3o2 EXPEDITION TO THE 



next to the entrance. We took our stations near them, on 

 the same bed-frame, while his warriors seated themselves on 

 the frame opposite to us ; as soon as we entered, the chief 

 And his son rose, and shook hands with each of us. The 

 calumet of peace was placed in the centre of the cabin ; 

 the bowl resting on the ground, and the stem supported in 

 ■an inclined position by a forked stick, planted in the ground 

 for the purpose. The chief then rose, shook hands with 

 the party a second time, raised the pipe from the ground, 

 and holding the bowl towards himself with the stem ele- 

 vated, he commenced a speech which was delivered with 

 much vehemence ; the purport of it was an acknowledg- 

 ment of satisfaction, at seeing a party sent by his Great 

 Father, (the President,) and a general expression of good 

 will and respect towards the American government; he 

 inquired as to the nature of the expedition and its object. 

 Very often during his speech, the commencement of a 

 sentence was in the concluding terms of the preceding one; 

 the warriors, at each sentence, testified their approbation 

 of his sentiments, in deep-toned responses, sounding like 

 the syllables ah-hah^ pronounced strongly, and in a nasal 

 and guttural manner. Major Long stated, in reply, the na- 

 ture and object of the expedition, the views of the govern- 

 ment in sending it among the Indians, the friendly dispo- 

 sition of the President towards all his red children, &c. 

 With all this the chief appeared well pleased, as also with 

 the presents of tobacco, powder, shot, &c. which were 

 given to him ; but he stated that his warriors had been 

 much distressed of late, by the loss of numerous friends and 

 relatives, on which account their faces were painted black, 

 that they had not a single drop of spirits to comfort them 

 in their afflictions, and " hoped that their Father would give 

 thejn some of their Great Father's milk to gladden their 



