Rocky Mountain life; or, Startling scenes and perilous adventures in the far West, during an expedition of three years . of Englishwas limited to the simple monosyllable good, which he took occasion topronounce at intervals as he thought proper. i^ept. 8lh. Continuing on, we encamped towards night at a small creekwithin six miles of the crossing of the Kansas river. Here a bevy of ourchiefs villagers, rigged in their rude fashion, came flocking up, apparentlyto gratify their curiosity in gazing at us, but really in expectation of sometrifling presents, or in quest of a favorable opportunity fo
Rocky Mountain life; or, Startling scenes and perilous adventures in the far West, during an expedition of three years . of Englishwas limited to the simple monosyllable good, which he took occasion topronounce at intervals as he thought proper. i^ept. 8lh. Continuing on, we encamped towards night at a small creekwithin six miles of the crossing of the Kansas river. Here a bevy of ourchiefs villagers, rigged in their rude fashion, came flocking up, apparentlyto gratify their curiosity in gazing at us, but really in expectation of sometrifling presents, or in quest of a favorable opportunity for indulgingtneir mate propensities for theft. However, they found little encourage-ment, as the vigilance of our guards more than equalled the cunning of ourvisitors. During their stay we were frequently solicited for donations oftobacco and ammunition, (as they expressed it,) in payment for passingthrough their country. This was individually demanded with all the assu-rance of government revenue officers, or the keepers of regular toll-bridges,atrongly reminding one of the petty nations upon the border^ of Canaam. The Caw Chief. — Pase 46. , J > a * . *» « • • • PLEADING FOR WHISKEY. 49 that required tribute of the Israelites passing through them to possess theland of their forefiithers. Sept. 9lh. Early in the forenoon we came to the Kansas, and were em-ployed till nearly ni^ht in ejecting a ford. Diis })roved rather difficult, asthe water was deep and tiie bottom sandy;—the course, bearing directlyacross, till near midw;ty of the river, follows the current for six or eighthundred yards, and then turns abruptly to the opposite shore. The Kansas,at the crossing, was not far from six hundred yards wide, with steep banksof clay and sand. The fording accomplished, we travelled some six miles,and encamped for the night. Our visitors yet honored us with their pres-ence ; some, under pretence of trading horses; others, of bartering fortobacco, wliiskey, coffee, and am
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