SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 367 



the constant and invariable features of the natural scenery, 

 yet as this part of our route was more diversified by incident 

 than any that had preceded it, we may be permitted to dwell 

 upon it for a moment. While travelling over the prairie which 

 borders upon that part of the St. Peter, that connects Lake 

 qui parle with Big Stone Lake, our attention was aroused 

 by the sight of what appeared to be buffaloes chased across 

 the prairie. They, however, soon proved to be Indians ; 

 their number, at first limited to two, gradually increased to 

 near one hundred ; they were seen rising from every part 

 of the prairie, and after those in the advance had recon- 

 noitred us, and made signals that we were friends, by 

 discharging their guns, they all came running towards us, 

 and in a few minutes we found ourselves surrounded by a 

 numerous band. They had at first been apprehensive that 

 we might be enemies, and this was the cause of the difier- 

 ent manoeuvres which they made previous to discharging 

 their guns. The effect of these guns, fired upon the prairie 

 in every direction, and by each, as soon as he had acquir- 

 ed the requisite degree of certainty that the strangers werf 

 friends, was really very beautiful. As they approached, 

 we had an opportunity of observing that these Indians 

 were good-looking and straight ; none were large, nor were 

 any remarkable for the symmetry of their forms. They were, 

 for the greater part, destitute of clothing, except the breech- 

 cloth, which most of them wore. A few, however, and these 

 adults, had divested themselves of this almost indispensa- 

 ble article of dress. We were indeed surprised to see some 

 old men among them quite naked, and no notice appeared 

 to be taken of it by the others. Some of them, and parti- 

 cularly the young men, were dressed with care and osten- 

 tation ; they wore looking-glasses suspended to their gar- 

 ments. Others had papers of pins, purchased from the tra- 



