BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

THE MISSISSOURI INDIANS 343
" AL Lhe first discharge the persons who were within rushed
" out; it waR then I discovered our error, that OUl' attack was
"on white men. I was sorry, but I could not pl't'vail on the
" young men to cease firing and be wise. The white men fled
"to their canoes, and the young men carried away tile things
"which were left in the camp. I did not kill allY of the whit,)
" men, but I did believe they were Serpent Indians, OLlr enemies;
" I am sorry they were your friends ".
By this discourse, \V8 concluded that these Indians had kill('1i
some of our people on the south branch of the Saskatchewine
river. The Indians of the villag8, perceiving by our countenances
that we were acquaillte(l with the outrage committed upon oUl'
friends, discontinued their rejoicings and the exhibition of their
plunder.
My business being confined to the villages and their vicinity,
I lost no time in adopting the necessary measures for secming
the trade of that quarter. Mr. La Rocque, who was to ascend the
Mississouri on discovery, was opposed ill his views by the
Inrlians, who insisted upon his return to Red River without going
any further on his expedition. They asserted that ir the white
people would extend their dealings to the Rocky Mountains, rhe
Mandanes would thereby become great sufferers, as they not
only would lose all the benefit which they had hitherto derived
from their intercourse with these distant tribes, but that in
measure as these tribes obtained arms, they would become inrle­
pendant and insolent ill the extreme.
This remonstrance was made in a tone which could not fail
to cause uneasiness to Mr. La Rocque and he was at it loss how
to steer his course; he therefore applied to the head chid, eallptl
the Borgne, who was tllell cOllfllled to bpd, for ailvi"I'. TIJI.';
chief is reckoned a very supel'ior character. MI'. L:t ROCI! ll"
exposed his difficulties; he listened to I hem with attention, L/lCll
made the rollowing 1'8 ply