Crow, of gigantic size, and clad in his best garments, advanced into the midst of the assembly, leading his horse by the bridle, and placed him before the Flat Head, with whose horse he offered to make an exchange. The Flat Head took no notice of him, and kept in an immovable attitude. The Crow then placed, successively, at the feet of the seller, his gun, his scarlet mantle, his ornaments, his gaiters, and lastly his shoes. The Flat Head then took the horse by the bridle, picked up the clothes, &c., and the sale was concluded without saying a word. The Crow, though so divested, joyfully mounted his new courser, and rode several times round the camp, shouting in triumph, and putting his horse through all his paces.

The principal wealth of the savages of the west consists in horses, of which each chief and warrior possesses a great number that may be seen grazing about their camp. The horses of the Crows are principally of the Maroon race of the prairies. They have also many horses which they have stolen from the Scioux, the Sheyennes, and other Indians of the south-west, which they had in their turn stolen from the Spaniards of Mexico. The Crows are considered the most indefatigable marauders of the desert; they traverse the mountains in all directions, bringing to one side what they have taken at the other. The name of Absharoké, or Crow, has been given to them on account of their robberies. They are practised from their infancy in this sort of larceny, and they acquire a surprising dexterity in it; their glory augments with the number of their captures, so that a finished robber is in their eyes a hero. I accompanied these savages for two days, which I think was the finest weather I had in all my travels. They passed the whole time in rejoicings and feasting. You will not be scandalized, I trust, when I tell you that I was present at twenty different banquets; I was scarcely seated in one cabin, when I was called to partake of the festive entertainment in another.

We arrived, at last, at the first fort belonging to the Fur Company. The Americans, who form the garrison, received us most cordially. At this place I was to part

with my faithful Flat Heads. I said, then, that having before me a country still more exposed to the incursions of the Black Feet, the Assiniboins, the Big Bellies, the Arikaras, and Scioux, all of whom are declared enemies of their tribe, I would no longer peril their lives on account of my personal safety; that as for my life, I placed it in the hands of God, and that I felt a persuasion that it would be preserved in order that, accompanied by new missionaries, I might immediately return to them. I exhorted them for the last time to remain faithful to the Great Spirit. We embraced each other, wishing, mutually, a happy return; and shortly after, accompanied by my faithful Fleming, I disappeared from their sight amidst the solitary defiles. We were to pass over several hundred miles of country, where no road is yet traced, and, like the navigator on the boundless ocean, with no other guide than the compass. For a long time we followed the course of the Yellow Stone, except when perpendicular rocks arrested our progress and obliged us to take a circuit. At every step we discovered forts, which the savages are in the habit of raising for defence, or for concealing themselves when they are at war, or waiting for their prey; perhaps at the moment of our passing they were not without enemies. What a solitude, with its horrors and dangers! but it possesses one real advantage: with death constantly before our eyes, we irresistibly feel, without the possibility of illusion, that we are entirely under the hand of God, without any support but him, without any other refuge than his paternal providence; it is then easy to make to him the sacrifice of a life which belongs less to us than to the first savage who wishes to take it, and to form the most generous resolutions of which man is capable. It was really the best retreat that I made in my life.

The second day of the journey, on awaking, I perceived, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, the smoke of a great fire; a point of a rock was all that separated us from a detachment of Indians. Without a moment's delay we saddled our horses and set off, galloping with all speed along the ravines and beds of dried up torrents. We

rode that day, without resting, more than fifteen leagues, and we did not encamp until two hours after sunset, lest the savages, having observed our track, should think of pursuing us. The same fear prevented us from lighting a fire, which obliged us to dispense with supper. I wrapped myself in my blanket, and stretched myself on the grass beside my companion, and having recommended myself to God, I endeavored to beguile hunger by sleep. My grenadier, more courageous than I, soon snored like a steam engine in full play.

We

The next morning we were on our way at day-break; we advanced with caution, for the country appeared full of danger. Towards mid-day we met a new subject of alarm: we found a buffalo which had been killed about two hours previously. thrilled at the sight, when we thought that the enemy was not far off; and yet we had reason to thank the Lord for having prepared the food for our evening meal. The following night we encamped amongst the rocks, which are the retreat of tigers and bears. I have already said that the dens of the wild beasts inspire incomparably less terror than the hut of the savage: I this time slept heavily and well. We always commenced our journey early in the morning, and each day had new dangers to face, and to meet occasionally the fresh traces of men and horses. One day we had to cross a field of tents, which had been recently abandoned; the fires were not quite extinguished; but happily we met no one. At length we saw again the Missouri at the very place where, an hour before, a hundred families of the Assiniboins had passed over it. The foregoing is only a sketch of the long and perilous journey which we made from the fort of the Crows to Fort Union, which is situated at the mouth of the Yellow Stone river.*

pro

From the 6th to the 15th of October, we met every day detachments of a considerable number of tribes, which had been represented to us as very dangerous, and which, far from doing us any harm, would not quit us without first loading us with visions. We touched at last upon the country of the Blackfeet. Of all the Indians we were to meet on our journey, they were painted to us under the worst colors. The country they inhabited is all cut up by ravines, and intersected by rivulets, the

www

All the country watered by this river abounds in game; I do not think that there is in all America, another place better suited for hunting we were continually amidst vast flocks of buffaloes; at every moment we discovered groups of majestic elks bounding over the plain, whilst clouds, if I may so say, of gazelles were flying before us with the swiftness of the wind. The Asbata, or Big-Horn, alone appeared not to

course of which we followed in silence, in order to avoid the observation of these formidable savages. A secret terror made us insensible to the charms which nature displayed before our eyes; but gradually recovering from our apprehensions, which no accident had justified, we remarked the beauty of the locality: the hour for dinner, the fatigue of a long march, and the neighborhood of a delicious spring, decided us to take some repose. We were hardly seated, when frightful cries resounded in our ears; and from the top of a hill the Black Feet rushed down upon us with the rapidity of lightning. Why do you conceal yourselves?' the chief demanded, in a menacing tone; are you afraid of us?" The soutane which I wore, the crucifix which glittered on my breast, and which I always wear while travel. ling among the Indians, immediately fixed his attention. He asked my companion who I was: the latter replied, that I was a chief, a Black Gown, a man who speaks to the Great Spirit. Forthwith the savage became respectful, and ordered his men to ground their arms : they touched their hands and smoked their pipes in token of peace and friendship. I then pitched my tent in the middle of the next meadow, and I invited the new-comers to take a seat at our banquet, which they accepted with joy. As I was reciting the usual prayers before meals, the chief asked my interpreter what I was doing, and being told that I was addressing the Great Spirit, to return him thanks for the food that he had given us, he inclined his head to express his approbation. I remarked that the respect of the Black Feet for my person progressively increased. But I did not expect that it would proceed to the following proof of regard. Twelve men, dressed in grand, warlike costume, spread out at my feet a large buf falo-hide, and invited me to sit down in the middle of it. I thought at first that they wished to recommence the ceremony of smoking. But judge of my surprise, when I saw twelve savages lay hold of the ends of this sort of carpet, raise it from the ground, and, preceded by their commander, carry me in triumph to their village! The chief then had me brought into his tent, assembled his most select warriors, made me take the place of honor in the midst of them, and thus spoke to me: This is the happiest day of my life. It is the first time that we see amongst us a man that holds such an intimate communication with the Great Spirit. Black Gown, thou seest assembled before thee the principal warriors of my tribe: I have convoked them, in an extraordinary assembly, in order that the recollection of thy passage may remain for ever engraved in their memory.' He next begged of me to pray again to my God. I commenced by making the sign of the cross, and all the savages lifted their hands towards heaven. When my prayer was finished, they stamped upon the ground. I asked the chief the meaning of this ceremony. . When we raise our hands,' said he, it is to express we are all dependent upon the Great Spirit, and

up

that

be disturbed at our presence; we saw them in groups, reposing on the edges of the precipices, or sporting together on the points of the steep rocks. The black-tailed roebuck, so richly dressed in its brown coat, frequently excited our admiration by its elegant shape, and abrupt, animated movements, in which it appears scarcely to touch the earth with its feet. I have already spoken of the grey bears which are here to be Imet with in abundance, as well as the wolves, panthers, badgers, and wild cats. At every instant the traveller sees the prairie hen and the cock of the mountain start up from the midst of the heath. The lakes and rivers are covered with swans, geese, and ducks: the industrious beaver, the otter, and the musk rat, together with the fishes, are in peaceable possession of their solitary

waters.

The Arikaras and Big Bellies, who had been described to us as most dangerous, received us as friends, whenever we met them on our way. Before setting out for war, they observe a strict fast, or rather they abstain from all food for four days. During this interval their imagination is excited to madness; and either from the effect of weakness, or the warlike projects which fill their minds, they pretend that they have extraordinary visions. The elders and sages of the tribes are called upon to interpret these reveries; and they pronounce them to be more or less favorable to the undertaking: their explanations are received as oracles, according to which the expedition is scrupulously regulated. Whilst the preparatory fast endures, the warriors make incisions in their bodies, and bury in the flesh, under the shoulder-blade, pieces of wood, to which they attach leather thongs, by which they

that he provides for our wants; we then strike the earth, to indicate that we are, in his eyes, only vile creatures, like the insect that crawls in the dust.' He begged me to explain, in my turn, the doctrine of which I was the apostle. I regretted that I had so little time to instruct him. He listened to the holy word with great attention. What he learned of our religion inspired him with a great desire to be better acquainted with it. But we had to separate. He ordered his son, and two youths full of intelligence, to accompany me to Fort Peter, in order to learn some of the principles of our faith, and at the same time to serve as a safeguard against the Indians who might not be well-disposed towards us."

are suspended from a stake, fixed horizontally over the brink of a chasm a hundred and fifty feet deep: they even sometimes cut off one or two fingers, which they offer as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit, in order that they may return loaded with scalps.

In their most recent expedition against the Scioux, the Arikaras killed twenty warriors of the hostile tribe, and piled up the corpses in the middle of their village. The solemn dance of victory then commenced, at which men, women, the aged and children assisted. After having celebrated at length, the exploits of the brave, they rushed like wild beasts upon the mangled and bloody bodies of the Scioux, parcelled them amongst themselves, and fixed the hideous trophies to the end of long poles, which they carried in proud triumph around the village.

It is impossible to form an idea of the cruelty that presides over the barbarous revenge of those tribes which are constantly occupied in mutual destruction. As soon as the savages learn that the warriors of a rival nation have set out for the chase, they unexpectedly attack the enemy's defenceless camp, and massacre the women, old men, and children in the cradle. Wo to the men who are spared; their agony is deferred in order to render it terrible. At other times they lie in wait in their enemy's path, and allow the detachment to pass on until they have in their power such a portion of it as must infallibly become their prey; whereupon they raise the death cry, and pour upon the enemy a shower of balls, arrows, and pieces of rock; this movement is the signal of extermination: the battle becomes a massacre: the sight of horror, which would freeze the heart of any civilized man, serves only to inflame the fury of the savage he outrages his prostrate rival, tramples on his mangled carcass, tears off his hair, wallows in his blood with the delight of a tiger, and often devours the quivering limbs of the fallen, while they have scarcely ceased to live.

Such of the vanquished as have not fallen in the combat, are reserved to furnish the triumph, and are conducted prisoners to the village of the conquerors. The women come

to meet the returning warriors, amongst whom they seek with anxious looks their husbands and brothers: if they discover them not, they express their grief by terrific howling. One of the warriors soon commands silence; he then gives the details of the fortunate expedition, describes the place selected for the ambuscade, the consternation of the waylaid tribe, the bravery of the assailants, and recounts the number of the dead and of the captives. To this recital, which is made with all the intoxication of victory, succeeds the calling over the names of the warriors: their absence tells they are no more. The piercing cries of the women are then renewed; and their despair presents a scene of frenzy and grief, which exceeds all imagination. The last ceremony is the proclaiming of victory. Every one instantly forgets his own misfortunes; the glory of the nation becomes the happiness of all; by an inconceivable transition, they pass in a moment from frantic grief to the most extravagant joy.

I know not what terms to use in order to describe the torments which they inflict on the wretched prisoners: one plucks off their nails, another tears away their flesh, and cutting it in shreds, puts it as tobacco into his pipe; red-hot irons are applied to every part of their bodies; they are flayed alive, and their palpitating flesh is devoured as food. The women, who, in other nations, are more accessible to the feelings of pity than the men, here show themselves more thirsty for revenge, and more ingenious in the barbarous refinement of cruelty. Whilst this horrible drama goes on, the chiefs are gravely seated about the stake at which the victim is writhing. The latter appears to be only intent on conquering his anguish : often has the prisoner been seen to brave his executioners, and with a stoic coolness exclaim, "I fear not death; those who are afraid of your torments are cowards; a woman of my tribe would despise them. Shame upon my enemies; they have not even the power to force from me a tear. In order to take me they supplied their weakness by stratagem; and now to revenge themselves, they have assembled an entire people against one man, and they are

unable to triumph over him the cowards! Oh, if they were in my place, how I would devour them, how I would sip from their accursed skulls the last drop of their blood!"

The great village of the Arikaras is only ten miles distant from that of the Mandans. I was surprised to see around their habitations large and well-cultivated fields of maize. The latter Indians still manufacture earthen vases, similar to those which are found in the ancient tombs of the savages of the United States, and which, according to antiquaries, are presumed to have belonged to a race much more ancient than that which now peoples the desert of the west. The jugglers of the Arikaras enjoy a good reputation, and exercise considerable influence over their credulous countrymen; they pretend to have communication with the spirit of darkness. They will fearlessly plunge their arm into boiling water, having previously rubbed it with a certain root; they also swallow, without any ill effect, substances on fire, as well as shoot arrows against themselves. The following is one of the most singular of their tricks, and one which the Indian sorcerer was unwilling to perform in my presence, because my medicine (meaning my religion) was superior to his; he had his hands, arms, legs, and feet tied with well knotted cords; he was then enclosed in a net, and again in a buffalo's skin. The person who tied him had promised him a horse if he extricated himself from his bonds. In a minute after, the savage, to the amazement of the spectators, stood before him perfectly free. The commandant of the neighboring fort offered him another horse if he would reveal to him his secret.

The sorcerer consented, saying, "Have thyself tied; I have at my command ten invisible spirits: I will detach three of them and put them at thy service: fear them not, they will accompany thee everywhere, and be thy tutelary genii." The commandant was disconcerted, or unwilling to make the trial, and thus the matter terminated.*

*Juggleries are much practised among the savages, although many of them consider them as so many impostures. Mr. Belcourt who witnessed a great many of them, always succeeded in discovering the deception. One of the most celebrated jugglers

The last observation which I have to make concerns the redoubtable tribe of the Scioux. Whoever, amongst these savages, dies in a quarrel provoked by drunkenness, or the victim of the revenge of a fellowcountryman, receives not the ordinary honors of burial; he is interred without ceremony and without provisions. The most glorious death for them is to expire in fighting the enemies of their nation. Their bodies are, in that case, rolled in buffaloes' skins and placed upon a raised platform, near their camps or highways. From some acknowledged, after his conversion to Christianity, that all their delusion consists in their cleverness in preparing certain tricks, and in the assurance with which they predict to others what they themselves know not, and, above all, in the silly credulity of their admirers. They are like our own calculators of horoscopes.-Extract from the Journal of a Missionary in Canada.

conversations I have had with the chiefs of this tribe, I have every reason to believe that a mission would produce amongst them the most consoling effects.

I arrived, at length, at Council Bluffs. It would be vain for me to attempt to express what I felt, on finding myself again in the midst of my brethren: I had travelled two thousand Flemish leagues amongst the most barbarous nations, where I had no sooner escaped one danger than I met with another. From Council Bluffs to Westport, a frontier city of the Missouri, I pursued my journey without obstacle or accident. At Independence I took the public conveyance, and on the eve of the new year, I embraced my dear fathers of the University of St. Louis. Recommending myself to your prayers, I am yours, &c.

P. J. DE SMET.

THE

vance of improvement in our country

has more changed than our ideas of a Gothic church. Some score or two of years back, if it was proposed to build a church in this style, all that its proposers required was to have a plain square brick, or stone building of any convenient size or proportion, and to make the windows pointed at the top. This being done, the builder, or architect, as no doubt he called and considered himself, was at perfect liberty to use any, or all conceivable styles of arrangement and decoration for the other parts of the edifice, his church had pointed windows and was therefore Gothic, reminding one of the schoolboy's sophism, "a man is an animal with two legs; a goose has two legs, therefore a man is a goose." That an edifice which has pointed windows is therefore Gothic, because a Gothic building has pointed windows, this generation is too knowing to admit.

The style of building denominated Gothic was originated in the 11th century and is the most complex and scientific mode of architecture that has ever been known, since

VOL. II.-No. 5.

tion ever before invented, in a form of combination that belongs only to itself. We find in it therefore more variety of parts and a wider range of detail than in any other style. The architecture of Egypt, Greece, and Rome is the architecture of form, and depends for its expression upon accuracy of proportion, while the Gothic is the architecture of detail, and owes its beauty to the multiplication and variety of its parts. That such a style should be more difficult to understand is not at all wonderful, nor, that, in this country, where we possess no original buildings from which to correct our false impressions, our ideas on this subject should be exceedingly vague. It has been but a few years since architects, wearied out by the unvarying monotony of the Greek style, have made excursions among the long neglected remains of Pointed architecture, and brought away, piecemeal, as it were, one feature after another, here a pointed window, there a spire, till in this manner, battlements, turrets, buttresses, groinings, clustered pillars, and other features of the

38