■f" source op ST. Peter's river. 181 



village in the vicinity. We crossed Rock river just above 

 the mouth of the Kishwake, the same stream which we 

 had passed the day previous, but which, from its great in- 

 crease, we scarcely recognised, when we saw it three miles 

 above its mouth, where we were again obliged to cross it. 

 Opposite to the mouth of the Kishwake there is a large 

 island in Rock river. At the lower crossing of the Kish- 

 wake, we passed through an Indian village, designated by 

 the name of the river, and which is inhabited by a mixed 

 race of Potawatomis, Chippewas, Ottawas, Menomones, &c. 

 The chief, who belongs to the first of these nations, was 

 away at the time we were there, and in his absence we saw 

 no person who could converse with us. A lad, who was in 

 the village, and who, as we were told, was the son of the late 

 chief, when spoken to, made no answer, but seemed to be 

 very stupid ; although the oth^ Indians did not appear 

 destitute of intelligence, yet not one of them could converse 

 with us. This indeed is one of the characteristics of Indians. 

 The business of receiving and replying to speeches belongs 

 to the chief, it is one of his proudest prerogatives, and it is 

 one in which he chiefly endeavours to excel ; while the 

 other Indians, seeming to consider it as no concern of theirs, 

 pay no attention to it,'and are always at a loss, when spoken 

 to by those whom they are accustomed to treat with re- 

 spect or with regard ; but with the traders, whom they ri- 

 dicule, and for whom they openly profess the most mani- 

 fest contempt, they will join in conversation very freely 

 and familiarly. After having crossed Rock river, we stop- 

 ped to dine on the high bank which confines it on the west 

 side, and were not a little amused at the apparent delight 

 with which the little Indian boy, who had brought the canoe 

 to us from Kishwake village up Rock river^ partook of the 

 bread and bacon which we gave him ; it really seemed as 



