Rocky Mountains. 195 



pal or presiding member of the society, and the bean is ob- 

 tained, in some circuitous maaner, from the Pawnee Piquas 

 of Red river, who, probably, receive it from the Mexican 

 Indians. With some few trinkets, of little value, we pur- 

 chased the principal portion of our medicine man's store of 

 beans; they are of an oval form, and of a light red, sometimes 

 yellowish colour, with a rather deeply impressed oval cica- 

 trix, and larger than a common bean. A small number 

 of a difFtrentlv coloured, and rather larger bean was inter- 

 mixed with them. 



The squaw had in her possession, a quantity of small, flat, 

 blackish cakes, which, on tasting, we found very palatable. 

 Having purchased some of them, we ascertained that they 

 were composed of the wild cherry, both pulp and stone 

 pounded together, until the latter is broken into fragments, 

 then mixed with grease, and dried in the sun. 



Not choosing to rely implicitly on the good faith of the 

 strangers, however emphatically expressed, the sentinel was 

 directed to look well to them, and also to keep the horse in 

 question constantly in viev/ during the night, and to alarm 

 us upon the occurrence of any suspicious movements. All, 

 however, remained q\jiet during the night, and in the 

 morning, the 31st., we resumed our journey. The river now 

 considerably dilates, and is studded with a number of small 

 islands, but the timber and shrubs that skirt it are still less 

 abundant and more scattered. The alluvial formation affords 

 a moderate growth of grass, but the general surface of the 

 country is flat, sterile, and uninteresting. The day was 

 cloudy, with an E. S. E. wind, which at night brought some 

 rain. 



Aug. 1st. Set out late, and after having travelled about two 

 luiles, a horseman armed with a spear was seen on the Bluffs, 

 at the distance of about, a quarter of a mile, who, after gazing 

 at our line for a short time, disappeared. Our Pawnee in- 

 terpreters being at a considerable distance in the rear, Julien 



