Across America; Or, The Great West and the Pacific CoastRusling, James Fowler
History
Across America; Or, The Great West and the Pacific Coast
Rusling, James Fowler
Overland journeys to the Pacific; Pacific States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
During the day, and indeed most of the time we were there, there
was considerable bartering going on between some of us and the
Indians, though in a petty way. We were eager for Indian relics and
trophies, to send East as souvenirs, and they were equally eager
for some articles we possessed; so that barter was not difficult.
Neither party knew much, if any, of the language of the other, but
the bargaining went steadily on for all that. The Utes came into
camp, with such articles as they wished to dispose of. If we desired
them and had anything to exchange, we laid it on the ground, and
then--pointing to the Indian articles--uttered the classic word
"Swop?" If they assented, the bargain ended, and the exchange took
place immediately. But if they refused, or wanted more, they shook
their heads and answered "No swop!" These words, "Swop" and "No
swop," are about the only English necessary in trading with them,
and we found them current everywhere among our Indians, from the
Missouri to the Pacific. In this way, our party succeeded in securing
a few lances and shields, bows and arrows, grizzly-bear skins,
buffalo-robes, etc., though their stock of skins had been mostly
disposed of to the regular traders some time before. We found them,
as a rule, fond of trading, and keen at a bargain, but averse to
parting with their ponies or their bows and arrows. Their ponies
they held in special regard, and asked extravagant prices for them.
Their bows and arrows were made of tough, elastic wood, very scarce
in that region, and they were loth to sell them, except for a pistol
or a "carabina." In this matter of trading, however, a young chief
named Jack Cox seemed to be a marked exception. He had a handsome
wolf-skin quiver, beautifully finished and embroidered--the finest
we saw there--and I was desirous of securing it, if he cared to part
with it. Various offers were tendered him, but all were refused. He
had set his heart on one of our repeating-rifles, and his constant
answer was, as he patted the barrel, "Me take carabina! Nothing
else!" Subsequently, others pressed him with various offers; but they
could not shake his resolution. At last he rose up, as if vexed and
irritated, and pointing to a group of Utes, who were crowding around
all eager for barter, indignantly exclaimed, "Mean Indian swop--pony,
bow, quiver, robe, any thing! Jack Cox no swop!" Instinctively I
handed him a pipe, and begged him to join in a smoke. Accepting
the courtesy, he sat down again, and as he spoke a little broken
English we managed to talk some on several subjects. But, all the
while, he watched the "swopping," that was going on about him, and
when he saw any one about to make what he considered a foolish or
bad bargain, he would sneer at his want of judgment, and set all the
rest of the Indians to laughing at him--a trick which usually broke
up the bargain. Subsequently, he went off to the village for a fancy
buffalo robe, which he said he would "swop" me for something that
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account