Harmon's journal. 135 



jured party, contention between them entirely 

 ceases. Even murder is, sometimes, in this 

 way, atoned for ; but not commonly. In ordinary 

 cases, nothing but the death of the murderer, or of 

 some of his near relations, will satisfy the desire 

 of revenge in an Indian, whose relative has been 

 murdered. 



Wednesday, April 10. On the 24th ult. I set 

 out on horse back, accompanied by one man, for 

 Montagne a la Basse. When we arrived there, 

 we were not a little surprised to find the fort 

 gates shut, and about eighty tents of Cre.es and 

 Assiniboins encamped in a hostile manner, around 

 it, and threatening to massacre all the white peo- 

 ple in it. They, in a menacing manner, threw 

 balls over the palisades, and told our people to 

 gather them up, declaring that they would proba- 

 bly have use for them in the course of a few days. 

 After having passed several days there, I set out 

 to return home. Just as I had gotten out of the 

 fort gate, three villainous Indians approached me, 

 and one of them seized my horse by the bridle 

 and stopped him, saying, that the beast belonged 

 to him, and that he would take him from me. 

 I told him that he had disposed of him to Mr. 

 Chaboillez, who had charge of the post ; and that 

 of this gentleman, I had purchased him, and that I 

 had no concern with the matter, which was whol- 



