An Australian travel writer, touring Canada, was checking out of the Spokane Hilton. As he paid his bill, he asked the manager, "By the way, what's with the Indian chief sitting in the lobby? He's been there ever since I arrived."

"Oh that's 'Big Chief Forget-me Not'," said the manager. "The hotel is built on an Indian reservation and part of the agreement is to allow the chief free use of the premises for the rest of his life. He's known as 'Big Chief Forget-me Not' because of his phenomenal memory. He is 92 and can remember even the slightest detail of his life."

The travel writer took this in and as he was waiting for his cab decided to put the chief's memory to the test. "'ello, mate!" said the Aussie, receiving only a slight nod in return. "What did you have for breakfast on your 21st birthday?"

"Eggs," was the chief's instant reply, without even looking up and indeed the Aussie was impressed. He went off on his travel writing itinerary, right across to the east coast and back, telling others of Big Chief Forget-me Not's great memory.

On his return to the Spokane Hilton six months later, he was surprised to see 'Big Chief Forget-me Not' still sitting in the lobby, fully occupied with whittling away on a stick. Remembering that one local had informed him that 'How' was a more appropriate greeting for an Indian chief rather than ''ello mate", the Aussie greets him with, "How?"

"Scrambled," replied the Chief.