things as they came in his way – he sat in the crowd or sat alone – he smoked the pipe when it came to his way turn and seemed as much at his ease in the hut of an Indian as in the Palace of a King[.]

About noon next day a Message came from the Borgne requiring the attendance of all the Indians of the Mississouri villages at the Shayann Camp[.] Necessaries for the Journey were immediately adress provided prepared and the following morning we all assembled upon a high hill in the vicinity. The Indians dressed in their best fineries with colours flying beat the march with war songs. Their uniformity and regular proceedings astonished some of our gentlemen – who were obliged to acknowledge that they never saw any thing equal to it in the savage world[.] The men were formed into Squares of Eight and there were eleven Squares which made the numbers of Warriors equal to seven hundred so that about three hundred were missing – that is according to the American gentleman who compiled the whole able to bear arms at a thousand[.] The women and children with the baggage horses jogged on behind[.]

The ensuing day the Warriors embellished their dress with feathers, paint and other gaudy materials and in measure as we approached our destination the Shayans continued to join meet us in bands by parties until the whole joined – when we mustered upwards of two thousand horse men[.] At dark we arrived at the Camp – where we found our friend the Borgne[.] I introduced my friends to him – he received them With respect[.] Immediately after he mounted his famous racer and rode through the Camp recommending union amity and good order to all the tribes[.] [U]pon his return to the Lodge – alighting he clapped the Bridle of his horse into M^r Chaboillezs hand – and thereby made him master of the best horse in the Country[.] fFully sensible of magnanimous conduct

of

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