In the meantime Le Borgne sent for us in order to introduce M^r LaRocque to the Rocky Mountain chief – whose name is Nakesinia or Red Calf. [W]hen we offered to shake hands with this great man, he did not understand the intention, and Stood Motionless until he was informed that shaking hands was the Signal of Friendship among white men – then he Stretched forth both his hands to receive ours[.] Le Borgne said a great deal in favour of the North west company, but he did not praise the Americans[.] M^r LaRocques great pipe was handed round as a precious offering and each took a few wiffs[.] [T]hen M^r LaRocque presented to the Red Calf a Flag, a stem, with some Mercantile articles and the Chief to testify his Sense of the obligation adopted M^r LaRocque as Father and promised to respect and consider him as such for ever after[.]

Les Gros Ventres made the Corbeaux (for so the Rocky Mountain tribe was called) Smoke the Pipe of friendship, and at the same time laid before them a present consisting of two hundred guns, with one

hundred

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