first across the continent-第4节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
River was reached on the twenty…first of July。 This famous stream was then regarded as a sort of boundary line between the known and unknown regions。 As mariners crossing the equator require all their comrades； who have not been 〃over the line〃 to submit to lathering and shaving； so the Western voyageurs merrily compelled their mates to submit to similar horse…play。 The great river was also the mark above which explorers entered upon what was called the Upper Missouri。
The expedition was now advancing into a region inhabited by several wandering tribes of Indians； chief of which were the Ottoes； Missouris； and Pawnees。 It was determined； therefore； to call a council of some of the chiefs of these bands and make terms of peace with them。 After some delay； the messengers sent out to them brought in fourteen representative Indians； to whom the white men made presents of roast meat； pork； flour； and corn…meal； in return for which their visitors brought them quantities of delicious watermelons。 〃Next day； August 3；〃 says the journal； 〃the Indians； with their six chiefs； were all assembled under an awning formed with the mainsail； in presence of all our party； paraded for the occasion。 A speech was then made； announcing to them the change in the government； our promises of protection； and advice as to their future conduct。 All the six chiefs replied to our speech； each in his turn； according to rank。 They expressed their joy at the change in the government； their hopes that we would recommend them to their Great Father （the president）； that they might obtain trade and necessaries： they wanted arms as well for hunting as for defence； and asked our mediation between them and the Mahas； with whom they are now at war。 We promised to do so； and wished some of them to accompany us to that nation； which they declined； for fear of being killed by them。 We then proceeded to distribute our presents。 The grand chief of the nation not being of the party； we sent him a flag； a medal； and some ornaments for clothing。 To the six chiefs who were present； we gave a medal of the second grade to one Ottoe chief and one Missouri chief； a medal of the third grade to two inferior chiefs of each nation； the customary mode of recognizing a chief being to place a medal round his neck； which is considered among his tribe as a proof of his consideration abroad。 Each of these medals was accompanied by a present of paint； garters； and cloth ornaments of dress； and to this we added a canister of powder； a bottle of whiskey； and a few presents to the whole； which appeared to make them perfectly satisfied。 The air…gun； too； was fired； and astonished them greatly。 The absent grand chief was an Ottoe； named Weahrushhah； which； in English； degenerates into Little Thief。 The two principal chieftains present were Shongotongo； or Big Horse； and Wethea； or Hospitality； also Shosguscan； or White Horse； an Ottoe； the first an Ottoe； the second a Missouri。 The incidents just related induced us to give to this place the name of the Council Bluffs： the situation of it is exceedingly favorable for a fort and trading factory； as the soil is well calculated for bricks； and there is an abundance of wood in the neighborhood； and the air being pure and healthy。〃
Of course the reader will recognize； in the name given to this place by Lewis and Clark； the flourishing modern city of Council Bluffs； Iowa。 Nevertheless； as a matter of fact； the council took place on the Nebraskan or western side of the river； and the meeting…place was at some distance above the site of the present city of Council Bluffs。
Above Council Bluffs the explorers found the banks of the river to be high and bluffy； and on one of the highlands which they passed they saw the burial…place of Blackbird； one of the great men of the Mahars； or Omahas； who had died of small…pox。 A mound； twelve feet in diameter and six feet high； had been raised over the grave； and on a tall pole at the summit the party fixed a flag of red； white； and blue。 The place was regarded as sacred by the Omahas； who kept the dead chieftain well supplied with provisions。 The small…pox had caused great mortality among the Indians； and a few years before the white men's visit； when the fell disease had destroyed four hundred men； with a due proportion of women and children； the survivors burned their village and fled。
〃They had been a military and powerful people； but when these warriors saw their strength wasting before a malady which they could not resist； their frenzy was extreme； they burned their village； and many of them put to death their wives and children； to save them from so cruel an affliction； and that all might go together to some better country。〃
In Omaha； or Mahar Creek； the explorers made their first experiment in dragging the stream for fish。 With a drag of willows； loaded with stones； they succeeded in catching a great variety of fine fish； over three hundred at one haul； and eight hundred at another。 These were pike； bass； salmon…trout； catfish； buffalo fish； perch； and a species of shrimp； all of which proved an acceptable addition to their usual flesh bill…of…fare。
Desiring to call in some of the surrounding Indian tribes； they here set fire to the dry prairie grass； that being the customary signal for a meeting of different bands of roving peoples。 In the afternoon of August 18； a party of Ottoes； headed by Little Thief and Big Horse； came in； with six other chiefs and a French interpreter。 The journal says：
〃We met them under a shade； and after they had finished a repast with which we supplied them； we inquired into the origin of the war between them and the Mahas； which they related with great frankness。 It seems that two of the Missouris went to the Mahas to steal horses； but were detected and killed； the Ottoes and Missouris thought themselves bound to avenge their companions； and the whole nations were at last obliged to share in the dispute。 They are also in fear of a war from the Pawnees； whose village they entered this summer； while the inhabitants were hunting； and stole their corn。 This ingenuous confession did not make us the less desirous of negotiating a peace for them； but no Indians have as yet been attracted by our fire。 The evening was closed by a dance； and the next day； the chiefs and warriors being assembled at ten o'clock； we explained the speech we had already sent from the Council Bluffs； and renewed our advice。 They all replied in turn； and the presents were then distributed。 We exchanged the small medal we had formerly given to the Big Horse for one of the same size with that of Little Thief： we also gave a small medal to a third chief； and a kind of certificate or letter of acknowledgment to five of the warriors expressive of our favor and their good intentions。 One of them； dissatisfied； returned us the certificate； but the chief； fearful of our being offended； begged that it might be restored to him； this we declined； and rebuked them severely for having in view mere traffic instead of peace with their neighbors。 This displeased them at first； but they at length all petitioned that it should be given to the warrior； who then came forward and made an apology to us； we then delivered it to the chief to be given to the most worthy； and he bestowed it on the same warrior； whose name was Great Blue Eyes。 After a more substantial present of small articles and tobacco； the council was ended with a dram to the Indians。 In the evening we exhibited different objects of curiosity； and particularly the air…gun； which gave them great surprise。 Those people are almost naked； having no covering except a sort of breech…cloth round the middle； with a loose blanket or buffalo robe； painted； thrown over them。 The names of these warriors； besides those already mentioned； were Karkapaha； or Crow's Head； and Nenasawa； or Black Cat； Missouris； and Sananona； or Iron Eyes； Neswaunja； or Big Ox； Stageaunja； or Big Blue Eyes； and Wasashaco； or Brave Man； all Ottoes。〃
Chapter IV
Novel Experiences among the Indians
About this time （the nineteenth and twentieth of August）； the explorers lost by death the only member of their party who did not survive the journey。 Floyd River； which flows into the Upper Missouri； in the northwest corner of Iowa； still marks the last resting…place of Sergeant Charles Floyd； who died there of bilious colic and was buried by his comrades near the mouth of the stream。 Near here was a quarry of red pipestone； dear to the Indian fancy as a mine of material for their pipes； traces of this deposit still remain。 So fond of this red rock were the Indians that when they went there to get the stuff； even lifelong and vindictive enemies declared a truce while they gathered the material； and savage hostile tribes suspended their wars for a time。
On the north side of the Missouri； at a point in what is now known as Clay County； South Dakota； Captains Lewis and Clark； with ten men； turned aside to see a great natural curiosity； known to the Indians as the Hill of Little Devils。 The hill is a singular mound in the midst of a flat prairie； three hundred yards long； sixty or seventy yards wide； and about seventy feet high。 The top is a smooth level plain。 The journa
