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Show lO(J tion ;t they required till to ·nlorrow to consillcr of it; this afternoon they had a great game of the cross on the prairie between the Sioux on the one side, and the Puant and Re'y nards on the other. The ball is made of some hard substance and covered with leather, the cross sticks are round and net work, with handles of three feet long. The parties being ready, and bets agreed upon, (, ometimes to the amount of some thousand dollars) the goals arc set up on the prairie at the distance of half a mile. The ball is thrown up in the middle, and each party strives to drive it to the opposite goal ; and when either party gains the first rubber, which is driving it quick round the post, the ball is again taken to the centre, the ground chaug~d, and the contest renewed ; and this is continued until one side gains four times, which decides the bet. It is an interesting sight to see two or three hundred naked savages contending on the plain who shall bear ofF the palm of victory; as he who drives the ball round the goal is much shouted at by his companions. It sometimes happens that one catchrs the ball in his racket, and depending on his speed endeavors to carry it to the goal, and when he finds him elf too closely pursued, he hurls it with great force and· dcxt 'rity to an amazing distance, where there arc always flankers of both parties ready to receive it ; it seldom touches the ground, but is sometimes kept in the air for hours before either party can gain the victory. In the game which I witnessed, the Sioux were victorious, n1ore I believe, from the superiority of their skill in throwing the ball, than by their swiftness, for I thought the Puants and Reynards the swiftest runners. I made a written demand of the magistrates to take depositions con· cerning the late murders. t I-Iad a private conversation with Wabash a. t See appendix to part I. (No. IZl page z6 • .t See appendix to part I. lNo. 13j page z9. TO TilE SOURCES OF THE .:\1ISS1 SSIP PT. iO I 2l.rt April, Monday.-Was sent for by La F cuitle, and had a long ::md interesting conversation with him, in which he spol~ c of the general jealousy of his nation towards their chiefs ; and that although he knew it might occasion some of the Sioux displeasure, he did not h e~itate to declare that he looked on the N ez Corbeau, as the man of most sense in their nation ; and that he believed it would be generally acceptable if he was r ein 'latcd in hi· rank. Upon my return 1 was sent for by the R c.l Tbunder, chief of the Yanctongs, the most sava~c band of the Sioux. lie was prepared with the most elegant pipes and robes I ever saw; and shortly he declared, " That white " blood had never been shed in the village of the Yat:c" tongs, even when nun was permitted ; that Mr. M ur" doch Cameron arrived at his village last au tumn; that " he invited him to eat, gave him corn as a binl; that he " (Cameron) informed him of the prohibition of rum, " and was the only person who afterwards sold it in the " village." After this I had a council with the Puants. Spent the evening with Mr. Wilmot, one of the best informed and most gentlemanly n1an in the place. 22d April, Tuesday.-Ilcld a council with the Sioux and Puants, the latter of whom d ·~livered up their medals and flags. Prepared to depart tomorrow. 23d April, JtVedncrday.-Aftcr closing n1y accounts, &c. at half past l2 o'clock left the prairie, at the lower end of it was saluted by 17 lodges of the Puant . Met a barge, by which I received a letter fron1 my lady. Further on, met one batteaux and one canoe of traders. Passed one trader's camp. Arrived at Mr. Dubuque's at 10 o'clock at night, found some traders encamped at the entrance with 40 or SO Indians, obtained some information from Mr. D. and requested him to write me on certain Roint~. After we had boiled our victuals, I divided my |