SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 281 



fies "the first born." She had conceived an attachment for 

 a young hunter who reciprocated it ; they had frequently 

 met, and agreed to an union in which all their hopes 

 centred ; but on applying to her family, the hunter was 

 surprised to find himself denied ; and his claims super- 

 seded by those of a warrior of distinction, who had sued 

 for her. The warrior was a general favourite with the na- 

 tion ; he had acquired a name, by the services which he had 

 rendered to his village when attacked by the Chippewas; 

 yet notwithstanding all the ardour with which he pressed 

 his suit, and the countenance which he received from her 

 parents and brothers, Winona persisted in preferring the 

 hunter. To the usual commendations of her friends in fa- 

 vour of the warrior she replied, that she had made choice 

 of a man who, being a professed hunter, would spend his 

 life with her, and secure to her comfort and subsistence, 

 while the warrior would be constantly absent, intent upon 

 martial exploits. Winona's expostulations were, however, 

 of no avail, and her parents, having succeeded in driving 

 away her lover, began to use harsh measures in order to 

 compel her to unite with the man of their choice. To all 

 her entreaties, that she should not be forced into an union 

 so repugnant to her feelings, but rather be allowed to live 

 a single life, they turned a deaf ear. Winona, had at all 

 times enjoyed a greater share in the affections of her fa- 

 mily, and she had been indulged more, than is usual with 

 females among Indians. Being a favourite with her bro- 

 thers, they expressed a wish that her consent to this union 

 should be obtained by persuasive means, rather than that she 

 should be compelled to it against her inclination. With a 

 view to remove some of her objections, they took means 

 to provide for her future maintenance, and presented to 

 the warrior all that in their simple mode of living an In- 

 VoL. I. 36 



