down the Missouri into the buffaloe country.  Alarmed at this new caprice of the Indians which, if not counteracted, threatened to leave ourselves and our baggage on the mountains, or even if we reached the waters of the Columbia, prevent our obtaining horses to go on further, captain Lewis immediately called the three chiefs together.  After smoking a pipe he asked them if they were men of their words, and if we can rely on their promises.  They readily answered in the affirmative.  He then asked, if they had not agreed to assist us in carrying our baggage over the mountains.  To this they also answered yes; and why then, said he, have you requested your people to meet us to-morrow, where it will be impossible for us to trade for horses, as you promised we should.  If, he continued, you had not promised to help us in transporting our goods over the mountains, we should not have attempted it, but have returned down the river, after which no white men would ever have come into your country.  If you wish the whites to be your friends, and to bring you arms and protect you from your enemies, you should never promise what you do not mean to perform:  when I first met you, you doubted what I said, yet you afterwards saw that I told you the truth.  How therefore can you doubt what I now tell you; you see that I have divided amongst you the meat which my hunters kill, and I promise to give all who assist us a share of whatever we have to eat.  If therefore you intend to keep your promise, send one of the young men immediately to order the people to remain at the village till we arrive.

The two inferior chiefs then said, that they had wished to keep their words and to assist us; that they had not sent for the people, but on the contrary had disapproved of the measure which was done wholly by the first chief.  Cameahwait remained silent for some time:  at last he said that he knew he had done wrong, but that seeing his people all in want of provisions, he had wished to hasten their departure for the country where their wants might be supplied.  He however now declared, that having passed his word he would never violate it, and counter orders were immediately sent to the village by a young man, to whom we gave a handkerchief in order to ensure despatch and fidelity.

This difficulty being now adjusted, our march was resumed with an unusual degree of alacrity on the part of the Indians.  We passed a spot, where six years ago the Shoshonees* suffered a very severe defeat from the Minnetarees; and late in the evening we reached the upper part of the cove where the creek enters the mountains.  The part of the cove on the northeast side of the creek has lately been burnt, most probably as a signal on some occasion.  Here we were joined by our hunters with a single deer, which captain Lewis gave, as a proof of his sincerity, to the women and children, and remained supperless himself.  As we came along we observed several large hares, some ducks, and many of the cock of the plains:  in the low grounds of the cove were also considerable quantities of wild onions.