210 Expedition to the 



feet, into a distinct body, in order to be prepared to act to- 

 gether in case of necessity. One of us, however, occupied 

 with the appearance of these Indians, still remained amongst 

 them, until one of the Indians attempted to seize his gun, 

 when a slight scuffle ensued, which terminated by violently 

 wresting the piece from the grasp of the Indian, and warily 

 retreating from the midst of them. 



All being seated, the pipe was passed round to a few prin- 

 cipal persons, who sat directly in front of us. Some presents 

 were likewise laid before the partizan, consisting of a blan- 

 ket, a skin to make mockasins of, a dozen knives, and five 

 twists of tobacco; and though some of them complained 

 aloud, and with a violent shivering gesticulation, of the cold 

 they suffered during the night, such was the state of our 

 stores, both public and private, that it was not thought pru- 

 dent further to enlarg<; our bounty. 



One of our number, who was earnestly occupied in endea- 

 vouring to obtain a few words of their language, but who 

 succeeded in recording but four, heard one of them whilst 

 in conversation with the partizan, terminate a remark with a 

 word or phrase, so exactly similar in sound to the words 

 hoxu is it, that he almost involuntarily repeated them aloud. 

 The speaker seemed pleased with this, and believing from 

 the exact similarity of the sounds, that he understood the 

 language, immediately directed his discourse to him, but 

 was answered only by signs, denoting ignorance of the lan- 

 guage. 



Their words seem less harsh, more harmonious, and ea- 

 sier of acquisition, than those of their neighbours. 



Whilst thus occupied, one of the soldiers who were behind 

 us, called our attention to an Indian who had the effrontery 

 to seize the Kaskaia horse by the halter, and as in a former 

 instance, was making a noose to pass over his head. This 

 procedure was pointed out to the partizan, who taking no 

 notice of it, the fellow was ordered in a peremptory tone of 



