This Famous Stream Was Then Regarded As A Sort
Of Boundary Line Between The Known And Unknown Regions.
As Mariners
Crossing the equator require all their comrades,
who have not been "over the line" to submit to lathering and shaving,
So the Western voyageurs merrily compelled their mates to submit
to similar horse-play. The great river was also the mark above
which explorers entered upon what was called the Upper Missouri.
The expedition was now advancing into a region inhabited by several
wandering tribes of Indians, chief of which were the Ottoes, Missouris,
and Pawnees. It was determined, therefore, to call a council of some
of the chiefs of these bands and make terms of peace with them.
After some delay, the messengers sent out to them brought in fourteen
representative Indians, to whom the white men made presents
of roast meat, pork, flour, and corn-meal, in return for which
their visitors brought them quantities of delicious watermelons.
"Next day, August 3," says the journal, "the Indians, with their
six chiefs, were all assembled under an awning formed with the mainsail,
in presence of all our party, paraded for the occasion.
A speech was then made, announcing to them the change in the government,
our promises of protection, and advice as to their future conduct.
All the six chiefs replied to our speech, each in his turn, according
to rank. They expressed their joy at the change in the government;
their hopes that we would recommend them to their Great Father
(the president), that they might obtain trade and necessaries:
they wanted arms as well for hunting as for defence, and asked our
mediation between them and the Mahas, with whom they are now at war.
We promised to do so, and wished some of them to accompany us
to that nation, which they declined, for fear of being killed
by them. We then proceeded to distribute our presents.
The grand chief of the nation not being of the party,
we sent him a flag, a medal, and some ornaments for clothing.
To the six chiefs who were present, we gave a medal of the second
grade to one Ottoe chief and one Missouri chief; a medal of the third
grade to two inferior chiefs of each nation; the customary mode
of recognizing a chief being to place a medal round his neck, which is
considered among his tribe as a proof of his consideration abroad.
Each of these medals was accompanied by a present of paint,
garters, and cloth ornaments of dress; and to this we added
a canister of powder, a bottle of whiskey, and a few presents
to the whole, which appeared to make them perfectly satisfied.
The air-gun, too, was fired, and astonished them greatly.
The absent grand chief was an Ottoe, named Weahrushhah, which,
in English, degenerates into Little Thief. The two principal
chieftains present were Shongotongo, or Big Horse, and Wethea,
or Hospitality; also Shosguscan, or White Horse, an Ottoe;
the first an Ottoe, the second a Missouri.
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