may have a correct idea of the kind of blessing the worthy hunter in question had invoked tosolace
him in the wilderness.
"The free trapper, while a bachelor, has no greater pet than his horse; but the moment hetakes a wife
(a sort of brevet rank in matrimony occasionally bestowed upon some Indian fair one, like theheroes
of ancient chivalry in the open field), he discovers that he has a still more fanciful and capriciousanimal on which to lavish his expenses.
"No sooner does an Indian belle experience this promotion, than all her notions at once riseand
expand to the dignity of her situation, and the purse of her lover, and his credit into the bargain,are
taxed to the utmost to fit her out in becoming style. The wife of a free trapper to be equipped andarrayed like any ordinary and undistinguished squaw? Perish the grovelling thought! In the firstplace, she must have a horse for her own riding; but no jaded, sorry, earth-spirited hack, such asis
sometimes assigned by an Indian husband for the transportation of his squaw and her pappooses:
the
wife of a free trader must have the most beautiful animal she can lay her eyes on. And then, as tohis
decoration: headstall, breast-bands, saddle and crupper are lavishly embroidered with beads, andhung with thimbles, hawks' bells, and bunches of ribbons. From each side of the saddle hangs anesquimoot, a sort of pocket, in which she bestows the residue of her trinkets and nick-nacks,which
cannot be crowded on the decoration of her horse or herself. Over this she folds, with great care,a
drapery of scarlet and bright-colored calicoes, and now considers the caparison of her steedcomplete.
"As to her own person, she is even still more extravagant. Her hair, esteemed beautiful inproportion
to its length, is carefully plaited, and made to fall with seeming negligence over either breast. Herriding hat is stuck full of parti-colored feathers; her robe, fashioned somewhat after that of thewhites, is of red, green, and sometimes gray cloth, but always of the finest texture that can beprocured. Her leggings and moccasins are of the most beautiful and expensive workman-ship,and
fitted neatly to the foot and ankle, which with the Indian woman are generally well formed anddelicate. Then as to jewelry: in the way of finger-rings, ear-rings, necklaces, and other femaleglories, nothing within reach of the trapper's means is omitted that can tend to impress thebeholder
with an idea of the lady's high estate. To finish the whole, she selects from among her blankets ofvarious dyes one of some glowing color, and throwing it over her shoulders with a native grace,vaults into the saddle of her gay, prancing steed, and is ready to follow her mountaineer 'to thelast
gasp with love and loyalty.' "
Such is the general picture of the free trapper's wife, given by Captain Bonneville; how far itapplied
in its details to the one in question does not altogether appear, though it would seem from theoutset
of her connubial career, that she was ready to avail herself of all the pomp and circumstance ofher
new condition. It is worthy of mention that wherever there are several wives of free trappers in acamp, the keenest rivalry exists between them, to the sore detriment of their husbands' purses.
Their
whole time is expended and their ingenuity tasked by endeavors to eclipse each other in dressand
decoration. The jealousies and heart-burnings thus occasioned among these so-styled children ofnature are equally intense with those of the rival leaders of style and fashion in the luxuriousabodes
of civilized life.
The genial festival of Christmas, which throughout all Christendom lights up the fireside ofhome
with mirth and jollity, followed hard upon the wedding just described. Though far from kindredand
friends, Captain Bonneville and his handful of free trappers were not disposed to suffer thefestival
to pass unenjoyed; they were in a region of good cheer, and were disposed to be joyous; so it wasdetermined to "light up the yule clog," and celebrate a merry Christmas in the heart of thewilderness.
On Christmas eve, accordingly, they began their rude fetes and rejoicings. In the course ofthe night
the free trappers surrounded the lodge of the Pierced-nose chief and in lieu of Christmas carols,saluted him with a feude joie .
Kowsoter received it in a truly Christian spirit, and after a speech, in which he expressed hishigh
gratification at the honor done him, invited the whole company to a feast on the following day.
His
invitation was gladly accepted. A Christmas dinner in the wigwam of an Indian chief! There wasnovelty in the idea. Not one failed to be present. The banquet was served up in primitive style:
skins
of various kinds, nicely dressed for the occasion, were spread upon the ground; upon these wereheaped up abundance of venison, elk meat, and mountain mutton, with various bitter roots whichthe Indians use as condiments.
After a short prayer, the company all seated themselves cross-legged, in Turkish fashion, tothe
banquet, which passed off with great hilarity. After which various games of strength and agilityby
both white men and Indians closed the Christmas festivities. [Return to Contents].
