238 Expedition to the 



proved that he entertained towards us the most friendly and 

 generous disposition. He was not tardy in ascertaining our 

 wants, nor parsimonious in his attempts to relieve thsm. 

 He passed his pipe around, a ceremony which signifies just 

 as much, amongst these people, as the drinking to friendship 

 and good fellowship does amongst the lower classes in civilized 

 society; but to us, who had been so long deprived of the use 

 of tobacco, it was an intrinsic gratification. He then laid 

 before us some fine ripe blue plums; and remarking that the 

 small portion of fawn meat, that constituted all our store, was 

 \'ery lean, he said that he would soon bring some more pala- 

 table food, and leaving his pipe and tobacco-pouch on the 

 ground, with the request that we would partake freely of 

 both, he disappeared in the forest. 



It was dusk when he returned, with a fat buck hanging 

 in pieces from his saddle; he was accompanied by five or 

 six young warriors. These young men had visited the oppo- 

 site side of the river, where they had discovered a herd of 

 bisons, and as they were hastening. back to Clermont with 

 the intelligence, they observed our trail, which they mistook 

 for that of a Pawnee war party, and were exerting their ut- 

 most speed homeward when they met with our friendly In- 

 dian, who smiled as he informed us of their mistake. 



The remnant of our fawn had been cooked, and was partly 

 eaten on their arrival, when they readily accepted our invi- 

 tation to partake of it. In return for which, when their meat 

 was prepared, the whole was set before us, and they respect- 

 fully waited until we were satisfied. 



We now ascertained our position with respect to the set- 

 tlements. We were within about four days' march of Belle 

 Point, and the next large stream we would cross was the 

 Verdigris. 



Previously to retiring to rest the Osages performed their 

 vespers, by chanting, in a wild and melancholy tone, a kind 

 of hymn to the Master of Life. 



