McKenzie, Charles. The Mississouri Indians, 1809. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0009

were scarely arrived on the banks of the Mississouri when the Gros Ventres sent canoes to ferry us over to their Villages[.] Here we were surprised to find the whole of the inhabitants with blackened faces – and the Young men singing and dancing round the place with a scalp. We observed a great change in their dress – which in many instances consisted of articles, foreign to these distant tribes – viz Russia Shirting trousers Sawans down Vests, Corduroy Jackets, Calico Shirts, &c All resembling Canadian Voyagers cloathing – from which we had reason to suspect that these people had succesfully attacked some of the North west Company's Establishments[.] We enquired repeatedly, how the came by these fineries – but no one seemed inclined to inform us – all gave evasive answers[.] However we at length discovered that a party had been to make war upon the blackfeet Indians, and killed those who were in possession of these articles[.] This in a manner confirmed our doubts. By &by the truth came out. The Indians who had reaped no benefit from the Spoil, through jealously divulged the secret. They reported that the Chief of the Wolves, with his Young men, had recently returned

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