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Show a76 Lewis antl Clarke's E~jJedition lJiing over each other like famished dogs: each tore away whatever part he could and instantly began t.o cat it; some had the liver, some the kidneys, in short no part on w11ich we arc accustomed to look with disgust escaped them: 0110 of them who had seized about nine feet of the entrails was ehewing at one end, while with his hand he was diligently cleat•ing bis way by discharging the contents at the other. It '~as indeed impossible to sec these wretche5 raYcnously fcedmg on the filth of animals, and the blood streaming from their mouthst without deploring how nearly the condition of savages approaches that of the brute creation: yet though suffet·ing with hunger they did not attempt, as they might have done, to take by force the whole deer, but contented themselves with what had hecn thrown away by the bunter. Captain Lewis now had the deer skinned, and af~ ter reserving a quarter of it gave the rest of the animal to the chief to be dhided among· the Indians, who immediately devom·.ed neat·ly the whole of it without cooking. They now went Jorward towards the creek where there was some brushwood to make a fire, and ibund Drewver who had killetl a second deer: the same struggle for .. the entrails was renewed here, and on giving nearly the whole deer t.o the Indians, they dcvom·cd it even to the soft part of the Jwofs. A ~rc being made captain Lewis had his breakfast, dndng which Drewyer lwought in a third deet>: this too, after rc· set·ving one quar·ter, was given to the Indians, who now seemed completely satisfied and in good humour. At this place they remained auout two hours to let the horses gr·aze, and then continued their journey, and towards evening reached the lower part of the cove, having on the way shot a~ antelope, the gr·cater part of which was given to the IndHms. As they wc1·c now approaching the place where they had been told by captain Lewis they would sec the white mcnt the chic{' insisted on halting: they thet·eforc alltll~;- 1ll0untrd, and Camcahwait with ga·cat ceremony and as if for ornament, put tijlpcts or skins round the necks of our llarty, similar to those worn by thomsclves. As thist was obviously intended to disgnise the white men, captain Lewis in order to inspire them with more confidence put his cocked hat and feather on the head of the chief, and as his own over-shirt was in the Indian fot·m, and his skin browned by the sun, he could not have been distinguished from an Indian: the men followed his example, and the change seemed to be very argccable to the Indians. In order to guard however against any disappointment captain Lewis again explained the possibility of our not having rcachrd the forks in consequence of the difficulty of the navigation, so that if they should not nnd us at that spot they might be assuretl of om· not being far hclow. They again all mounted their hot·ses al)d rode on rapidly, making one of the Indians eaa·ry thcit· flag, so tlaat we might recognise them as they approacl1ed us; but. to the mortification and disappointment of both {)artics on coming within two miles of the forks, no canoes were to he seen. Uneasy lest at this moment he should uc abandoned, and all his hopes of obtaining aid from the Indians be dctroyed, captain Lewis gave the chief his gun, telling him that if tbe cne. mies of his nation were in the hu-shes he might defend him· self with it; that for his own 1mrt he was not aft~aid to die, and that the chief might shoot laim as soon as they di5covered themselves betrayed. 'rhc other three men at the same time gave their guns to the Indians, who now seemed more easy, but still wave1·cd in their resolutions. As they went on towards the point, captain Lewis perceiving how critical his situation had become, resolved to attempt a stratagem which ltis present diffiouHy seemed completely to justify. Uecollcctiog the notes 1w had left at the point for us, he sent Drcwyer· for them with an Indian who witnessed his taking them from tl.c pole. \Vhen they were brougbt, captain Lewis told Cameahwait that on leaving his bt·other chief at the place where the rh·er issues from the mountains, it was agreed that the boats hould not be VOL. I. 3 C |