SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 87 



preach of white men. " No wonder," said he, " the whites 

 drive us every year further and further before them, from 

 the sea to the JVIississippi. They spread like oil on a blan- 

 ket ; and we melt like snow before the sun. If things do not 

 greatly change, the red men will disappear very shortly." 

 How well-founded this apprehension has proved, and how 

 rapidly the prediction has been verified, let the experience 

 of every traveller to the west attest. 



Little Turtle died in the year 1804 or 1805, and his death 

 at that time is very much to be regretted, as the attach- 

 ment which he had contracted for the American nation had 

 become so great, that it is presumed he would have used 

 his influence, which was very great, to prevent the Indians 

 of that vicinity from joining the British during the late 

 war ; and no doubt can be entertained that a peaceful 

 policy, if supported by a man of his weight, would have 

 prevailed. 



The naturalists to the expedition being aware that few 

 or no skulls of Indians exist in the collections of our At- 

 lantic cities, were desirous of procuring some, and among 

 others they would have been pleased to obtain that of this 

 celebrated chief It would, in their opinion, have been in- 

 teresting to observe, whether the examination of this head 

 would have afforded any support to the new, and as yet 

 uncertain, science of Phrenology. The principal traits 

 which have been collected of the character of Little Tur- 

 tle, might have been compared with the developements of 

 the brain, and this comparison would perhaps have led to 

 some interesting results. They were likewise in hopes, 

 that by disintering it they might have rescued, (for a while 

 at least,) from final decay, the head of one of the greatest 

 men Avho, to our knowledge, have adorned the character of 

 the American aborigines. But upon consulting with the 



