Volume 1

;
EXCEPT THE BILL OF FARE. 397
erty in those parts, two skins, or 12 livres North West currency,
making 24 livres Quebec currency, or one pound
HaHfax currency. Here I observed the filthy manners of
these people in feasting on the raw entrails of buffalo. The
paunch, liver, kidneys, fat, testicles, gristle, marrow-bones,-
and several other pieces, they hand about and devour like
famished wolves, whilst blood and dung stream down from
their mouths ; it was disgusting to see them.
We remained here but a short time, when we saddled and
proceeded alone, directing our course toward the Mandane
village, heartily glad to get rid of those disagreeable, selfish,
haughty Big Bellies, who from the place we left them went
down Knife river to their own villages. We overtook a
Big Belly with a horse-load of buffalo meat, and proposed
to purchase some ; but the old man was loath to sell any
however, our ammunition tempted him, and for the value of
six skins he consented to let us have the two placottes.
These we instantly threw on a horse and sent off, whilst I
remained to make payment. Having received it, and held
a consultation with his wife, the old man wanted to return
the ammunition and take back the meat ; but it was gone
too far. He grumbled so much that we gave him a few
inches of tobacco, which seemed to please him, and then
rode away.