Volume 1

378 SALUTATORY CEREMONIES—SALUTARY AUSPICES.
selecting particular persons, whom he embraced very cordially
;
finally he came to us and gave us a hearty handshake,
but did not take any of us in his arms. He was
dressed in a sort of a blue coat or shirt, which he had procured
from the Spaniards, and a coarse striped blanket,
such as we use to cover ourselves in Canada, also
got from the same people. He was very active, and remarkably
adroit in the management of his horse ; his
countenance was open and pleasant, his manner affable
and agreeable. As soon as this great man had performed
the ceremony of embracing the flag, his
whole party came
on full speed amongst us ; at the same moment orders
were given for us to proceed, and every one of them selected
one of our party, whom he adopted as his comrade,
which is done by riding up to and embracing him. The
ground over which we moved being rough and covered
with loose, round stones, and all these ceremonies and
manoeuvres being performed on horseback at a gallop, it
was surprising no accident happened. They each in turn
shook us very warmly by the hand, saying something we
did not comprehend, but supposed it was a welcome. The
bustle and noise of so many horses galloping and prancing
through the ranks, while the war chiefs of all parties, now
being intermixed, passed from right to left at full speed,
each making his own arrangements in his own language,
had quite a martial appearance. The substance of those
speeches was to welcome each other, give mutual thanks
for the present happy and auspicious occasion, and express
their wishes that they might henceforth live like brothers,
and bury in oblivion all former animosities. These harangues
did not cease until we came in sight of the camp,
which we first saw from the brow of a high hill, situated
upon a level spot below us about half a mile distant. Between
the camp and us lay a rivulet, whose borders were
thinly lined with stunted willows, and 300 paces beyond
the camp appeared another rivulet of the same kind. Here
we were all ordered to form in line abreast, with the women