The Whig standard., 1843-12-06
SPORTING LETTERS FROM THE FAR
WEST

XII & i 4
After the incidents detailed in my last letter,
relative to the danger Of precitately wearing
deerskin clothing, our party travelled several
days across the country faring badly. We had
little or nothing TO eat or drink, our mules were
tagged out, and il was determined that when we
arrived at a convenient halting place, that we
wonld rest for some days. Coming to the banks
Of a running stream, which were about ten feet
high, idwas thought favorable place for encamp-
ment, and in few hours we were fixed in a
manner perfectly agreeable. We made our tents
by driving long poles into the banks, and resting
on them forked sticks, then covering this frame
with buffalo skins. About midnight Of the Sc
cond day, we were aroused by whoop and
valley a shot md arrows; the balls did no da-
maG& hnt the arrows as they came sticking halt
way through the skins, looked rather friehtful.
SIR William rushed out and gave the enemy a
broadside in Scotch; they retreated few PAGES
and talked in Indian. A parley ensued, when it
appeared that rowing party Of Kansas had mis-
taken our tents for those of their enemies the
Crow Feet-as this latter tribe are called !" Prai-
RE Dogs" because they lie in the sand hills. The
mistake was very natural, but as the party was
small, and as some observed only Indians, they
were severely thrashed, to learn them better in
future. The Indians were very submissive, and
seemed sorry for what they had DONE The
night following this adventure we lost three
horses, chain, and a pistol; no doubt this is
the way they took satisfaction for the injuries
they had receive1 from our party.
II is needless TO say that our party was pretty
sick OF the Far West sport. Audubon had al
ready packed up TO return TO the civilized haunts
OF mankind. We knew this from the fact that
every thing was secured with lock and KEY that
could be, to keep them from being stolen-a pre-
caution generally unnecessary in savage life
Taking advantage Of our resting place, we re-
solved upon having a good dinner, and perhaps
the dishes may not be uninteresting to our read
ers. We had the breast Of wild turkey boiled
as dry as chip, which we used as bread; buff
falu marrow for butter; bear ribs for pork; and
prairie grouse chrstened chicken. To give the
thing more the air of civilization, we all sat up
bold, and in unnatural positions and 10 make il
still more white folks fashion," we did not
greese our faces in eating above our nose, and
only used one hand when il was possible. Toasts
were drank-one Of which | have preserved
BY --: The Far West-great country
like small pox, il need only be gone through on,e
TO answer every useful purpose"--in silence.
by --:" Our sport out here-like interest
ing lndians-all in my eye"-also in silence By
an old hunter: " The great diggins between the
Yellow Stone and the mouth Of the Columbia
the only field on which smart white man can
display his abilities" Great applause from Tar
pot-wan.ja. BY myself: The Indian hunting
grounds-like the indians themselves, more in
teresling in ladies' books than any where else. !"
Three brays from one Of the wagon mules By
Sir William: /" Out here, as much ahead of 6c-
tlon, as sterling pound is worth more than a
Scotch" Old Lang Syne whislled by the party
BY Tar-pot-wan-ja !" Hoke-poke humbup ocken.
wocken-khantumit ex sho" which, literally
translated, means, 'white man worth nothino
after the whiskey is gone.
The night following the dinner was exceed
ingly pleasant, until about midnight, when the
wind rose, and from severe blow, turned into
hurricane for while ii passed over us, the
bank of the stream keeping it off; but after a
while it chopped round, and blew directly down
the river and the rain also fell and put out our
fires The stream by which we were encamp-
ed, called by the Indians "ShalahriIle,p from
Its great depth, rose rapidly; and lastly, to COM
Plete our difficulty, our tents blew over our
wagons were knocked down, our arms upset,
sending the charge of two barrels Of buckshot
among us by exploding the caps.
The morning dawned, and presented the worst
looking set Of fellows that ever appeared in these
parts, and that is saving great deal. when you
reject that the Indians live out here. After
hunting about, we found that we had saved
most OF our properly, as nothing had loated off
but copper kettle and a box containing some