Volume 1

BILL OF FARE—CARE OF HORSES. 325
would be taken of them. On going into the hut we found
buffalo hides spread on the ground before the fire
sit
for us to
upon, and were presented with two large dishes of boiled
corn and beans. After that they gave us a large dish of
boiled dried meat ; but few of us could eat of it, as it had
too strong a taste and smell. This was just to their own
palate, as they seldom eat meat until it begins to smell.
We were invited into several huts successively and presented
with dried meat in a state of corruption, corn and
beans, together with parched corn and fresh ears pounded
up in a wooden mortar ; this last dish we found good.
They soon asked us to trade, and brought buffalo robes,
corn, beans, dried squashes, etc.; but we informed them
that we did not come here for that purpose, merely to visit
them and see the country. They could not comprehend
why we should have come so far out of mere curiosity, and
said that all white people who came there did so with a
view to trade. They suspected that we had goods which
we wished to take over the river to the other villages, and
were anxious to prevent it. They plagued us until dark,
when they retired disappointed.
Our young man brought the horses and put them into
the hut with us, at the right hand on entering, we being on
the left ; a space was inclosed with a railing to keep them
within bounds. It is customary for these people to occupy
one side of the hut and the horses the other ;
their habitations
consequently have an offensive smell to the nose of
stranger. This is a precaution to keep the horses from being
stolen by the Assiniboines and other enemies, who
frequently lurk about the village.
Toward evening, having gone down to the river-side, I
observed their custom of washing themselves in the Missourie.
Both men and women make it a rule to go down to
the river and wash every morning and evening. The men
use clay to wash their
hair, which answers the purpose of
soap to take out the white and red earth with which they
daub it afresh every morning. Modesty in the female sex
a