Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/56

46 Bercier with a Kootanae to the great Band to hasten their coming, as the Peagans said they would not decamp till their arrival (5) lam also in want of Horses for the Portage, which I must trade from them./

Septr. 13 The Peagans, to our great satisfaction thought proper to decamp; hunger obliged them. As the Chiefs had made the young Men conduct themselves very orderly @ expressly forbid them to steal any Horses either from us—

The Kootanaes, I rewarded each with a foot of Tobacco @ 6 rounds of Ammunition @ each of the young Men with 3 In of Tobacco @ a paper of Vermillion. I preferred being at this Expence, to avoid the Trouble which they certainly had in their Power to give us, @ thereby perhaps bringing on a far greater Expence. After they were almost all gone, I was informed that their going away so peaceably was only an act of dissimulation to cover their intended future proceedings, @ that they had threatened we should not long be found here, @ that many of the married Men had said to the others not to steal Horses at present, as bye @ bye they should have them at their disposal. Two of them who remained behind gambling I had called to me, @ spoke to them about such perfidious Conduct; they told me that the young Men in general had wished for a Quarrel that they might have an occasion to steal Horses, @ had no doubt uttered many foolish Expressions; but the wish of the old @ steady Men was a good understanding between all parties. I told them we were well prepared for the worst that could happen, @ if any Trouble was given us, it was a very easy thing to build far out of their Power, @ where they would never get a pipe of Tobacco from us, but that all their Efforts would never make us relinquish the Trade /this Side of the Mountains, they again repeated they had no wish for a rupture @ were glad we were here to get a pipe of Tobacco in the Summer @ then we parted.

Septr. 16 . Twelve Rapid Flat Bow Indian Men @ 1 woman arrived, with each a small Parcel on their Backs;