnaturally enlarged objects, so familiar to observers 

 of rural sights. At noon, a beautiful natural grove of cotton- 

 wood, lining a ravine in which was some cool but stagnant 

 water, near the bank of the river, invited us to repose during 

 the oppressive mid-day heat. We had hardly stripped our 

 horses of their baggage, and betaken ourselves to our respec- 

 tive occupations, when a voice from the opposite bank of the 

 river warned us of the proximity of Indians, who had been 

 until now unseen. Nine Indians soon appeared, and crossed 

 the river to our camp. They proved to be an Arrapaho war 

 party of eight men and a squaw, of whom one was a Kiawa.* 

 This party informed us that they had left the Bear-tooth's par- 

 ty on a tributary of this river, at the distance of half a day's 

 journey from us, moving upwards. As no apprehension of 

 mischief was entertained from so small a party, they were 

 invited to encamp near us for the remainder of the day, to 

 which, urged by curiosity, and perhaps by the hope of re- 

 ceiving some presents, they readily assented. The squaw 

 busied herself in erecting a little bowery of a sufficient size 

 to contain herself and her husband, who we afterwards dis- 



* The Arrapaho or Rnppaho nation is known to the Minnetarees of the 

 Missouri, bj the name of E-ta-leh, or Bison-path Indians. 



