below the village, and the left-handed chief placed
some of his warriors as a guard to prevent the intrusion of any of his
people. The camp was pitched on the river bank just above the boats. The
tents, and the men wrapped in their blankets and bivouacking on skins in
the open air, surrounded the baggage at night. Four sentinels also kept
watch within sight of each other outside of the camp until midnight,
when they were relieved by four others who mounted guard until daylight.
Mr. Lisa encamped near to Mr. Hunt, between him and the village.

The speech of Mr. Lisa in the council had produced a pacific effect in
the encampment. Though the sincerity of his friendship and good-will
towards the new company still remained matter of doubt, he was no longer
suspected of an intention to play false. The intercourse between the two
leaders was therefore resumed, and the affairs of both parties went on
harmoniously.

CHAPTER XXI.

An Indian Horse Fair.--Love of the Indians for Horses--
Scenes in the Arickara Village.--Indian Hospitality.--Duties
of Indian Women. Game Habits of the Men.--Their Indolence.
--Love of Gossiping.--Rumors of Lurking Enemies.--Scouts.--
An Alarm.--A Sallying Forth.--Indian Dogs.--Return of a Horse
--Stealing Party.--An Indian Deputation.--Fresh Alarms.--Return
of a Successful War Party.--Dress of the Arickaras.--Indian
Toilet.--Triumphal Entry of the War Party.--Meetings of
Relations and Friends.--Indian Sensibility.--Meeting of a
Wounded Warrior and His Mother.--Festivities and
Lamentations.

A TRADE now commenced with the Arickaras under the regulation and
supervision of their two chieftains. Lisa sent a part of his goods to
the lodge of the left-handed dignitary, and Mr. Hunt established
his mart in the lodge of the Big Man. The village soon presented the
appearance of a busy fair; and as horses were in demand, the purlieus
and the adjacent plain were like the vicinity of a Tartar encampment;
horses were put through all their paces, and horsemen were careering
about with that dexterity and grace for which the Arickaras are noted.
As soon as a horse was purchased, his tail was cropped, a sure mode of
distinguishing him from the horses of the tribe; for the Indians disdain
to practice this absurd, barbarous, and indecent mutilation, invented
by some mean and vulgar mind, insensible to the merit and perfections of
the animal. On the cont