“My leggings[47] are worn out and the cold enters, and my breech flap no more covers what is beneath. My body[44] and neck[48] are laid bare in hunting skins in this cold weather. I lack some mark[49] of my standing with the fort to make my young men listen to my words to be good to the whites and hunt. If you wish many robes, recollect the young men are hunters and can not kill buffalo without ammunition.[50] The women have hard work dressing skins; their arms are sore; some beads and vermilion[51] would give them strength; and the tobacco[52] you will no doubt furnish me will be smoked by all my people in talking over matters for the good of the fort and in the councils for hunting. I know you are a chief and good father to your red children and will never refuse them what they ask. Remember our hardships, dangers, and exposures in hunting for you. Open your heart and lengthen your measure and reduce,[53] if ever so little, on the prices of trade. Indians suffer for everything; even the tobacco chewed and spit out by the whites is picked up and smoked by them. Your store is large; let your heart be so also. Let me be able to sing your praise;[54] your name is in the clouds; your father was a chief; you will be greater than he. Listen to the words of your poor friend. I have spoken.” [47] Leggings wanted. [48] Shirt and neck handkerchief desired. [49] Medal or gorget. [50] Hint for general present of ammunition to the party. [51] Some to each woman. [52] An intimation that tobacco is not only wanted but plenty of it. [53] This is an invariable request, and would be so no difference how long the prices were. [54] Whoever makes a liberal present to Indians has his name sung around the camp or fort in a song of thanks. The Sioux make better speeches and use more figures than the Assiniboin, but none of the many we have heard among both and other nations are as replete with metaphor as is represented by fiction writers. Either the Indians treated of by them were of a superior order or the speeches have been liberally interpreted. The foregoing presents their style as it now exists among all the upper Missouri tribes, though subjects of more importance, such as war, peace, or religious rites, are accompanied by a proportionate earnestness of oratory and boldness of gesture. They do not pride themselves on making fine or flowery speeches, but bold, pointed, and sensible ones, and, if begging be the object, will descend to the grossest flattering of their auditor, and vainness of their own merits. PICTURE WRITING