They Readily Answered In The Affirmative.
He Then Asked If They Had Not Agreed To Assist Us In Carrying Our Baggage Over
The Mountains.
To this they also answered yes.
`Why, then,' said he, `have
you requested your people to meet us to-morrow where it will be impossible
for us to trade for horses, as you promised we should? If,' he continued,
`you had not promised to help us in transporting our goods over the mountains,
we should not have attempted it, but have returned down the river;
after which no white men would ever have come into your country. If you
wish the whites to be your friends, to bring you arms, and to protect you
from your enemies, you should never promise what you do not mean to perform.
When I first met you, you doubted what I said, yet you afterward saw that I
told you the truth. How, therefore, can you doubt what I now tell you?
You see that I divide amongst you the meat which my hunters kill, and I
promise to give all who assist us a share of whatever we have to eat.
If, therefore, you intend to keep your promise, send one of the young men
immediately, to order the people to remain at the village till we arrive.'
The two inferior chiefs then said that they had wished to keep their word
and to assist us; that they had not sent for the people, but on the contrary
had disapproved of that measure, which was done wholly by the first chief.
Cameahwait remained silent for some time; at last he said that he knew
he had done wrong, but that, seeing his people all in want of provisions,
he had wished to hasten their departure for the country where their wants
might be supplied.
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