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Show AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ing the enemy, who precipitately fled, leaving two of their party dead. On our return we were received with the usual demonstrations of joy, and the horse-dante was performed by the village, together with the scalp-dance, which lasted nearly all night. . About this time my allied friend raised a w_ar-paTty, and went in quest of the enemy; the heroine, ever active and prepared, accompanying him. I staid behind. They returned in a few days, bringing eight scalps of 1 the Coutnees-one of the bands of the Black Feet. They had lost two of their warriors, much to the annoyance of the heroine, as she was pTevented from dancing, although she had counted two coos. She then declared that she would go to war no more, except in my company ; but she had to break her word, and the next time she engaged in flght she received a severe wound. She wished me to raise a force immediately, and go and kill an enemy, so that she could wash her face. I declined, however, on the ground that I was soon to go to the fort, and that I would engage in no hostile encounters until my return. When a war party loses one of its members, the survivors are compelled to wear their mourning-paint, until that same party, or an individual member of it, has wiped out the blot by killing one of the enemy without incurring loss of life. Thus it not unfrequently happens, when no opportunity of avenging a loss occurs, that the mourners wear paint for months, regularly renewing it as it wears off. Small parties were continually going out and returning with varying success. The grand total of horses stolen by the Crows from all other tribes during that year amounted to near six thousand head. During the same period, however, they lost a great number stolen from them. • . ~ JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 227 I visited the fort again in October, with three hundred lodges of the Indians, the remainder following us in a few days. A great number of the Indians had been busy with their traps for about two months, and we took into the fort a great quantity of peltry, which procured for the Indians every thing they needed, besides finery for the women. When I arrived, I was informed that the head-hunter of the fort had been killed during my absence. "Now," said Pine Leaf, "you will go to war for one of your people, and I will go with you, so that I can wash my face." The fort had been subject to alarms during the whole time of my absence, but had only lost the man here referred to. As soon as the India,ns had finished their trading, I directed them to move to the Yell ow ~tone, as i ar up as " Pompey's Tower," telling them that I would join them in four nights. Then, as soon as I could get ready, I loaded twelve pack-horses with goods for retail, and, taking two Canadians with me, I went on and joined the village at the appointed place. This much performed, I then attended to the frequent solicitations of the heroine, by leading a party, and going in pursuit of the Black Feet to chastise them, as I told the Crows, for killing the white hunter. vV e were absent eleven days, and returned with only four scalps and seventy-four horses. I received an arrow in my head ; and there were three other warriors wounded, but none killed. The heroine then washed her face of the mourning-paint, which she had been grieving about so long. At this time I was third counselor of the nation, having been fifth and fourth previously. In the Crow K2 |
