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Show JOUHNAL OF A VOYAGE not be on a permanent footing; and upon this I take them to be neither so brave nor generous, as the Sioux , who, in all their transaction~, appear to be candid and brave, whereas the Chipeways are suspicious, consequently treacherous, and of course cowards. 16t!J Marcb, Sunday.-R eceived three deer from our hunting camp. Exanuned trees for canoes. I7 tb Marcb, Monday.-Left the fort with tny interpreter and Roy, in order to visit Thomas, the Fols Avoin chief, who was encamped, with six lodges of his nation, about 20 miles below us, on a little river which emptic~ into the Missis~ippi on the W. side, a little above Clear river. On our way down, killed one goose, wounded another, and a deer that the dogs had driven into an air hole ; hung our game on the trees. Arrived at the creek, took out on it ; ascended three or four miles on one bank, and descended on the other. Killed another goose. Struck the Mississippi below Encamped at our encampment of the of October, when we ascended the river. Ate our goose for su;'per. It snowed all day, and at night a very severe storn1 arose. It may be imagined that we spent a very disagreeable njght without shelter, aud but one blanket each. I Bt/; Nfarc!J, Tucsday.-W e marched, determined to find the lodges. Met an Indian, whose track we purs u~d, through almost impenetrable woods, for about two and a half mil e~, to the camps ; here there was one of the finest s ugar camps I almost ever l-law, the whole of the timber being sugar tree. vV e were conducted to the chief's lodge, who r e{:cived lus in the patriarchal style. He pulled otf my leggins and 1nockint>ons, put me in the best place in his lodge, and offered n1e dry cloarhs. He then presented us with syrup of the maple to Jrink, then asked whether I prefered eating beaver, swan, elk or deer; upon my giving the preference to the first, a large kcttl .. · TO THE SOURCES OF TilE MISSISSIPPI. 81 \vas filled by his wife, of which soup wa maue; this being thick ened with fl our, we had what l then thought a delicious r epast. After we had refreshed our~ ·1 ves, he asked whether we would visit his people, at the other lodges, which we did; and in each were presented wi1h something to eat; by some with a bowl of sugar; others a beaver's tail, &c. After making this tour, we rc .. turned to the chief's lodge, and fo und a birth provided for each of us, of good soft bear skins nicely spr ad, and on mine there was a large feather pillow. I must not here omit to mention an anecdote, which serves to characteriz(· more particularly, their manner s. This in the eyes of the' contracted moralist, would deform my hospi table host into a monster of libertinism; but by a liberal mind would bt: considcreJ, as arising from the hearty generosity of the wilc.l sav:1ge. In the course of the day obser ving a r ing on one of my finger s, he enquired if it was gold; he was told it was the gift of one, with wh01n I shou ld be happy to be at that time ; he seemed to think seriously, and at night told my interpreter, " That perhaps his father" (as they all called me) ' ' felt much grieved for the want of a wo" man; if so, he could furnish him with one." H e was answered, that with us each man had but one wife, and that I considered it strictly 1ny duty, to remain faithful to her. This he thought strange, (he himself having three) and replied that "lie knew some Americans at his nation , ~ ' who had half a dozen wives during the winter." The Interpreter observed that, they were men without character ; but that all our great tnen, had each but one wife. The chief acquiesced, but said he liked better to have a~ many as he pleased. This conversation passing without any appeal to me, as the interpreter knew my mind on those occasions and answered immediately, it did not appear, as an immediate refusal of the woman. Continued snowing very hard all day. Slept very warm. ] , |