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Show 11~ .AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF fully enduring every toil and privation with his men. When they were short of food, he likewise hungered ; he bore full share in their sufferings, and divided his last morsel with them. There was always something encouraging in his manner; no difficulty dejected him; kind and generous in his disposition, he was loved equally by all. If, which was seldom, he had any disagreement with them, if he discovered himself in fault, he would freely acknowledge his error, and ask forgiveness. Before he left he had a word of advice for me. "James," he commenced, "since I have been here I have heard much of your exploits. I like brave men, but I fear you are reckless in your bravery. Caution is always commendable, and especially is it necessary in encounters with Indians. I wish you to be careful of yourself, and pay attention to your health, for, with the powerful constitution you possess, you have many valuable years before you. It is my hearty desire to have you do well, and live to a good old -age; correct your fault of encountering risks for the 1nere ostentatious display of your courage. Whenever you return home, com~ and see me, James ; you will be a thousand times welcome ; and, should you ever be in need of assistance, call on me first. Good-by." I-Ie left the camp amid deafening cheers from the whole crowd. I did not see hin1 again until the year 1836. At the general's departure, we broke up our camp and marched on to the country of the Flat Heads, on the Snake River: On our arrival at the new rendezvous, we were rejoiced to learn that peace existed between the two nations-the Flat Heads and Black / Feet, and that they were in friendly intercourse to- • I JAMES P. BECKWOURTH . 113 gether. . rhis was. very fav~rabl~ ~0~ our pu.rpose; for it is with Indian tnbes as with CIVIhzed natiOns, when at war various branches of business are impoverished, and it becomes inconvenient for those engaged in them to make more than trifling purchases, just for the sup-ply of their immediate wants. Hostilities are stil! more destructive to Indian commerce than to that of civilized nations, for the reason, that the time and resources of the whole community are engaged ·in their prosecution. The " sinews of war" with the Indian 1nean, literally, himself and his horse. We spent the summer months at our leisure, tr~ding with the Indians, hunting, sporting, and prepa~mg for the fall harvest of beaver. We made acquaintance with several of the Black Feet, who came to the post to trade. One of the_ir chi~fs invited Mr: Sub~et to establish a branch post In their countl-y, tellmg him that they had many people and horse~, and plenty of beaver, and if his goods were to be obtained they wou~d trade considerably; his being so far off prevented lns people coming to Mr. Sublet's camp. . The Indian appearing sincere, and there bemg a prospect of opening a profitable trade, Sub_let prop?sed to establish a post among the Black Feet If any_of t~e men were willing to risk their scalps in attendmg _It. I offered to go, although I was well aware t_he tnbe knew that I had contributed to the destructiOn of a number of their braves; but, to the Indian, the greater the brave, the higher their respect for hi~, even though an enemy. So, taking my boy Baptiste and one man with me, we packed up and started for ~eaver River, which is a branch of the Missouri, and In the hea1t of the Black Foot country. On our nrrival, the Indians manifested great appear- |