Chapter 14 - Page 2

repaired to Kowsoter, the

Pierced-nose chief, and unfolded to him the secret workings of

his bosom.

"I want," said he, "a wife. Give me one from among your tribe.

Not a young, giddy-pated girl, that will think of nothing but

flaunting and finery, but a sober, discreet, hard-working squaw;

one that will share my lot without flinching, however hard it may

be; that can take care of my lodge, and be a companion and a

helpmate to me in the wilderness." Kowsoter promised to look

round among the females of his tribe, and procure such a one as

he desired. Two days were requisite for the search. At the

expiration of these, Kowsoter, called at his lodge, and informed

him that he would bring his bride to him in the course of the

afternoon. He kept his word. At the appointed time he approached,

leading the bride, a comely copper-colored dame attired in her

Indian finery. Her father, mother, brothers by the half dozen and

cousins by the score, all followed on to grace the ceremony and

greet the new and important relative.

The trapper received his new and numerous family connection with

proper solemnity; he placed his bride beside him, and, filling

the pipe, the great symbol of peace, with his best tobacco, took

two or three whiffs, then handed it to the chief who transferred

it to the father of the bride, from whom it was passed on from

hand to hand and mouth to mouth of the whole circle of kinsmen

round the fire, all maintaining the most profound and becoming

silence.

After several pipes had been filled and emptied in this solemn

ceremonial, the chief addressed the bride, detailing at

considerable length the duties of a wife which, among Indians,

are little less onerous than those of the pack-horse; this done,

he turned to her friends and congratulated them upon the great

alliance she had made. They showed a due sense of their good

fortune, especially when the nuptial presents came to be

distributed among the chiefs and relatives, amounting to about

one hundred and eighty dollars. The company soon retired, and now

the worthy trapper found indeed that he had no green girl to deal

with; for the knowing dame at once assumed the style and dignity

of a trapper's wife: taking possession of the lodge as her

undisputed empire, arranging everything according to her own

taste and habitudes, and appearing as much at home and on as easy

terms with the trapper as if they had been man and wife for

years.

We have already given a picture of a free trapper and his horse,

as furnished by Captain Bonneville: we