Chapter 47

47.

A festive winter Conversion of the Shoshonies Visit of two

free trappers Gayety in the camp A touch of the tender

passion The reclaimed squaw An Indian fine lady An

elopement A pursuit Market value of a bad wife.

GAME continued to abound throughout the winter, and the camp was

overstocked with provisions. Beef and venison, humps and

haunches, buffalo tongues and marrow-bones, were constantly

cooking at every fire; and the whole atmosphere was redolent with

the savory fumes of roast meat. It was, indeed, a continual

"feast of fat things," and though there might be a lack of "wine

upon the lees," yet we have shown that a substitute was

occasionally to be found in honey and alcohol.

Both the Shoshonies and the Eutaws conducted themselves with

great propriety. It is true, they now and then filched a few

trifles from their good friends, the Big Hearts, when their backs

were turned; but then, they always treated them to their faces

with the utmost deference and respect, and good-humoredly vied

with the trappers in all kinds of feats of activity and mirthful

sports. The two tribes maintained toward each other, also a

friendliness of aspect which gave Captain Bonneville reason to

hope that all past animosity was effectually buried.

The two rival bands, however, had not long been mingled in this

social manner before their ancient jealousy began to break out in

a new form. The senior chief of the Shoshonies was a thinking

man, and a man of observation. He had been among the Nez Perces,

listened to their new code of morality and religion received from

the white men, and attended their devotional exercises. He had

observed the effect of all this, in elevating the tribe in the

estimation of the white men; and determined, by the same means,

to gain for his own tribe a superiority over their ignorant

rivals, the Eutaws. He accordingly assembled his people, and

promulgated among them the mongrel doctrines and form of worship

of the Nez Perces; recommending the same to their adoption. The

Shoshonies were struck with the novelty, at least, of the

measure, and entered into it with spirit. They began to observe

Sundays and holidays, and to have their devotional dances, and

chants, and other ceremonials, about which the ignorant Eutaws

knew nothing; while they exerted their usual competition in

shooting and horseracing, and the renowned game of hand.

Matters were going on thus pleasantly and prosperously, in this

motley community of white and red men, when, one morning, two

stark free trappers, arrayed in the