We Removed There,
And Having Made A Fire, And Cooked Our Supper Of Horseflesh
And Roots, Collected All The Distinguished
Men present,
and spent the evening in making known who we were, what were
the objects of our journey, and
In answering their inquiries.
To each of the chiefs Tunnachemootoolt and Hohastillpilp we
gave a small medal, explaining their use and importance as
honorary distinctions both among the whites and the red men.
Our men were well pleased at once more having made a hearty meal.
They had generally been in the habit of crowding into
the houses of the Indians, to purchase provisions on the best
terms they could; for the inhospitality of the country
was such, that often, in the extreme of hunger, they were
obliged to treat the natives with but little ceremony;
but this Twisted Hair had told us was very disagreeable.
Finding that these people are so kind and liberal, we ordered
our men to treat them with the greatest respect, and not to throng
round their fires, so that they now agree perfectly well together.
After the council the Indians felt no disposition to retire,
and our tent was filled with them all night."
As the expedition was here in a populous country, among many bands of Indians,
it was thought wise to have a powwow with the head men and explain to them
what were the intentions of the United States Government. But, owing to
the crooked course which their talk must needs take, it was very
difficult to learn if the Indians finally understood what was said.
Here is the journal's account of the way in which the powwow was conducted: -
"We collected the chiefs and warriors, and having drawn a map
of the relative situation of our country on a mat with a piece
of coal, detailed the nature and power of the American nation,
its desire to preserve harmony between all its red brethren,
and its intention of establishing trading-houses for their relief
and support. It was not without difficulty, nor till after nearly
half the day was spent, that we were able to convey all this
information to the Chopunnish, much of which might have been
lost or distorted in its circuitous route through a variety
of languages; for in the first place, we spoke in English
to one of our men, who translated it into French to Chaboneau;
he interpreted it to his wife in the Minnetaree language;
she then put it into Shoshonee, and the young Shoshonee
prisoner explained it to the Chopunnish in their own dialect.
At last we succeeded in communicating the impression we wished,
and then adjourned the council; after which we amused them
by showing the wonders of the compass, spy-glass, magnet, watch,
and air-gun, each of which attracted its share of admiration."
The simple-minded Indians, who seemed to think that the white men
could heal all manner of diseases, crowded around them next day,
begging for medicines and treatment.
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