The man is the active agent in this barter, but he avails himself of the advice of his squaw, and often submits to her dictation.
Each nation of Indians practises every art they can devise,[pg311] to prevent white traders from trafficking with their neighbours, in order to engross as much as possible of the trade themselves, and to be the carriers at second hand to the others. For this purpose they sometimes intrigue deeply, and resort to artful expedients. "You do not treat your traders as we do," said a cunning Oto to some Pawnees; "we dictate to them the rate of exchanges; and if they persist in refusing to comply, we use force to compel them; we flog them, and by these means we obtain our articles at a much lower rate than you do:"—thus endeavouring to induce those people {202} to banish traders from their village by ill treatment.
In trade, the largest sized beaver skin is called by the French a plus, and constitutes the chief standard of value. Thus as many of any other description of skins as are considered of equal value with this large beaver skin, are collectively denominated a plus; and the number of deer, raccoon, otter, &c. that shall respectively constitute a plus, is settled between the parties, previously to the commencement of the exchanges.
Brass kettles are usually exchanged for beaver skins, pound for pound, which weight of the latter is worth about three dollars at St. Louis.
The beaver skins are embodied into neat packs by the traders, each weighing one hundred pounds, and consisting of seventy or eighty skins, according to their magnitude.
The business of this hunt having terminated with the year, the Omawhaws return to their village, in order to procure a supply of maize from their places of concealment, after which they continue their journey in pursuit of bisons.
On this occasion they divide into two parties, one of which ascends the Missouri, and the other the Elkhorn[pg312] rivers. The party which discovers a herd, gives notice of the fact to the other party, by an especial messenger, and invites them to join in the pursuit of it.
This expedition continues until the month of April, when they return to their village, as before stated, loaded with provisions.
It is during this expedition that they procure all the skins, of which the bison robes of commerce are made; the animals at this season having their perfect winter dress, the hair and wool of which are long and dense.
The process of preparing the hides for the traders falls to the lot of the squaws. Whilst in the green {203} state, they are stretched and dried as soon as possible; and, on the return of the nation to the village, they are gradually dressed during the intervals of other occupations. The hide is extended upon the ground; and with an instrument resembling an adze, used in the manner of our carpenters, the adherent portions of dried flesh are removed, and the skin rendered much thinner and lighter than before. The surface is then plastered over with the brains or liver of the animal, which have been carefully retained for the purpose, and the warm broth of meat is also poured over it. The whole is then dried, after which it is again subjected to the action of the brains and broth, then stretched in a frame, and while still wet, scraped with pumice-stone, sharp stones, or hoes, until perfectly dry. Should it not yet be sufficiently soft, it is subjected to friction, by pulling it backwards and forwards over a twisted sinew. This generally terminates the operation. On the commencement of the process, the hides are almost invariably each divided longitudinally into two parts, for the convenience of manipulation, and when finished, they are again united[pg313] by sewing with sinew. This seam is almost always present in the bison robe; but one of the largest that we have seen, is used as a covering for one of our humble beds at this cantonment, and has been dressed entire, being entirely destitute of a seam.