ch； and the result was； as we were informed； that they had full confidence in what we had told them； and were resolved to follow our advice。 This determination having been made； the principal chief； Tunnachemootoolt； took a quantity of flour of the roots of cow…weed ＇cowas＇； and going round to all the kettles and baskets in which his people were cooking； thickened the soup into a kind of mush。 He then began an harangue； setting forth the result of the deliberations among the chiefs； and after exhorting them to unanimity； concluded with an invitation to all who acquiesced in the proceedings of the council to come and eat； while those who were of a different mind were requested to show their dissent by not partaking of the feast。 During this animated harangue； the women； who were probably uneasy at the prospect of forming this proposed new connection with strangers； tore their hair； and wrung their hands with the greatest appearance of distress。 But the concluding appeal of the orator effectually stopped the mouths of every malecontent； and the proceedings were ratified； and the mush devoured with the most zealous unanimity。
〃The chiefs and warriors then came in a body to visit us as we were seated near our tent； and at their instance； two young men； one of whom was a son of Tunnachemootoolt； and the other the youth whose father had been killed by the Pahkees； presented to us each a fine horse。 We invited the chiefs to be seated； and gave every one of them a flag； a pound of powder； and fifty balls； and a present of the same kind to the young men from whom we had received the horses。 They then invited us into the tent； and said that they now wished to answer what we had told them yesterday； but that many of their people were at that moment waiting in great pain for our medical assistance。〃
It was agreed； therefore； that Captain Clark； who seems to have been their favorite physician； should attend to the sick and lame； while Captain Lewis should conduct a council with the chiefs and listen to what they had to say。 The upshot of the powwow was that the Chopunnish said they had sent three of their warriors with a pipe to make peace with the Shoshonees； last summer； as they had been advised to do by the white men。 The Shoshonees； unmindful of the sacredness of this embassy； had killed the young warriors and had invited the battle which immediately took place； in which the Chopunnish killed forty…two of the Shoshonees； to get even for the wanton killing of their three young men。 The white men now wanted some of the Chopunnish to accompany them to the plains of the Missouri； but the Indians were not willing to go until they were assured that they would not be waylaid and slain by their enemies of the other side of the mountains。 The Chopunnish would think over the proposal that some of their young men should go over the range with the white men； a decision on this point should be reached before the white men left the country。 Anyhow； the white men might be sure that the Indians would do their best to oblige their visitors。 Their conclusion was； 〃For； although we are poor； our hearts are good。〃 The story of this conference thus concludes：
〃As soon as this speech was concluded； Captain Lewis replied at some length； with this they appeared highly gratified； and after smoking the pipe； made us a present of another fat horse for food。 We； in turn； gave Broken…arm a phial of eye…water； with directions to wash the eyes of all who should apply for it； and as we promised to fill it again when it was exhausted； he seemed very much pleased with our liberality。 To Twisted…hair； who had last night collected six more horses； we gave a gun； one hundred balls； and two pounds of powder； and told him he should have the same quantity when we received the remainder of our horses。 In the course of the day three more of them were brought in； and a fresh exchange of small presents put the Indians in excellent humor。 On our expressing a wish to cross the river and form a camp； in order to hunt and fish till the snows had melted； they recommended a position a few miles distant； and promised to furnish us to…morrow with a canoe to cross。 We invited Twisted…hair to settle near our camp； for he has several young sons； one of whom we hope to engage as a guide； and he promised to do so。 Having now settled all their affairs； the Indians divided themselves into two parties； and began to play the game of hiding a bone； already described as common to all the natives of this country； which they continued playing for beads and other ornaments。〃
As there was so dismal a prospect for crossing the snow…covered mountains at this season of the year； the captains of the expedition resolved to establish a camp and remain until the season should be further advanced。 Accordingly； a spot on the north side of the river； recommended to them by the Indians； was selected； and a move across the stream was made。 A single canoe was borrowed for the transit of the baggage； and the horses were driven in to swim across； and the passage was accomplished without loss。 The camp was built on the site of an old Indian house； in a circle about thirty yards in diameter； near the river and in an advantageous position。 As soon as the party were encamped； the two Chopunnish chiefs came down to the opposite bank； and； with twelve of their nation； began to sing。 This was the custom of these people； being a token of their friendship on such occasions。 The captains sent a canoe over for the chiefs； and； after smoking for some time； Hohastillpilp presented Captain with a fine gray horse which he had brought over for that purpose； and he was perfectly satisfied to receive in return a handkerchief； two hundred balls； and four pounds of powder。
Here is some curious information concerning the bears which they found in this region。 It must be borne in mind that they were still west of the Bitter Root Mountains：
〃The hunters killed some pheasants； two squirrels； and a male and a female bear； the first of which was large； fat； and of a bay color； the second meagre； grizzly； and of smaller size。 They were of the species ＇Ursus horribilis＇ common to the upper part of the Missouri； and might well be termed the variegated bear； for they are found occasionally of a black； grizzly； brown； or red color。 There is every reason to believe them to be of precisely the same species。 Those of different colors are killed together； as in the case of these two； and as we found the white and bay associated together on the Missouri； and some nearly white were seen in this neighborhood by the hunters。 Indeed； it is not common to find any two bears of the same color； and if the difference in color were to constitute a distinction of species； the number would increase to almost twenty。 Soon afterward the hunters killed a female bear with two cubs。 The mother was black； with a considerable intermixture of white hairs and a white spot on the breast。 One of the cubs was jet black； and the other of a light reddish…brown or bay color。 The hair of these variegated bears is much finer； longer； and more abundant than that of the common black bear； but the most striking differences between them are that the former are larger and have longer tusks； and longer as well as blunter talons； that they prey more on other animals； that they lie neither so long nor so closely in winter quarters； and that they never climb a tree； however closely pressed by the hunters。 These variegated bears； though specifically the same with those we met on the Missouri； are by no means so ferocious； probably because the scarcity of game and the habit of living on roots may have weaned them from the practices of attacking and devouring animals。 Still； however； they are not so passive as the common black bear； which is also to be found here； for they have already fought with our hunters； though with less fury than those on the other side of the mountains。
〃A large part of the meat we gave to the Indians； to whom it was a real luxury； as they scarcely taste flesh once in a month。 They immediately prepared a large fire of dried wood； on which was thrown a number of smooth stones from the river。 As soon as the fire went down and the stones were heated； they were laid next to each other in a level position； and covered with a quantity of pine branches； on which were placed flitches of the meat； and then boughs and flesh alternately for several courses； leaving a thick layer of pine on the top。 On this heap they then poured a small quantity of water； and covered the whole with earth to the depth of four inches。 After remaining in this state for about three hours； the meat was taken off； and was really more tender than that which we had boiled or roasted； though the strong flavor of the pine rendered it disagreeable to our palates。 This repast gave them much satisfaction； for； though they sometimes kill the black bear； they attack very reluctantly the fierce variegated bear； and never except when they can pursue him on horseback over the plains； and shoot him with arrows。〃
Chapter XXII
Camping with the Nez Perces
Soon after they had fixed their camp； the explorers bade farewell to their good friend Tunnachemootoolt and his young men； who returned to their homes farther down the river。 Others of the Nez Perce； or Chopunnish； nation visited them； and the strangers were interested in watching the Indians preparing for their hunt。 As they were to hunt the deer； they had the head； horns； and hide of that animal so prepared that when it was placed on the head and body of a hunter； it gave a very deceptive idea of a deer； the hunter could move the head of the decoy so that it looked like a deer feeding； and the suspicious animals were lured within range of the Indians' bow and arrow。
On the sixteenth of May； Hohastillpilp and his young men also left the white men's camp and returned to their own village。 The hunters of the party did not meet with much luck in their quest for game； only one deer and a few pheasants being brought in for several days。 The party were fed on roots and herbs； a species of onion being much prized by them。 Bad weather confined them to their camp； and a common entry in their journal refers to their having slept all night