James's Account of S. H. Long's Expedition, 1819-1820, part 1

by Edwin James; Stephen H. Long; Thomas Say

The criers now sing through the village in praise of the host, thanking him before the people for his hospitality, repeating also the names of the chiefs who were present, and thanking them for their kindness to the old criers, who, they say, are disqualified by age for any other occupations than those of eating, smoking, and talking; they also communicate to the people the resolutions of the council.

The prospect of a journey is highly grateful to the squaws, who lose no time in preparing for the day of departure,[pg294] by actively and assiduously occupying themselves in mending mockasins and other clothing, preparing their pack-saddles and dog-sleds, and depositing in the earth, for safe keeping, all the moveables which are not to be transported with them on the journey.

The men in the mean time amuse themselves with hunting, playing with the hoop and stick, cards, dancing, &c.; whilst at night the young warriors and beaux are occupied with affairs of gallantry, or contriving assignations. The young men also adorn themselves with paint, and do honour to chiefs and distinguished braves, by dancing in their respective lodges.

The day assigned for their departure having arrived, the squaws load their horses and dogs, and take as great a weight upon their own backs as they can conveniently transport, and, after having closed the entrances to their several habitations, by placing a considerable quantity of brushwood before them, the whole nation departs from the village.

Those affluent chiefs and warriors who are the owners of many horses, are enabled to mount their families on horseback, but the greater portion {187} of the young men and squaws are necessarily pedestrians.

Many of the latter, besides the heavy load upon their backs, surmounted perhaps by an infant, lead a horse with one hand, on the load of which another child is often placed, and properly secured there in a sitting posture. In the other hand they often bear a heavy staff of wood, sharpened to a broad edge at one end for the purpose of digging up the Nu-ga-re, or ground-apple, called by the French Pomme blanche; a root resembling a long turnip, about the size of a hen's egg, with a rough thick skin, and[pg295] hard pith. It is sometimes eaten raw, and has a sweet taste, but is rather dry; or it is dried in the sun, and pulverized; in this state it furnishes the chief ingredient of an excellent soup.

The men scatter about in every direction to reconnoitre the country for enemies and game; but, notwithstanding the constant activity of the hunters, the people are often much necessitated for food previously to their arrival within view of the bisons, an interval of fifteen or twenty days.

When at length the highly welcome news is brought of the proximity of a herd of these animals, the nation proceeds to encamp at the nearest water-course.

The travelling huts, or as they are usually denominated, skin lodges, are neatly folded up, and suspended to the pack-saddle of the horse, for the purpose of transportation. The poles intended to sustain it are at one extremity, laid upon the neck of the horse, whilst the opposite end trails upon the ground behind. When pitched, the skin lodge is of a high conic form; they are comfortable, effectually excluding the rain, and in cold weather a fire is kindled in the centre, the smoke of which passes off through the aperture in the top; on one side of this aperture is a small triangular wing of skin, which serves for a cover {188} in rainy weather, and during the rigors of winter to regulate the ascent of the smoke. The doorway is a mere opening in the skin, and closed when necessary by the same material. They are often fancifully ornamented on the exterior, with figures, in blue and red paint, rudely executed, though sometimes depicted with no small degree of taste.

The hunters, who are in advance of the main body on[pg296] the march, resort to telegraphic signals, from an elevated position, to convey to the people information respecting their discoveries. If they see bisons, they throw up their robes in a peculiar manner, as a signal for a halt; another disposition of the robe intimates the proximity of an enemy; and if one of their party has been killed, two of the survivors communicate the intelligence by running towards each other from a little distance, and on passing, one of them casts himself upon the earth.