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Show 134 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL • rather dens, inhabited by the astonished squaws. They explored the apartments of the 1nen, and eve~ that of Marie and the bourgeois. At last a numerous deputatiOn appeared at our door, but were immediately expelled. Being totally devoid of any sense of delicacy or propriety, they seemed resolved to search every mystery to the bottom. I-Iaving at length satisfied their curiosity, they next proceeded to business. The men occupied themselves in procuring supplies for their onward journey ; either buying them with money, or giving in exchange superfluous articles of their own. The emigrants felt a violent prejudice against the French Indians, as they called the trappers and traders. They thought, and with some justice, that these men bore them no good will. Many of them were firmly persuaded that the French were instigating the [ndians to attack and cut them off. On visiting the encampment we were at once struck with the extraordinary perplexity and indecision that prevailed among the emigrants. They seemed like men totally out of their element; bewildered and amazed, like a troop of schoolboys lost in the woods. It was impossible to be long among them without being conscious of the high and bold spirit with which most of them were animated. But the forest is the home of the backwoodsman. On the remote prairie he is totally at a loss. He differs as much from the crenuine 'mountain-man,' b the wild prairie hunter, as a Canadian voyageur, paddling his canoe on the rapids of the Ottawa, differs from an American sailor among the storms of Cape Horn. Still my companion and I were somewhat at a loss to account for this perturbed state of mind. It could not be cowardice : these men were of Lhe ~arne stock with the volunteers of Monterey and Buena SCENES AT FORT LARAMIE. 135 Vista. Yet for the 1nost part, they were the rudest and most ignorant of the frontier population ; they knew absolutely nothing of the country and its inhabitants; they had already expcrjenced much misfortune, and apprehended more ; they had seen nothing of mankind, and had never put their own resources to the test. A full proportion of suspicion fell upon us. Being strangers, we were looked upon as ene1nies. I-Iaving occasion for a supply of lead and a few other necessary articles, we used to go over to 1he emigrant camps to obtain them. After some hesitation, some dubious glances, and fumbling of the hands in the pockets, the terms would be agreed upon, the price tendered, and the emigrant would go off to bring the article in question. After waiting until our patience gave out, we would go in search of him, and find him seated on the tongue of his wagon. '~rell, stranger,' he would observe, as he saw us approach, 'I reckon I won't trade !' Some friend of his had followed him from the scene of the bargain, and suggested in his ear that clearly we meant to cheat him, and he had better have nothing to do with us. This timorous mood of the emigrants was doubly unfortunate, as it exposed them to real danger. Assume, in the presence of Indians, a bold bearing, self-confident yet vigilant, and you will find them tolerably safe neighbors. But your safety depends on the respect and fear you are able to inspire. If you betray timidity or indecision, you convert them from that moment into insidious and dangerous enemies. The Dahcotah saw clearly enough the perturbation of the emigrants, and instantly availed themselves of it. They became extremely insolent and exacting in their demands. It has be- |