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Show 154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ing eleven scalps. We entered the village singing and shouting, the crowds blocking up our way so that it was with difficulty we could get along. My wife met me at some distance from our lodge, and to her I gave my greatest trophy, the gun. My pretty sisters next presenting themselves for some share of my spoils, I gave them what remained, and they returned to their lodge singing and dancing all the way. Their delight was unbounded in their new-found relative, who had drawn the first blood. My companions told how I had charged direct upon the enemy, how I struck down the first Indian at a blow, what strength there was in my arm, and a great deal more in my commendation. Again I was lionized and feted. Relatives I had not seen before now advanced and made my acquaintance. I was feasted by' all the sa:chems and great braves of the village until their kindness nearly fatigued me to death, and I was glad to retire to my lodge to seek a season of quietude. It was a custom rigidly observed by the Crows, when a son had drawn the first blood of the enemy, f~r the father to distribute all his property. among the village, always largely recollecting his own kin in the proposed distribution. I saw that my achieve~ent had ruined my poor old father. He seemed contented how~v~r, to ~acrifice his worldly goods to the prowes~ of his Illustnous son. It was the Crows' religion, and he was thoroughly orthodox. Another traditional memento was to paint a chief's coat with an image of the sun, and hang that, together with a scarlet blanket, in· the t_o~ of a_ tree, as an offering to the Great Spirit, to propitiate him to continue his favorable regards. Several_small bands of the village had a grand dance after the victory, each band by itself. I watched them J• JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 155 for some time, to see which band or clique contained the most active men. 'Having singled one, I broke into the ring, and joined the performance with great heartiness. Then their shouts arose," The great brave, the Antelope, has joined our band! " and their dancing increased in vehemence, and their singing became more hilarious. By the act of joining their clique I became incorporated with their number. For the next three weeks I staid at home, spending much of my time in trapping round the village.. I was accompanied in these excursions by a fine and intelligent Indian, who was without a relative. He was very successful in trapping. One day we went to our traps as usual; he found eight fine beavers, but I had caught none. After flaying them, he offered me four of the skins. I looked at him in surprise, telling him they were caught in his traps-that they were his. " Take them," said he ; "you are my friend : your traps have been unlucky to-day." Previous. to this, our success had been about equal. Then he wished me to sit down and have a talk with him. I sat down by him, and he began. " My friend," said he, " I am alone in the world: all my kindred are gone to the land of the Great Spirit. I now want one good friend-a confidential bosom friend-who will be my brother. I am a warrior-a brave-and so are you. You have been far away to the villages of the white man; your eyes have seen much; you have now returned to your people. Will you be my friend and brother? be as one man with me as long as you live ?" I readily acceded to all his desires. "It is well," said he, "and we must exchange traps." I agreed to it. .. |
