The process of preparing the hides for the traders falls to the lot of the squaws. Whilst in the green {203} state, they are stretched and dried as soon as possible; and, on the return of the nation to the village, they are gradually dressed during the intervals of other occupations. The hide is extended upon the ground; and with an instrument resembling an adze, used in the manner of our carpenters, the adherent portions of dried flesh are removed, and the skin rendered much thinner and lighter than before. The surface is then plastered over with the brains or liver of the animal, which have been carefully retained for the purpose, and the warm broth of meat is also poured over it. The whole is then dried, after which it is again subjected to the action of the brains and broth, then stretched in a frame, and while still wet, scraped with pumice-stone, sharp stones, or hoes, until perfectly dry. Should it not yet be sufficiently soft, it is subjected to friction, by pulling it backwards and forwards over a twisted sinew. This generally terminates the operation. On the commencement of the process, the hides are almost invariably each divided longitudinally into two parts, for the convenience of manipulation, and when finished, they are again united by sewing with sinew. This seam is almost always present in the bison robe; but one of the largest that we have seen, is used as a covering for one of our humble beds at this cantonment, and has been dressed entire, being entirely destitute of a seam. The brain of an animal is sufficient to dress its skin, and some persons make two-thirds of it suffice for that purpose. The skins of the elk, deer, and antelopes are dressed in the same manner; but those that are intended to form the covering of their travelling lodges, for leggings, and summer mockasins, &c. have the adze applied to the hairy side in dressing, instead of the flesh side. Great numbers of these robes are annually purchased by the traders; and Mr. Lisa assured us, that {204} he once transported fifteen thousand of them to St. Louis in one year. The Indian form of government is not sufficiently powerful to restrain the young warriors from the commission of many excesses and outrages, which continually involve the nations in protracted wars; and, however well disposed the chiefs may be, and desirous to maintain the most amicable deportment towards the white people, they have not the power to enable them to compel those restless spirits, greedy of martial distinction, to an observance of that pacific demeanour which their precepts inculcate.