“After they had become composed, he informed them by signs of his wishes to go to their camp, in order to see their chiefs and warriors; they readily obeyed, and conducted the party along the same road down the river.  In this way they marched two miles, when they met a troop of nearly sixty warriors, mounted on excellent horses, riding at full speed toward them.  As they advanced Captain Lewis put down his gun, and went with the flag about fifty paces in advance.  The chief, who with two men was riding in front of the main body, spoke to the women, who now explained that the party was composed of white men, and showed exultingly the presents they had received.  The three men immediately leaped from their horses, came up to Captain Lewis, and embraced him with great cordiality, putting their left arm over his right shoulder, and clasping his back, applying at the same time their left cheek to his, and frequently vociferating ah hi e! ah hi e!  ’I am much pleased, I am much rejoiced.’  The whole body of warriors now came forward, and our men received the caresses, and no small share of the grease and paint, of their new friends.  After this fraternal embrace, of which the motive was much more agreeable than the manner, Captain Lewis lighted a pipe, and offered it to the Indians, who had now seated themselves in a circle around the party.  But, before they would receive this mark of friendship, they pulled off their moccasins:  a custom, as we afterward learned, which indicates the sacred sincerity of their professions when they smoke with a stranger, and which imprecates on themselves the misery of going barefoot forever if they prove faithless to their words—­a penalty by no means light for those who rove over the thorny plains of this country. . . .

“After smoking a few pipes, some trifling presents were distributed among them, with which they seemed very much pleased, particularly with the blue beads and the vermilion.  Captain Lewis then stated to the chief that the object of his visit was friendly, and should be explained as soon as he reached their camp; and that, as the sun was oppressive, and no water near, he wished to go there as soon as possible.  They now put on their moccasins, and their chief, whose name was Cameahwait, made a short speech to the warriors.  Captain Lewis then gave him the flag, which he informed him was among white men the emblem of peace; and, now that he had received it, was to be in future the bond of union between them.  The chief then moved on; our party followed him; and the rest of the warriors, in a squadron, brought up the rear.”