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.
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