. . .
"The harmony of their private life is secured by their ignorance
of spirituous liquors, the earliest and most dreadful present which
civilization has given to the other natives of the continent. Although
they have had so much intercourse with whites, they do not appear to
possess any knowledge of those dangerous luxuries; at least they have
never inquired after them, which they probably would have done if once
liquors bad been introduced among them. Indeed, we have not observed any
liquor of intoxicating quality among these or any Indians west of the
Rocky Mountains, the universal beverage being pure water. They, however,
sometimes almost intoxicate themselves by smoking tobacco, of which they
are excessively fond, and the pleasures of which they prolong as much as
possible, by retaining vast quantities at a time, till after circulating
through the lungs and stomach it issues in volumes from the mouth and
nostrils."
A long period of quiet prevailed in camp after the first of February,
before the final preparations for departure were made. Parties were sent
out every day to hunt, and the campers were able to command a few days'
supply of provision in advance. The flesh of the deer was now very lean
and poor, but that of the elk was growing better and better. It was
estimated by one of the party that they killed, between December
1, 1805, and March 20, 1806, elk to the number of one hundred and
thirty-one, and twenty deer. Some of this meat they smoked for its
better preservation, but most of it was eaten fresh.
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