After these protestations of lasting friendship the the Snake Indian with his wife and two children took their departure contentedly[.] He promised that he and some of his friends would return to the village the ensuing Spring[.] He Kept his word – the following spring and he and several of his friends tribe appeared in the Company of 300 Lodges of Rocky Mountain Indians when he and his friends made a present of six farmer horses with a great quantity of dressed leather to the Enasas – who returned the Compliment in European Christian goods & I was an Eye witness to this last part – by which I to came to learn the first part of the story[.]

The Enasas it must be observed make it a rule to afford protection to all strangers who throw themselves into their village – even their own natural enemies must not insult within these limits[.] It has therefore become a Sanctuary for Criminals from all the surrounding tribes – who go about in safety speaking their respective languages[.] These strangers cannot however be accommodated with wives from this tribe but must confine themselves to slaves – or women taken in war from the enemy[.] Even the Mandanes who are next door neighbours dare not enter into this Kind of connection[.]

These strangers often make a bad return[.] They often Kill their benefactors and with their scalps fly to their own nation and thereby obtain forgiveness for the crime which caused their banishment[.] Still [T]he Enasas are from dire experience sensible of this treachery still they continue to encourage the presence of strangers among them – for they serve as Interpreters as Inter to the many nations who send V in the summer to trade for their commodities of the Mississouri[.] Some of these

These Interpreters

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