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Show 286 • AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF are thrown into hot springs which abound in that region, where they are kept until they are perfectly mailable; they are then taken out and straightened, and cut into strips of suitable width. It takes two buffalo horns to make a bow of sufficient length. They are pieced in the centre, and riveted; then they are bound strongly at the splice with sinew. Bows made of thir:-; material are equaled by none other except those made from the l1orn of the mountain sheep. Wl1ile we were encamped here, numerous small parties of Crows went to war without leave, and in almost every instance were defeated; on some excursions they were entirely destroyed. One party, consisting of thirty-nine warriors, led by the Constant Bird, a great war-chief, went to the Black Foot country, and every one of them was killed. They had killed and seal ped one of the enemy, whom they met alone, and again journeyed on, when they came suddenly upon a whole v~llage of Black Feet, and were themselves instantly discovered. To save themselves they resorted to an ingenious device, which certainly offered fair to save them. On bei_ng discovered, instead of retreating, they kept on and entered the enemy's village, pretending the~ came with authority to conclude a peace. The Indians, putting faith in their mission, concluded peace accordingly. While thus engaged proposing terms and smoking cozily, one of the Black Foot squaws stole a sack belonging to them. After the departure of the Crows, the sack was examined, and among its contents was found the identical scalp they had taken a short time previous! y. · Raising the war-hoop, the Black ~eet assem~led in great numbers, and, making immediate pursuit after the Crows, they overtook them, and massacred every one. This intelligence was brought .. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 287 by express from Fort Maria, the B~ack Foot tradingpost, to Fort Cass, the Crow tradmg-post. On receipt of this intelligence, there was another general scene of mourninO' and vowing vengeance. I used all the arguments thba t I could frame to prevent t 11 ese mi. s~ chievous guerilla expeditions, but ~hey would steal ~ff in the night in spite of my entreaties or 1.ny denuncuttions, and I did not like to resort to punishments. Several of the high functionaries inquired of me to what cause I attributed such repeated disasters. I answered as follows : "Warriors ! the causes are clear enouO'h. My medicine tells me the causes. Firstly, you ~·obbed my white friends, stealing. th~ir horses away, and even attempting to take their hves when they were under my protection, and when you knew it grieved my heart to have _wrong don~ to them. ~ second cause: you are continually actmg contrary to the wishes of A-ra-poo-ash, who went to the Spirit Land on account of your disobedience. I have also expressed the same wishes to you, telling you to apply yourselves to collecting skins, in order to have the wherewith to purchase the things that you need. The.s~, my orders, are openly disobeyed, and t.he ~re~t Spuit is very angry with the nation for thmr thieving, and disre<Yard of the order a of their head chief." b They then inquired what they should do to appe~se the wrath of the Great Spirit. I answered again : "Warriors! to appease the just anger of the Great Spirit, you must discontinue your war-parties, and remain peaceably at home for one moon. You can ~en prepare a great sacrifice, and do penance for that time, and let the Great Spirit see that you really repent the evil you have committed. By so acting, you may recover the favor which the Great Spirit has evidently |
