Rocky Mountains. Z7S 



or no traits of epicurism, choosing those kinds of food that 

 are most nutritive, without regarding their taste, or flavour. 



In the preservation of their food no pains are taken to 

 render it savoury or palatable, their object is solely to reduce 

 it to a state of security against putrefaction. They make no 

 use of spices or other aromatics, either in preserving or 

 cooking their food. Even salt is not considered as an essen- 

 tial, and is seldom uscd as an appendage in thtir cookery. 

 This article is only prized by them on account of its useful- 

 ness for their horses. In regard to their choice of food, how- 

 ever, and manner of cooking it, the small variety within 

 their reach, and the impracticability of obtaining condi- 

 ments of different kinds, perhaps renders them less particular 

 in these respects, than they would be under different circum- 

 stances. It cannot be supposed that they are entirely insensi- 

 ble to dainties of every description, on the contrary, they ap- 

 pear remarkably fond of sugar and saccharine fruits. 



They appear to have a natural propensity for the fumes 

 of tobacco, which they in\ariably inhale into the lungs, and 

 eject through the nostrils. 1 hey make no use of this article 

 except in smoking, which is an indulgence of which they are 

 exceedingly reluctant to be deprived. Wiien they cannot 

 obtain tobacco, they use as a substitute the dried leaves of 

 the sumac, the inner bark of the red willow dried, and the 

 leaves and bark of a few other shrubs, the fumes of which 

 ar. less stimulating, but equally as palatable as those of to- 

 bacco. 



The Indians under consideration know not the use or va- 

 lue of the precious metals, except as trinkets or ornaments 

 for their dress. They use wampum, and in some few in- 

 stances, shells of a small size, and of a particular character, 

 as a substitute for money. But, in general, furs, peltries, hor- 

 ses, and various articles of dress, at standing or fixed rates 

 of barter, are the immediate objects, both of internal and ex- 

 ternal trade. 



They do not hold their property in common, but each in- 

 dividual enjoys the Iruit of his own toil and industry. They 

 are accounted more or less wealthy, according to the num- 

 ber of horses they are possessed of, and the style in which 

 they are able to dress. 



Polygamy is common amongst them, every man being al- 

 lowed to have as many wives as he can maintain. Marriages 

 are binding upon the parties only as long as they think pro- 

 per to live together, and are often contracied for a limited 



