SOURCE OF ST. PETER's RIVER. 273 



the Chippewas, on the river of the same name ; he had 

 sent out some of his warriors to scout, and thought it in- 

 cumbent on him to remain and watch over his band ; but 

 as our party was ascending in the direction in which his 

 warriors had gone, he said he would proceed with us 

 that far. The gentlemen were interested by the apparent 

 calmness with which he spoke of the approach of his ene- 

 mies. No consternation prevailed in the village; the men 

 were, it is true, all painted, as for war, and a number of 

 them were absent ; but the old chief was lying down with 

 the greatest unconcern ; his preparations for departure 

 were, however, soon made, and he accompanied the party 

 in the boat ; his son-in-law and another Indian paddling 

 his canoe in the rear. Wapasha spoke of the advantages 

 of the arts and agriculture ; of his wish to see them in- 

 troduced ; he expressed his desire to accept the invitation, 

 given him by the Indian agent, to accompany him to the 

 seat of government, as he was anxious to see how every 

 thing was managed among white men. One of the ob- 

 jects of which he spoke with the greatest rapture was the 

 steam-boat, which had ascended the river in the spring, 

 and which he considered as a wonderful invention. We 

 were told that when this boat had come up, he was taken 

 on board, and the machine was exhibited to him ; he ap- 

 peared to take great interest in the explanations of it, which 

 were given to him. During Major Long's visit to Wapa- 

 sha's village in IS 17, he witnessed part of a very interest- 

 ing ceremony known by the name of the bear dance. " It 

 is usual to perform it when a young man is anxious to 

 bring himself into notice ; and it is considered as a sort of 

 initiation into the state of manhood. On the ground, where 

 it was performed, there was a pole supporting a kind of 

 flag, made of a fawn's skin dressed with the hair on ; upon 

 Vol.. I. 35 



