We also saw a bridle bit, stirrups and several other articles which, like the mules, came from the Spanish colonies.  The Shoshonees say that they can reach those settlements in ten days’ march by the route of the Yellowstone river; but we readily perceive that the Spaniards are by no means favourites.  They complain that the Spaniards refuse to let them have fire arms under pretence that these dangerous weapons will only induce them to kill each other.  In the meantime, say the Shoshonees, we are left to the mercy of the Minnetarees, who having arms, plunder them of their horses, and put them to death without mercy.  “But this should not be,” said Cameahwait fiercely, “if we had guns, instead of hiding ourselves in the mountains and living like the bears on roots and berries, we would then go down and live in the buffaloe country in spite of our enemies, whom we never fear when we meet on equal terms.”

As war is the chief occupation, bravery is the first virtue among the Shoshonees.  None can hope to be distinguished without having given proofs of it, nor can there be any preferment, or influence among the nation, without some warlike achievement.  Those important events which give reputation to a warrior, and which entitle him to a new name, are killing a white bear, stealing individually the horses of the enemy, leading out a party who happen to be successful either in plundering horses or destroying the enemy, and lastly scalping a warrior.  These acts seem of nearly equal dignity, but the last, that of taking an enemy’s scalp, is an honour quite independent of the act of vanquishing him.  To kill your adversary is of no importance unless the scalp is brought from the field of battle, and were a warrior to slay any number of his enemies in action, and others were to obtain the scalps or first touch the dead, they would have all the honours, since they have borne off the trophy.

Although thus oppressed by the Minnetarees, the Shoshonees are still a very military people.  Their cold and rugged country inures them to fatigue; their long abstinence makes them support the dangers of mountain warfare, and worn down as we saw them, by want of sustenance, have a look of fierce and adventurous courage.  The Shoshonee warrior always fights on horseback; he possesses a few bad guns, which are reserved exclusively for war, but his common arms are the bow and arrow, a shield, a lance and a weapon called by the Chippeways, by whom it was formerly used, the poggamoggon.  The bow is made of cedar or pine covered on the outer side with sinews and glue.  It is about two and a half feet long, and does not differ in shape from those used by the Sioux, Mandans and Minnetarees.  Sometimes, however, the bow is made of a single piece of the horn of an elk, covered on the back like those of wood with sinews and glue, and occasionally ornamented by a strand wrought of porcupine quills and sinews, which is wrapped round the horn near its two ends.