BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

374
CHARLES MACKENZIE
token of friendship, they promised that a young man taken in
war some years before and then a prisoner, would be given up
to his father whenever he should come for him.
Soon after, the father appeared accompanied by a number of
yOllng men. They brought a message from their Gt'eat Chief
inviting in the warmest terms a young Chief he had noticed in
battle, to pay him a visit. The young man who was also a great
Chief among the Gros Ventres altd renowned for his exploits at
war, was willing to accept the invitations, but the majority of
his people, fearing treachery, opposed his departure. Many,
councils were held on this occasion but all to no avail. "Rattle
Snake", fearing that his character would be attacked by those
who envied him, and that his courage would be doubted by
his enemies, resolved to conquer all opposition and finally
carried his point.
I resided in the Borgne's tent; it was there that all strangers
paid their first visit, and that all the wise men assembled on
great occasions. I consequently had a good opportunity of learn·
ing what was going on.
All strangers treated me with the greatest kindness; those
who never had seen a white man looked upon me with great
admiration and Guriosity; many were afraid to approach IDe,
but most of them were, by far, too inquisitive and wished to ascertain
if I was in every respect the same as Indians. The
ShawyenR had seen and traded with several white people,
though they had no traders on their lands; they were very
friendly to me as I could understand them and be understood
by the common signs of the Plain Indians.
They strongly pressed me to go with them, saying that they
would load two horses for me with beaver. The remaillder of
my goods was not worth £5-and that of very inferior quality-,
and I knew that they would bring a far better price at the
Shaw yens than they would at the Missurie. I therefore resolved