328 EXPEDITION TO TH£ 



which brightened their eye and animated their features. 

 While the old hag was muttering her discontent, they 

 were smiling, and as she extended her bony hand to re- 

 ceive the present offered her, the damsels burst out into '9. 

 laughter which displayed a beautiful set of teeth. Their ob- 

 servations upon our party seemed to afford them as much 

 gratification as we derived from the examination of theirs, 

 and the merriment which it occasioned them was display- 

 ed in the most unreserved manner. After a visit of about 

 half an hour they all withdrew, leaving us to the undis- 

 turbed occupancy of the lodge. This visit offered us food 

 for conversation until we retired to enjoy, what had been 

 for the last two months the object of our anxious anticipa- 

 tions, a night's rest upon the secluded banks of the St. 

 Peter. We this day met Major Taliaferro going doAvn 

 the river in a canoe. In order to afford us an opportunity 

 of studying the manners of the Indians in council, he had 

 kindly undertaken to ascend to the village of the Sisiton 

 band of the Sioux, for the purpose of holding a council 

 with them in our presence, and with this view had left the 

 fort that morning ; but being informed on the river thai 

 they had all dispersed on their summer hunts, he return- 

 ed the same evening.* 



The next day we travelled about thirty-five miles; at six 

 miles from the night's camp, we passed the small village 

 of Tetankatane ; all the men were absent on their hunts. 



* Swarms of an insect of the Linnean genus Ephemera, were observ- 

 ed by the party, along the banks of the river. It has been described 

 by Mr. Say under the name of Baetis bihncata, S. (Appendix I. Ento- 

 mology.) The surface of the river was in many places absolutely co- 

 vered with the remains of these insects, who, having gone through their 

 short-lived existence, fell upon the water and were carried dov-'n tbe 

 stream. 



