Feb 9th

Well last night Col. Macleod, Capt. Jackson, Allen, Denny + myself went for Conrad + took him over to the squaw dance. It was a lodge. No light save for that of the fire in the center. The people all sat around in the lodge on the sleeping bunks, the men on one side the squaws + children on the other. The orchestra consisting of the drums, like tambourines without the bells, kept up an incessant tom tom, + the voices of the men + women kept time with the dancers + tom toms, in a melancholic, monotonous chant. Every now and then one chap would become very much excited, + start up in the circle dancing around the fire + dance in a most excited manner. Their dancing consists in a simple bending on the knees keeping the feet close together + keeping time with the music. The dancer may vary his dance by numerous absurd + grotesque attitudes or movements, + must keep continually singing. The[y] had tea to refresh themselves with during the interlude and also pipes. Now and again while the band was resting some buck would get up + make a speech telling of the wonderful + doughty deeds he had done. The squaws would dance up to the one they wished to dance with + pull him out from his seat. If they wished + were allowed, they could kiss you, after which you were excepted to give them a blanket. Denny, Jackson + the Col were each pulled and made to dance. They felt too much respect for me, so I was allowed to sit in dignified quietness. The lodge contained more than 36 persons. How they even managed to crowd in is a mystery. A space not 10 feet in diameter to hold so many + allow room for a fire + for dancing. We had the true unadulterated genuine Indian preference. I had a visit from Crowfoot the Chief of this faction of the Blackfoot, he brought a couple of his squaws along and a little child, a pretty little creature, whom he called Pouse [Blackfoot: “pussy cat/kitten”] after some kind of bird. I showed Crowfoot my family + my sketches. I had one of himself, he recognized it immediately, as also did his squaws. Was that not a triumph of art? The old man had a headache so I gave him a Seidlitz powder. You should have seen the look of bewildered amusement as the powder began to fizz. He repeated over + over again, *Skoon-a-taps-salui, which means ‘very strong medicine’. Afterwards we refreshed him with some Ginger tea, which elevated him so that he was almost tipsy. Then as it was lunch time, I gave him and his squaws some bread and meat, they eat their fill + departed shaking hands with every expression of delight.

This served to pass the greater part of the morning with pleasure and profit, for I succeeded in adding several words, properly pronounced, to my Indian vocabulary. By one o’clock it had begun to snow and continued to do so for the remained of the afternoon. Capt. Winder took a party of men and seized a wagon load of robes which appear to have been traded for whiskey. They were not able to bring them all the way to Camp on account of the heavy roads but left them under guard, about a mile from the Fort. Quite a little excitement was caused by the sound of four shots heard in the direction of this wagon, + a party of men was at once detailed to go out and see what was wrong. It proved to be a party of men who had been guarding the wagon + who had been relieved, fancying themselves lost, who fired to attract attention. Col. Macleod has brought out a code of signals with the flag, at which we have been diligently employing ourselves to learn, so that now, what with my anatomy, Blackfoot, Solar observations, French + signaling, I have spent my time pretty well occupied. I must now say Good night to you my Darling. I hope that you will sleep sound and have pleasant dreams. I expect to sleep as sound + as quietly as I ever did.