354 



ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



leave the camp, the war party join in a war song. 

 After their departure, the old men and women 

 and children pursue their usual occupations, to ob- 

 tain a subsistence. Frequently, after the war 

 party has been gone several days, some of the 

 young men return, to join their relations or lovers. 

 All the punishment to which they subject them- 

 selves is, to be called old women, by which is 

 meant, cowards ; a charge which touches an In- 

 dian to the quick. 



War parties frequently travel four or five 

 hundred miles, before they reach the territory of 

 their enemies. On their way, they subsist upon 

 animals which they kill, and fish which they take, 

 from the lakes and rivers. These supplies are 

 often very inadequate, and they suffer greatly by 

 hunger. 



Having arrived near the place where they ex- 

 pect to find their enemies, the chiefs send out 

 scouting parties, in order to ascertain their posi- 

 tion, numbers and any other circumstances w T hich 

 it may be necessary for them to know, in order to 

 form a plan for taking them by surprise. The 

 Indians never attack their enemies in the open 

 day ; but fall upon them when asleep, near the 

 approach of the light of the morning. 



If they succeed in conquering their enemies, 

 as is generally the case, since those who make the 



