children under this affliction was great – and the noise and lamentations for the dead and the dying Children were insupportable[.] At length the warriors returned and the success of the expedition put an end to the lamentations in the Villages[.] The party consisted of Six hundred horsemen – who were absent for two Months and returned in triumph with a Trophy of three scalps[.] War parties generally content themselves by attacking the first Strangers they meet and I understood it is customary with Indians to desist on such occasions as soon as they have killed or have drawn blood – thinking themselves Entitled to Laurels or equal honors by attacking the enemy at all[.] This war party paraded the Villages for several days singing & dancing with the scalps exposed at the End of long Poles[.] These rejoicings were extremely disagreeable to our feelings Mais avec les Loups il faut hurlé[.] But to return to business – on my arrival, I found some of the Free men to whom I had given goods upon credit the preceeding winter had made a good hunt towards the upper parts of the Mississourie[.] These

men

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