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first across the continent-第7章

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for their meat and skins。  They also saw elk; deer; turkeys; grouse; beaver; and prairie…dogs。 The journal bitterly complains of the 〃moschetoes;〃 which were very troublesome。 As mosquitoes we now know them。

Oddly enough; the journal sometimes speaks of 〃goats〃 and sometimes of 〃antelopes;〃 and the same animal is described in both instances。 Here is a good story of the fleetness of the beautiful creature:

〃Of all the animals we had seen; the antelope seems to possess the most wonderful fleetness。  Shy and timorous; they generally repose only on the ridges; which command a view of all the approaches of an enemy: the acuteness of their sight distinguishes the most distant danger; the delicate sensibility of their smell defeats the precautions of concealment; and; when alarmed; their rapid career seems more like the flight of birds than the movements of a quadruped。 After many unsuccessful attempts; Captain Lewis at last; by winding around the ridges; approached a party of seven; which were on an eminence towards which the wind was unfortunately blowing。 The only male of the party frequently encircled the summit of the hill; as if to announce any danger to the females; which formed a group at the top。 Although they did not see Captain Lewis; the smell alarmed them; and they fled when he was at the distance of two hundred yards: he immediately ran to the spot where they had been; a ravine concealed them from him; but the next moment they appeared on a second ridge; at the distance of three miles。  He doubted whether they could be the same; but their number; and the extreme rapidity with which they continued their course; convinced him that they must have gone with a speed equal to that of the most distinguished race…horse。 Among our acquisitions to…day were a mule…deer; a magpie; a common deer; and buffalo: Captain Lewis also saw a hare; and killed a rattlesnake near the burrows of the barking squirrels。〃

By 〃barking squirrels〃 the reader must understand that the animal better known as the prairie…dog is meant; and the mule…deer; as the explorers called it; was not a hybrid; but a deer with very long ears; better known afterwards as the black…tailed deer。〃

At the Big Bend of the Missouri; in the heart of what is now South Dakota; while camped on a sand…bar; the explorers had a startling experience。 〃Shortly after midnight;〃 says the journal; 〃the sleepers were startled by the sergeant on guard crying out that the sand…bar was sinking; and the alarm was timely given; for scarcely had they got off with the boats before the bank under which they had been lying fell in; and by the time the opposite shore was reached; the ground on which they had been encamped sunk also。 A man who was sent to step off the distance across the head of the bend; made it but two thousand yards; while its circuit is thirty miles。〃

The next day; three Sioux boys swam the river and told them that two parties of their nation; one of eighty lodges; and one of sixty lodges; were camped up the river; waiting to have a palaver with the white explorers。 These were Teton Sioux; and the river named for them still bears that title。



Chapter V

From the Tetons to the Mandans

〃On the morning of September 25th;〃 says the journal; 〃we raised a flagstaff and an awning; under which we assembled; with all the party parading under arms。  The chiefs and warriors; from the camps two miles up the river; met us; about fifty or sixty in number; and after smoking we delivered them a speech; but as our Sioux interpreter; M。 Durion; had been left with the Yanktons; we were obliged to make use of a Frenchman who could not speak fluently; and therefore we curtailed our harangue。 After this we went through the ceremony of acknowledging the chiefs; by giving to the grand chief a medal; a flag of the United States; a laced uniform coat; a cocked hat and feather; to the two other chiefs; a medal and some small presents; and to two warriors of consideration; certificates。 The name of the great chief is Untongasabaw; or Black Buffalo; the second; Tortohonga; or the Partisan; the third; Tartongawaka; or Buffalo Medicine; the name of one of the warriors was Wawzinggo; that of the second; Matocoquepa; or Second Bear。  We then invited the chiefs on board; and showed them the boat; the air…gun; and such curiosities as we thought might amuse them。  In this we succeeded too well; for; after giving them a quarter of a glass of whiskey; which they seemed to like very much; and sucked the bottle; it was with much difficulty that we could get rid of them。 They at last accompanied Captain Clark on shore; in a pirogue with five men; but it seems they had formed a design to stop us; for no sooner had the party landed than three of the Indians seized the cable of the pirogue; and one of the soldiers of the chief put his arms round the mast。  The second chief; who affected intoxication; then said that we should not go on; that they had not received presents enough from us。 Captain Clark told him that he would not be prevented from going on; that we were not squaws; but warriors; that we were sent by our great father; who could in a moment exterminate them。 The chief replied that he too had warriors; and was proceeding to offer personal violence to Captain Clark; who immediately drew his sword; and made a signal to the boat to prepare for action。 The Indians; who surrounded him; drew their arrows from their quivers; and were bending their bows; when the swivel in the boat was instantly pointed towards them; and twelve of our most determined men jumped into the pirogue and joined Captain Clark。  This movement made an impression on them; for the grand chief ordered the young men away from the pirogue; and they withdrew and held a short council with the warriors。 Being unwilling to irritate them; Captain Clark then went forward; and offered his hand to the first and second chiefs; who refused to take it。  He then turned from them and got into the pirogue; but he had not got more than ten paces; when both the chiefs and two of the warriors waded in after him; and he brought them on board。 We then proceeded on for a mile; and anchored off a willow island; which; from the circumstances which had just occurred; we called Bad…humored Island。〃

The policy of firmness and gentleness; which Lewis and Clark always pursued when treating with the Indians; had its good results at this time。 What might have been a bloody encounter was averted; and next day the Indians contritely came into camp and asked that their squaws and children might see the white men and their boats; which would be to them a novel sight。 This was agreed to; and after the expedition had sailed up the river and had been duly admired by a great crowd of men; women; and children; the Tetons invited the white men to a dance。  The journal adds:

〃Captains Lewis and Clark; who went on shore one after the other; were met on landing by ten well…dressed young men; who took them up in a robe highly decorated and carried them to a large council…house; where they were placed on a dressed buffalo…skin by the side of the grand chief。 The hall or council…room was in the shape of three…quarters of a circle; covered at the top and sides with skins well dressed and sewed together。 Under this shelter sat about seventy men; forming a circle round the chief; before whom were placed a Spanish flag and the one we had given them yesterday。  This left a vacant circle of about six feet diameter; in which the pipe of peace was raised on two forked sticks; about six or eight inches from the ground; and under it the down of the swan was scattered。 A large fire; in which they were cooking provisions; stood near; and in the centre about four hundred pounds of buffalo meat as a present for us。 As soon as we were seated; an old man got up; and after approving what we had done; begged us take pity on their unfortunate situation。 To this we replied with assurances of protection。  After he had ceased; the great chief rose and delivered a harangue to the same effect; then with great solemnity he took some of the most delicate parts of the dog which was cooked for the festival; and held it to the flag by way of sacrifice; this done; he held up the pipe of peace; and 
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