Volume 1

374 THE wolf's tent—TERRIFIC TOILETS.
display the vigorous nerves of their beasts they pushed on
At last the poor animals could scarcely
as fast as possible.
keep their legs, the hill grew so steep ; we were all obliged
to dismount and walk up to the summit. From this
spot we had a delightful prospect, and saw the main body
passing the foot of the hill on the N. side, all at a slow
trot, in compact order, the same as yesterday. Many
hundred yards below us, buffalo and cabbrie were feeding
in abundance, but they were not molested. We soon
descended the hill and joined the party.
At eleven o'clock orders were given to halt for the purpose
of dressing, painting, and preparing for our arrival
at the Schian camp, which was at no great distance.
This ceremony and preparation required some time, during
which the old man and the principal war chiefs made
several rounds on horseback, haranguing their people, and
telling the young men to dress themselves in their best,
so as to look like such warriors as Willow Indians are
known to be. For the first time some of the Mandane
chiefs also made the rounds on horseback, haranguing their
own people ; urging the young men to decorate themselves
and appear to the best advantage, to show other nations
that the stationary village was as brave a set of warriors
as any in the world. It was plain to see the partiality
of these people for their own tribe. During the journey,
common safety kept them all in a compact body, but
whenever a halt was made, the inhabitants of the several
villages formed in different groups, everyone with his
own people, and there was always a space between the
Big Bellies and the Mandanes.
At one o'clock, all were decked to the best advantage,
to make them look more savage and ferocious than they
naturally were ; this was certainly bad enough, and little
art was required to render them truly hideous. Even their
horses were daubed over with red and white earth, some
in large patches, others with prints of the hand, and others
again with various stripes to match the fierce looks of the