We Therefore Paid Him
His Wages, Amounting To Five Hundred Dollars And Thirty-Three Cents,
Including The Price Of A
Horse and a lodge purchased of him,
and soon afterward dropped down to the village of Big White,
attended on
Shore by all the Indian chiefs, who had come to take
leave of him.
"We found him surrounded by his friends, who sat in a circle smoking,
while the women were crying. He immediately sent his wife and son,
with their baggage, on board, accompanied by the interpreter
and his wife, and two children; and then, after distributing
among his friends some powder and ball which we had given him,
and smoking a pipe, he went with us to the river side.
The whole village crowded about us, and many of the people wept
aloud at the departure of their chief."
Once more embarked, the party soon reached Fort Mandan,
where they had wintered in 1804. They found very little of their
old stronghold left except a few pickets and one of the houses.
The rest had been destroyed by an accidental fire.
Eighteen miles below, they camped near an old Ricara village,
and next day, as they were about to resume their voyage,
a brother of Big White, whose camp was farther inland,
came running down to the beach to bid Big White farewell.
The parting of the two brothers was very affectionate, and the elder
gave the younger a pair of leggings as a farewell present.
The Indian chief was satisfied with his treatment by the whites,
and interested himself to tell them traditions of localities
which they passed.
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