note. Of all entertaining and intelligent explorers of the of the glowing rays, mantling the tree tops and rustling present “Far West," namely, the Rocky Mountains, branches, seemed to gladden every heart.' They pitchand the regions beyond,-commend us to Captain Bon-ed their camp in the grove, kindled their fires, partook neville, of the United States Army; especially, with merrily of their rude fare, and resigned themselves to Geoffry Crayon to sketch the history of his travels for the sweetest sleep they had enjoyed since their outset him. Having been deeply interested by hearing the upon the prairies. Mounting higher and higher toCaptain recite the incidents and adventures of several wards the mountains, they began to see the black-tailed years spent by him in a most romantic and spirit-stir- deer, a large kind, frequenting mountainous countries. ring exploration of that region, Mr. Irving (nothing From a commanding peak, Captain Bonneville saw the loth, it may be conjectured) took upon him the task of surrounding plains, as far as his eye could reach, blackreducing those written and oral narratives to an at- ened by countless herds of buffalo. Near this place is tractive form. Adding to these, much gathered else- a natural curiosity called the Chimney. From the top where, he produced the two volumes mentioned in our of a conical mound four hundred feet high, rises a shaft or column of nearly petrified clay, with alternate layers of red and white sandstone; one hundred and twenty feet high. It is visible thirty miles off. The scenery grew at every step more wild and striking. Towards the 26th of June, flocks of the ahsahta, or bighorn, occurred. This animal, sometimes called the mountain sheep, frequents cliffs and crags; 'bounding like goats from crag to crag; often trooping along the lofty shelves of the mountains, under the guidance of some venerable patriarch with horns twisted lower than his muzzle; and sometimes peering over the edge of a precipice, so high that they appear scarce bigger than crows.' The bighorn has the short hair and the shape of a deer; but the head and horns of a sheep and its flesh is excellent food. Our adventurers were now in the territory ranged over by the Crow Indians: 'one of the most roving, warlike, crafty, and predatory tribes of the mountains; horse-stealers of the first order, and easily provoked to acts of sanguinary violence.' The hunters one day came galloping in, waving their caps, and giving the alarm cry of "Indians! Indians!" Instant preparation was made for battle; the Captain leading on, slowly and cautiously. CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE went, with the sanction of the United States' government; but all that it gave him was a poor leave of absence from his military duties, from August, 1831, till October, 1833; the whole enterprise to be at his own cost. With the object of exploring the country, he combined that of trapping beaver and shooting buffalo: and such were the dangers and difficulties in prospect, from the distance and character of the region to be traversed, the jealousy of rival hunting companies (English and American), and the hostility of Savage tribes; that a strong corps, well armed, equipped, and provisioned, was indispensable. Captain B. was so successful in his preparations, as to set out early in May, 1832, from Fort Osage, on the Missouri, with one hundred and ten stout and active By observations taken about this time, Capt. B. asmen; many of them expert hunters. Instead of pack-certained his latitude to be 41° 47' north; and his horses, usually employed in such journeys, twenty longitude 102° 57' west of Greenwich, or 25° 57' west wagons carried the baggage. The advantages of this of Washington. plan were almost from the first counterbalanced by the necessity it produced, of bridging, or digging roads, over innumerable deep ravines cut through the prairies by winter torrents: and soon after attaining the high, rugged tract which may be regarded as the base of the Rocky Mountains, the dryness of the atmosphere so contracted and loosened the joints of the wheels, while the ground became so impracticable for wagons, that they were necessarily thrown aside. Our adventurers, from near the mouth of the Kansas River, struck off "In a little while he beheld the Crow warriors emerging from due West; instead of ascending the Missouri, which would have led them more northwardly. Their jour-tial looking fellows, painted and arrayed for war, and mounted among the bluffs. There were about sixty of them; fine marneyings, almost entirely over vast plains more or less undulating, though constantly rising towards the west; sometimes sterile, sometimes rich, and generally destitute of tree or shrub ; brought them, on the 2d of June, to the Nebraska, or Platte River, far above its junction with the Missouri. On the 11th, they reached the fork of the Nebraska; one of its branches coming from the south-west, near the head waters of the Arkansas, the other from the west, where lay the Rocky Mountains. Up this latter they resolved to go. Still ascending the southern prong however for two days, to find a practicable crossing place, they ferried their goods over it (where it was six hundred yards wide) in extempore boats, made by covering the wagon bodies with buffalo hides, besmeared with a compound of tallow and ashes. Thence they passed, over high-rolling prairies, swarming with buffaloes, to the north fork, nine miles distant. On the 17th, they reached a small but beautiful grove, where they heard, with inexpressible delight, the first notes of singing birds that had greeted them since they left Missouri. 'It was a beautiful sunset, and a sight on horses decked out with all kinds of wild trappings. They came prancing along in gallant style, with many wild and dextrous evolutions, for none can surpass them in horsemanship; ments, glaring and sparkling in the morning sunshine, gave and their bright colors, and flaunting and fantastic embellishthem really a striking appearance. "Their mode of approach, to one not acquainted with the tactics and ceremonies of this rude chivalry of the wilderness, had an air of direct hostility. They came galloping forward in a body as if about to make a furious charge, but, when close at hand, opened to the right and left, and wheeled in wide circles round the travellers, whooping and yelling like maniacs. "This done, their mock fury sank into a calm, and the chief approaching the captain, who had remained warily drawn up, ed to him the hand of friendship. The pipe of peace was though informed of the pacific nature of the manœuvre, extendsmoked, and now all was good fellowship." After some further friendly intercourse, the parties separated, and continued their respective marches. The elevation now attained, had become manifest by "the effect of the dryness and rarefaction of the atmosphere upon his waggons. The wood-work shrunk ; the paint boxes of the wheels were continually working out, and it was necessary to support the spokes by stout props to prevent their falling asun. der. The travellers were now entering one of those great steppes of the far west, where the prevalent aridity of the atmosphere renders the country unfit for cultivation. In these regions, there is a fresh sweet growth of grass in the spring, but it is scanty and short, and parches up in the course of the summer, so that there is none for the hunters to set fire to in the autumn. It is a common observation, that' above the forks of the Platte the grass does not burn.' The great elevation of these plains, and the dryness of the atmosphere, will tend to retain these immense regions in a state of pristine wildness. "In the course of a day or two more, the travellers entered that wild and broken tract of the Crow country called the Black hills, and here their journey became toilsome in the extreme. Rug ged steeps and deep ravines incessantly obstructed their progress, so that a great part of the day was spent in the painful toil of digging through banks, filling up ravines, forcing the waggons up the most forbidding ascents, or swinging them with ropes down the face of dangerous precipices. The shoes of their horses were worn out, and their feet injured by the rugged and stony roads. The travellers were annoyed also by frequent but brief storms, which would come hurrying over the hills, or through the mountain defiles, rage with great fury for a short time, and then pass off, leaving every thing calm and serene again." We will not trace their route minutely; far less attempt to abridge the interesting account of its varied incidents. Suffice it, to give a faint outline of the movements of Captain Bonneville himself; without regard to those of the various bands or brigades' of hunters, trappers, and explorers, detached by him from time to time. trout. His whole intercourse with this tribe leaves it doubtful whether the reader should most pity their wretched poverty (the consequence of their total want of energy), or admire their docility, and kindness of nature. At the first meeting, they had been hunting, but all their provisions were exhausted, except a few dried salmon; and they were nearly famished. Yet, finding the white men equally in want, they offered to share even this meagre pittance; and frequently repeated the offer, with an eagerness that left no doubt of their sincerity.' On the 28th of September, Captain B. halted, to go into winter quarters. Among the twenty men whom he kept with him (sending out the rest in detachments, to hunt), extreme scarcity prevailed, as the buffalo had been driven away by the Indians. Hunger often had to be appeased with roots, or the flesh of wolves and muskrats. Some Nez Percés families who joined them exhibited a still greater degree of suffering. They had not a morsel of meat or fish; nor other food, 'excepting roots, wild rose buds, the barks of certain plants, and other vegetable productions.' Yet they neither murmured nor complained; and even gave a part of their poor supplies to our travellers. These rude and poor people had a deep infusion of religious principle. They refused to join a hunting party of Captain Bonneville's men, on a day which the Great Spirit had made sacred; even though starvation imminently threatened them. And their honesty, and purity of purpose, were truly extraordinary. They had derived, perhaps from California, perhaps from Canada, some idea of Christian doctrine, which had fixed deeply in their minds, and operated strongly upon their conduct. To these gleams of knowledge and faith, Captain B. added largely by his instructions; which were imbibed with greediness by his docile disciples. In December, Captain B. was induced by the scarcity of provision, and the hope of successful hunting, to go southward again, as far as Snake River; where, as he heard, deer, beaver, and buffalo all abounded. He remained in that region till July, 1833, trapping many beavers, and killing immense numbers of buffalo; when, breaking up the camp, he returned to the Colorado, near which, in caches, or subterranean hiding arrival in the country. As his route places, he had concealed his surplus stores, on his first Leaving the Nebraska, or main branch of the Platte, he crossed over to the Sweet-Water, a more southerly prong of that river: and on the 20th of July, caught a near and distinct view of the Rocky Mountains. It was that part of them, called the Wind River Mountains. Passing around the south-eastern extremity of these, he, on the 24th of July, left the Sweet-Water; and in seven hours and a half more, arrived upon a stream running south-westwardly, containing very fine This he knew to be a tributary to the Pacific: and it proved to be a branch of the Colorado of the West, by the Indians called Seeds-ke-dee, or Green River; falling into the Gulf of California. On this river he remained encamped, hunting, and acquainting himself with the country, its Indian inhabitants and its white visitants, until the 22d of August; when he moved northward, towards Salmon River, a branch of Snake River, which by uniting with Clarke's, forms the Columbia. His baggage was carried in packs, three to a mule, or pack-horse. The route lay along the western, or rather south-western side, of the Wind River Mountains; which were capped with perpetual snows. Indeed, the next year, Captain B. ascended one peak of them, which he supposed the highest in North America. But it is doubtless exceeded by one in the more northwardly part of the Rocky Mountains; recently ascertained by trigonometry and the barometer to be 25,000 feet high overtopping Chimborazo, and any other known mountain, except the highest of the Himaleh chain. With the Wind River Mountains on his right, and varying scenes of knobs, forests, prairies, and an may here mention a mode of defence on the open prairie, which immense lava plain spreading south of Snake River, on we have heard from a veteran in the Indian trade. When a parhis left, Captain B. pursued his difficult and perilousty of trappers is on a journey with a convoy of goods or peltries, march until, in September, he reached the waters of Salmon river, and the roaming ground (rather than the domain) of the Nez Percés (or Pierced Nose) Indians* Called by the trappers, Nepercy Indians. "lay through what was considered the most perilous part of all this region of dangers, he took all his measures with military skill, and observed the strictest circumspection. When on the march, a small scouting party was always thrown in the advance, to reconnoitre the whole country through which they were to pass. The encampments were selected with the greatest care, and a continual watch was kept up night and day. The horses were brought in and picketed at night, and at daybreak a party was sent out to scour the neighborhood for half a shelter to a lurking foe. When all was reported safe, the horses mile round, beating up every grove and thicket that could give were cast loose and turned out to graze. Were such precautions generally observed by traders and hunters, we should not so often hear of parties being surprised by the Indians. "Having stated the military arrangements of the captain, we every man has three pack-horses under his care; each horse laden with three packs. Every man is provided with a picket the horses. The trappers proceed across the prairie in a long with an iron head, a mallet, and hobbles, or leathern fetters for line; or sometimes three parallel lines, sufficiently distant from each other to prevent the packs from interfering. At an alarm, when there is no covert at hand, the line wheels, soas to bring the front to the rear and form a circle. All then dismount, drive their pickets into the ground in the centre, fasten the horses to them, and hobble their fore legs, so that, in case of alarm, they cannot break away. They then unload them, and dispose of their packs as breast works on the periphery of the circle; each man having nine packs behind which to shelter himself. In this promptly formed fortress, they await the assault of the enemy, and are enabled to set large bands of Indians at defiance." ed a village of the lower Nez Percés; by whom they were treated with a kindness even greater than that which they had received the previous winter from their 'cousins,' the Upper Nez Percés. ceding September, to cross Wind River mountains, the reader's credulity is heavily taxed by the narrative of ravines and precipices passed by unshod horses; and in several other parts of the captain's enterprise, one is puzzled to perceive how those poor beasts could subsist, and travel with heavy burthens, upon no food save twigs, and bunches of grass growing out of the snow or found by raking it away. But now, all former marvels of this kind recur, combined; and with increased Captain Bonneville's precautions made his march magnitude. The cliffs and crags up and down which safe. In the Colorado country, a general meeting took horses and men clambered, amid deep snows and over place, not only of all his brigades, but of some rival sheets of ice, make credible whatever is told of mule bands of trappers, connected with the American, and journeys over the Andes, or even the startling wonders Rocky Mountain Fur Companies; and several weeks of Captain Riley's Narrative. And the scanty fare were spent in hilarity and convivial enjoyment. His upon which they lived and labored, reminds us of next movement was back to the navigable part of the knight-errant times, when many days often elapsed, Bighorn River, a large southern branch of the Yellow-without any food taken by knight or steed. Bread stone, itself one of the main prongs of the Missouri; does not appear to have been tasted by Capt. B. during to send homeward the furs he had collected. West of his three years' toils. At length our four travellers reachGreen River, and southwest from the camp, lay a large salt water lake, called in the map attached to Mr. Irving's book, 'Lake Bonneville.' It is said to be 150 miles long, and 50 wide: and to be situated one mile and three fourths, above the sea. Desirous to ascertain Some amusing incidents here occurred. The Indian the whole truth concerning this lake, the captain style of naming is well known. As a party of Sacs equipped forty men, under the command of his lieuten- and Foxes lately at Washington, are said to have beant, Mr. Walker; with instructions to go, trapping, stowed upon a high functionary there, the sobriquet of around its margin, to record in a journal everything The Little Fox; so the Lower Nez Percés, observing worth noting that might present itself, and to make Captain Bonneville's baldness, called him the "Bald maps of the country. He then set out upon his jour-Chief:" and they were exceedingly puzzled and curious ney to the Bighorn. Below the American Falls, which to know whether he had been scalped in war, or enare just after that river has passed through the Bighorn joyed a natural exemption from that mischief. Againmountains (a sort of eastern vanguard to the Rocky they fed him plentifully on roots, their own usual food; mountains), his peltries, and those of some rival trap-but he and his train pined for dried salmon and venison, pers who accompanied him, were committed to boats made by stretching buffalo hides over wooden frames; and these were launched upon the stream which was to carry them on its long and winding course to St. Louis. Captain B. then returned, with those of his men who remained, to the Colorado; hunting by the way, and expending much time with extreme toil in a vain attempt to shorten their route by crossing the Wind River mountains, instead of going round their south-eastern end, as before. After struggling with difficulties which almost startle the reader to contemplate; climbing rocks and peaks presenting every variety of ruggedness and every degree of elevation; it was found impossible for men, much less for horses, to proceed; and regaining the eastern side of the chain, they pursued their former, more level route, to the camp and buried stores upon Green river. We omit various movements, around the Wind River mountains, "So saying, he made a signal, and forthwith a beautiful young to Bear river (falling into Lake Bonneville); and to horse, of a brown color, was led, prancing and snorting, to the the Portneuf, a branch of Snake river, where, in No-place, Captain Bonneville was suitably affected by this mark of vember 1833, the party encamped for the winter. Hence the captain took the bold resolution to visit the lower part of the Columbia, on which stands fort Vancouver, held by the Hudson's Bay Company. He began this perilous journey on Christmas day; with "The worthy captain having now, as he thought, balanced this only three men, all on horseback. Their general course little account of friendship, was about to shift his saddle to this was nearly westward, down the southern side of Snake noble gift-horse, when the affectionate patriarch plucked him river; through forests, over bleak prairies, and moun- by the sleeve, and introduced to him a whimpering, whining, tains both lofty and rugged. All former hardships and leathern-skinned old squaw, that might have passed for an Egyptian mummy, without drying. This,' said he, 'is my difficulties were trivial, compared with those which at-wife; she is a good wife-I love her very much. She loves the tended this journey. In the vain attempt of the pre-horse--she loves him a great deal-she will cry very much at which they had reason to believe were in secret store. To draw out these, he adopted this plan: Having a trusty plaid, somewhat tarnished by years of hard service, but still richly enough variegated to excite great admiration among his simple hosts, (especially the squaws,) he cut it into numerous strips; which he made into Turkish-fashioned turbans, and other fanciful head-gear. These, judiciously distributed among such of the women-kind as seemed of most consequence,' speedily brought 'abundance of dried salmon and deers' hearts.' The next laughable occurrence had a mixture of the provoking. The aged chief of the village had been particularly kind to the captain: and, as they were about to part, took him aside to shew him, both by words and deeds, how much he loved him. He had resolved to give him a fine horse. friendship; but his experience in what is proverbially called Indian giving,' made him aware that a parting pledge was necessary on his own part, to prove that this friendship was reciprocated. He accordingly placed a handsome rifle in the hands of the venerable chief; whose benevolent heart was evidently touched and gratified by this outward and visible sign of amity. losing him---I do not know how I shall comfort her--and that makes my heart very sore.' "What could the worthy captain do, to console the tender-hearted old squaw; and, peradventure, to save the venerable patriarch from a curtain lecture? He bethought himself of a pair of earbobs; it was true, the patriarch's better-half was of an age and appearance that seemed to put personal vanity out of the question but when is personal vanity extinct? The moment he produced the glittering earbobs, the whimpering and whining of the sempiternal beldame were at an end. She eagerly placed the precious baubles in her ears, and, though as ugly as the Witch of Endor, went off with a sideling gait, and coquettish air, as though she had been a perfect Semiramis. "In a few moments, every spring had its jovial knot of hard drinkers, with tin cup in hand, indulging in a mock carouse; quaffing, pledging, toasting, bandying jokes, singing drinking songs, and uttering peals of laughter, until it seemed as if their imaginations had given potency to the beverage, and cheated them into a fit of intoxication. Indeed, in the excitement of the moment, they were loud and extravagant in their commendations of the mountain tap;' elevating it above every beverage produced from hops or malt. It was a singular and fantastic scene; suited to a region where every thing is strange and peculiar :-These groups of trappers, and hunters, and Indians, with their wild costumes, and wilder countenances; their boisterous gaiety, and reckless air; quaffing, and making merry round these sparkling fountains; while beside them lay their weapons, ready to be snatched up for instant service. Painters are fond of representing banditti, at their rude and picturesque carousals; but here were groups, still more rude and pictual-resque; and it needed but a sudden onset of Blackfeet, and a quick transition from a fantastic revel to a furious melée, to have rendered this picture of a trapper's life complete. The beer frolic, however, passed off without any untoward circumstance; and, unlike most drinking bouts, left neither headache, nor heartache, behind." "The captain had now saddled his newly acquired steed, and his foot was in the stirrup, when the affectionate patriarch again stepped forward, and presented to him a young Pierced-nose, who had a peculiarly sulky look. 'This,' said the venerable chief, 'is my son he is very good; a great horseman-he ways took care of this very fine horse--he brought him up from a colt, and made him what he is. He is very fond of this fine horse he loves him like a brother--his heart will be very heavy when this fine horse leaves the camp.' "What could the captain do, to reward the youthful hope of this venerable pair, and comfort him for the loss of his fosterbrother, the horse? He bethought him of a hatchet, which Another hunting season, followed by another journey might be spared from his slender stores. No sooner did he place to a still lower point than before upon the Columbia, the implement in the hands of young hopeful, than his counte-in hopes of negotiating a connexion in trade with the nance brightened up, and he went off rejoicing in his hatchet, natives-which hopes were again foiled by the jealousy to the full as much as did his respectable mother in her earbobs. "The captain was now in the saddle, and about to start, when the affectionate old patriarch stepped forward, for the third time, and, while he laid one hand gently on the mane of the horse, held up the rifle in the other. 'This rifle,' said he, shall be my great medicine. I will hug it to my heart--I will always love it, for the sake of my good friend, the bald-headed chief. But a rifle, by itself, is dumb--I cannot make it speak. If 1 had a little powder and ball, I would take it out with me, and would now and then shoot a deer: and when I brought the meat home to my hungry family, I would say-this was killed by the rifle of my friend, the bald-headed chief, to whom I gave that very fine horse.' "There was no resisting this appeal: the captain, forthwith furnished the coveted supply of powder and ball; but at the same time, put spurs to his very fine gift-horse, and the first trial of his speed was to get out of all further manifestation of friendship, on the part of the affectionate old patriarch and his insinu. ating family." and influence of the Hudson's Bay Company-brought the month of November. Besides the adventures of Captain Bonneville and his immediate companions, passed over thus lightly by us, interesting episodes are formed of the expedition sent to explore the great salt lake (lake Bonneville); and of a party associated with one Captain Wyeth, of Boston, in various enterprises worthy of Yankee boldness, lake wholly failed in that object. They wandered into The explorers of the salt California; and there, amongst the Spanish settlers, wasted the time and substance which they ought to have employed in Captain Bonneville's service. and talent for contrivance. Having wintered on Bear River, he, in April, 1835, removed to the Colorado; and thence to Wind River, which runs from the mountains of that name, eastward, into the Bighorn, a tributary of the Yellowstone. There, in June, a general rendezvous took place, of all his remaining forces; and they set out homeward. On the 22d of August, they reached the frontier settlements. Through the remainder of the tribe, our adventurers experienced more solid and disinterested kindness. The journey was pleasant and easy, to Fort WallahWallah, on the Columbia, about a hundred miles from its mouth, and not far below the junction of Clarke's with Snake River: where they arrived on the 4th of "Here, according to his own account, his cavalcade might March, 1834. It was held by the Hudson's Bay Com-have been taken for a procession of tatterdemalion savages; for pany whose superintendant there, with the jealousy the men were ragged almost to nakedness, and had contracted characterizing all the competitors for the peltry trade a wildness of aspect during three years of wandering in the of that region, refused to Captain B. all supplies or duced a magical metamorphosis. Hats of the most ample brim wilderness. A few hours in a populous town, however, profacilities for further exploration, or for opening any and longest nap; coats with buttons that shone like mirrors, commerce with the natives. He therefore set out in and pantaloons of the most liberal plenitude, took place of the two days, upon his return: and, after a journey, less well-worn trapper's equipments; and the happy wearers might toilsome and distressful 'tis true than the outward one, be seen strolling about in all directions, scattering their silver like sailors just from a cruise." but still abounding in perils and sufferings, he rejoined his main body, on the Portneuf River, about the middle of May. In a curious plain of white clay, near Bear River, are many mineral springs, variously impregnated, Several of them have the appearance, and even (with a little aid from fancy) the taste, of beer; containing it is said, a strong carbonate of soda. Though there was hourly danger of an attack from the Blackfeet, the men, in passing these springs, resolved to have a sham drunken frolic. Everywhere through his two volumes, Mr. Irving has interspersed numberless incidents and descriptions, which, graced by his inimitable manner, render the work deeply engaging. The costumes, equipments, and characters, of the several kinds of trappers, and tribes of Indians; sketches of scenery; geographic and geological descriptions; narratives of hardships, battles, and escapes; anecdotes illustrative and entertaining; keep the blood of any man who has aught of Sinbad's or Robinson Crusoe's roving propensity, in a constant fermentation; and render him full fain, like Captain Bonneville, to make his "bow to the splendors and gaieties of civilized life, and plunge again amidst the hardships and perils of the wilderness." 'a game bird" (applied to a man); “ 'game feather;" "game qualities;" &c. &c. Again; does Mr. I. design a playful mockery of Sir Piercie Shafton, or is it downright serious affectation, when he twice uses the verb All the Indians of the Upper Missouri, and of the dominate, for overlook, or overtop? One more cavil, and Columbia region, hunt and fight on horseback; and we have done. The book seems to us too minute, and seem to be the best riders in the world. A frequent over-embellished. There are too many details of perfeat is the one described as performed by a Crow war-sonal adventure; too much recital of unimportant rior, when he and his brethren had driven a band of events; too many high-colored delineations of local their enemies, the Blackfeet, into a thicket, whence the scenery. A travelling artist would not have charged aim was to dislodge them. Force having been found his portfolio with more landscapes; and when it is ineffectual, the Crow 'Brave' thought to provoke them considered, how far the pen falls short of the pencil in out. He therefore 'advanced alone, with that martial conveying just images of such scenes to the mind; the air and equestrian grace for which the tribe is noted. indiscreetness of a writer's attempting them so freWhen within an arrow's flight of the thicket, he loos-quently, is manifest. Throughout the work, there is so ened his rein, urged his horse to full speed, threw his much circumstantial and apparently fanciful garniture, body on the opposite side, so as to hang by but one leg that a shade of discredit is thrown upon the verity of and present no mark to the foe; in this way, he swept Captain Bonneville's facts. The reader half suspects along in front of the thicket, launching his arrows from that he is reading another "Conquest of Granada;” a under the neck of his steed. Then regaining the tale, 'founded on fact:' instead of a true narrative of saddle, he wheeled round, and returned whooping and a plain and sensible man's travels through an interestscoffing to his companions, who received him with yellsing country. Divested of these excrescences, yet reof applause.' The same was done by several others: taining all becoming ornament, the work might have but the Blackfeet were not to be tempted from their been of but half its present size, and have had thrice its covert. present number of gratified readers. Two most unwelcome conclusions force themselves upon the mind, in reading this book; both of them, opinions long held by many; but ascribed by many also to the jaundiced vision of a morbid philanthropy. First, that the aborigines of this continent owe most of their vices to contact with Europeans: second, that fourfifths, at least, of our wars with the Indians, are attributable to the perfidy or violence of white men. The first conclusion is demonstrated by the views here presented, of the guileless kindness, and the temperance, of those tribes who have had little or no intercourse with the whites. The second is confirmed by at least three glaring instances of blended treachery and cruelty, practised by men either connected with Captain Bonneville, or engaged in pursuits like his, at the same time. One of these instances was the shooting of a chief, on his advancing, alone, to meet a flag of truce borne by his murderer. Another was the burning alive of several Indian captives, because their countrymen would not restore some stolen horses. One such act might pardonably be deemed, by unlettered savages, justification for a hundred retaliatory atrocities. Before we part with Mr. Irving, a duty remains to be done, for which no thanks are to be expected. Censures are to be dealt out. But in what writer is it half so important that faults of style should be noted for his correction, as in the most admired, and therefore the most likely to be copied, of all living Americans ?Nowhere, save in the effusions of Mr. Charles Phillips, can a more enormous instance be found of alliteration, that poorest rhetorical artifice,-than in the following phrases, employed in shewing that "a man who bestrides a horse, must be essentially different from a man who cowers in a canoe." The former is "heedless of hardship; daring of danger; prodigal of the present;"&c. How far beneath Mr. Irving is such a jingle! Again; in the two volumes, there are probably a dozen applications of a single pet phrase; and that, drawn from the slang dictionary. It is the word game, used thus—“ his game look;" "a game warrior;" THE PILGRIM. "Wherefore, put on the whole armor of God.”—Eph. 5, 13-19. Arm thee, pilgrim! 'tis no strife Arm thee, pilgrim! but can earth Arm thee, pilgrim! they advance! Baffled oft, but not subdued; |