SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 395 



mis, Miamis, Ottowas, Wolves, Hurons, Winnebagoes, 

 Shawanese, Sauks, Foxes, Menomonies, &c. They had 

 all shared in the battle except the Dacotas, who had not 

 yet engaged against the Americans, and who were then on 

 their way to Quebec. While Renville was seated, one af- 

 ternoon, with Wapasha and Chetanwakoamane, a deputa- 

 tion came to invite them to meet the other Indians, the 

 object of the meeting not being stated ; the two chiefs 

 complied with the request. Shortly after, Frazier, (an in- 

 terpreter,) came and informed Renville that the Indians 

 were engaged in eating an American, and invited him to 

 walk over to the place. He went thither, and found the hu- 

 man flesh cut up, and portioned out into dishes, one for each 

 nation of Indians. In every dish, in addition to the flesh, 

 there was corn. At that moment they called upon the 

 bravest man in each nation, to come and take a portion of 

 the heart and head ; one warrior from each nation was al- 

 lowed a fragment of this choice morsel. In the group of 

 Indians present, there was a brave Dacota, the nephew of 

 Chetanwakoamane, known by the name of the " Grand 

 Chasseur." They invited him to step forward and take 

 his share, and among others a Winnebago addressed him, 

 and told him that they had collected their friends to partake 

 of a meal prepared with the flesh of one of that nation that 

 had done them so much injury. Before the Sioux warrior 

 had time to reply, his uncle arose and bade his nephew 

 rise and depart thence ; he then addressed himself to 

 the Indians : " My friends," said he, " we came here, not 

 to eat Americans, but to wage war against them ; that will 

 suffice for us ; and could we even do that if left to our 

 own forces ? we are poor and destitute, while they possess 

 the means of supplying themselves with all that they re- 

 quire ; we ought not therefore to do such things." His com- 



