Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/398

390 DIARY OF ASAHEL HUNGER AND WIFE. building our boat Several h'unters went out for skins to build it of it requires 4 large skins to make one large enough. Mr. Eichardson saw several Indians feared he should be molested by them and re- turned. We soon discovered a very large encampment of them, but a short distance from us on the opposite side of the river about the same time they saw us, and sent out 2 or 3 as spies or rather to show themselves to us. Mr. Harris ordered a flag raised. No sooner was this done than understood by the natives. They returned immediately, in haste, and in less than hour 25 came down to the opposite side of the river, and discharged their guns as a token of friendship. These were warriors under the direction of the chief of one of the bands. They all waded the river a little above us, put on their clothes, and came down to us in a platoon with their chief in the middle came within 20 steps and halted until Mr. Harris went out to meet them. They soon exhibited the letters they had from various men of business whom they had seen we found there were 3 bands of Sous [Sioux] in one village and another band called the Shians [Cheyennes] The Ogolallas Tetons & Broken arrows as Sous. The chiefs of all these bands have called on us today with their warriors one after another. To each of these companies a present was given and a dinner. Tire- some visiting without an interpreter. The Ogolala chief offered us a guard to watch our horses if we wanted to keep the Indians from stealing them. June 1 Sat. Not molested at all by the Indians. The Ogolala chief, his 2 wife, 3 sons and brother stay in camp this night. Sabbath Last night about 11 oc a dreadful howling commenced among the Indians and dogs this they kept up by intervals most of the night. In the morning they commenced moving and before noon were all out of sight. There were about 380 lodges and probably between 2 and 3 thousand people. Today we had a Sabbath of rest in consequence of the Alcohol which the Fur Company were carrying to the mountains. This they had buried for fear of the Indians, and were under necessity of waiting until they were out of sight to take it up. Those Indians who were poor used their dogs instead of pack horses. They pack them heavy. When they catch them for harnessing, they howl most bitterly, many of them get very sore by carrying their loads. 3 Monday This morning 4 men took our boat and went up the river the south branch of the Platt. It was not considered safe to go up the north branch (though we had designed to do so) on account of the Indians, as they [had] only gone 3 or 4 miles from their first 4 encampment. Moved camp about 3 hours and camped. Tues. crossed the river this day. Horses waded and swam. In riding across on horseback myself my saddle girth broke and let me into the river, but providentially the water was shallow in that place we were under