SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 219 



They were afterwards led by their chiefs towards the Butte 

 de Mort on Fox river, and were on the point of being cut off 

 by their enemies, when a peace was effected by the inter- 

 vention of a French officer. Wennebea informed us that 

 his grandfather was in this party ; had it been cut off the 

 nation would, as he thinks, have been totally annihilated ; 

 for these composed the whole force of the Sauks. Their 

 numbers have since considerably increased, as according 

 to his estimate, the nation now consists of upwards of a 

 thousand warriors ; in this number are included all the ac- 

 tive, able-bodied, and middle aged part of the nation. This 

 great accession to their numbers, results principally from 

 their system of adopting their prisoners of war. The real 

 number of warriors of pure Sauk extraction does not, in his 

 opinion, exceed two hundred. The Fox nation, which ap- 

 pears to be very closely united with the Sauk, was at that 

 time likewise much reduced ; it is stated that at one time 

 there were but three lodges of Fox Indians left ; these re- 

 ports are probably in some respects exaggerated. The system 

 of adoption seems to be carried to a great extent, and the 

 duties which it involves are of a peculiar character ; it 

 seems to have in a great measure stifled all patriotism and 

 attachment to their kin. It is true, that men, reputed 

 good among them, ought not to wander from tribe to tribe, 

 nor from village to village ; neither is it prudent for them 

 to do so, for in case of hostilities breaking out, the new 

 comers would always be the first sacrificed. If a man 

 should marry in a different nation from his own, he conti- 

 nues to live with his wife's nation as long as they remain at 

 peace, but should a war be declared he must leave his 

 wife and return to his tribe. This does not, however, ap- 

 ply to one who has been made prisoner; if a captive 

 bo iuloptcd OS one of the nation of his captors, he must for- 



