Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-07-05
From Mr.. 1rving's New Work.
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,
or ADVENTURES, SCENES, g. INCIDENTS


IN THE FAR WEST.
The two rival bands, however, had
not long been mingled in this social
manner, before their ancient jealousy
began to break out in a now form. -
The senior chief ofthe Shoshonics, was
a thinking man, and man Of observa-
ton. He had been among the Nez
Perces listened to the new codes of
religion and morality imbibed from tho
white men, aud attended their devo-
tional exercises. lie had observed the
effect Of all this in elevating the tribo
in the estimation of the white men, and
determined, by the same means, to
gain for his own tribe superiority o.
yer their ignorant rivals, the Eutaws.
He accordingly assembled his people,
d promulgated among them, the mon.
grel doctrines and form of worship of
the Nez Perces recommending the
same to their adoption. The Shosho-
MES were struck, with the novelty, at
least, of the measure, and entered into
it with spirit. They began 10 observe
Sundays and holidays, and TO have their
devotional dances, and chants, and o.
Their ceremonals /; about which the ig-
norant Eutaws knew nothing; while
they exerted their usual competition in
shooting and horse racing, and the re.
nowned game of hand.
Matters were going on thus pleasant
ly and prosperously in this motley com
munity Of white and red men, when one
morning two stark FREQ trappers, ar.
rayed in the heigh, Of savage fnery,
and mounted on steeds as fine and fiery
as themselves, and all jingling with
hawks bells, came galloping, with a
whoop and halo, into tho camp.
They were fresh from the winter en-
campment CT the American Fur Com
pany, in the Green River valley, and
had como to pay their old comrades of
Captain Bonneville's company, visit.
An idea may be formed, from tho dcs.
criptions we have already given of con-
VITALITY in the wilderness, of the man.
ner in which these game birds wcre
received by those of their feather in
the camp. What feasting--what rev.
elling--what boasting--what Dragging
what ranting, and roaring, and ra-
cling, and gambling, and squabblng,
and hghting, ensued among these boon
companions. Captain Bonneville, il is
true, maintained, always, a certain de-
gree Of law and order in his camp,
aud checked each fierce excess. But
the trappcrs, in their seasons of idle
ness and relaxation, require a degree
of license and indulgence, TO repay
them for the long privations, and al
most incredible hardships Of their Pc
riods of active service.
| In the midst Of oil this frolicking and
feasting, freak Of the tender passion
interviewed, and wrought complete
change in the scene. Among the In.
dian beauties IN the camp Of the Eu-
taws and Shoshonies, the free trappers
discovered two who had whilom figu-
red as their squaws. These connex.
ions frequently take place for sea.
son, and sometimes continue for years,
il not perpetually, but are apt TO be
broken when the free trapper starts OIL
suddenly on some distant and rough
expedition.
in the present instance, these wild
blades were anxious to regain their
bellies nor were the latter 10th once
more to come under their protection.
The free trapper combines, in the eye
of an Indian girl, all that is dashing and
heroic in warrior Of her own race,
whose gait, and garb, and bravery, he
emulates, with all that is gallant and
glorious in the white man. And then
the indulgence with which he treats
her the finery with which he decks
her out the state in which she moves,
the sway she enjoys over both his
purse and person, instead of being the
slave and drudge of an Indian husband,
obliged to carry his pack and build his
lodge, and make his fire, bear his cross
humors, and dry blows. No; there
is no comparison, in the eyes OF an as
piring belle of the wilderness, between
a free trapper and an Indian brave.
With respect to one of the parties,
the matter was easily arranged. The
beauty in question was pert little Eu~
taw wench that had been taken prison.
err, in some war excursion, by a Sho-
shonie. She was readily ransomed for
few articles Of trifling value, and
forthwith figured about the camp in
fine array, "with rings on her fingers
and bells on her toes" and tossed up
coquettish air, that made her the envy,
admiration, and adherence OF all the
leathern dressed, hard working squaws
Of her acquaintance.
AS to the other beauty, il was quits
| a different matter. She had become
the wife Of Shoshonie brave. II 10
true, he had wife of older date than
the one in question, who, therefore,