Volume 1

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212 CUISINE A LA BOIS DE VACHE.
Assiniboines in 1803, on his way to the Missourie. Having
crossed this river, we pushed on as fast as possible, sometimes
on a gallop, and never slower than a trot, until
sunset,
when we stopped for the night on the open plains.
We found much water on this low and level plain, and, of
course, mosquitoes in abundance. We fell to work collecting
buffalo dung, of which there was no scarcity; it was
damp from the late heavy rains, and would emit no flame
but, having set fire to a great pile, it made a good smudge.
Having no kettle to cook with, we broiled our bull's flesh
upon the dung and ate a hearty supper, though none of the
most palatable or best flavored, as the meat tasted of dung.
The weather was sultry and overcast, which increased the
clouds of mosquitoes intolerably. Soon after dark it began
to rain, and, not being provided with tent poles or any substitute
for them, we were soon wet to the skin, and our
fire, or rather smoke, was as soon extinguished. The night
was so dark we could not see one another, and our horses,
enraged by the swarms of mosquitoes which attacked them,
were very unruly; we dreaded lest their fetters should give
way, when they might trample some of us, or run ofT.
About midnight the long line of one of them broke, but his
fore feet were still tied together above the hoof, as we
generally hopple horses in the North West. In jumping
and prancing about his hoof came down upon the shinbone
of our guide, who was stretched upon his back. The
horse was a heavy beast, and the poor old Indian complained
bitterly of the pain. We were apprehensive the
bone had been broken, but could give him no assistance, as
it was impossible to strike a light. We passed the night
defending ourselves from the horses and the mosquitoes
the poor fellow had a miserable time, moaning pitifully.
When day appeared we examined his leg and found the
flesh bruised shockingly, very much swelled, and of all
kaskia for some years; went to Nacogdoches, Tex., about 1833 or 1834; took
part in the convention which proclaimed Texas independent, 1836 ;
Galveston Co. in Congress, 1838, and d. at Galveston, 1856.
represented