SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 399 



some other French traders, who were encamped on the 

 opposite side of the river ; by the influence of the traders 

 he was permitted to go over to their camp until his fate 

 should be decided. After some deliberation, they deter- 

 mined upon sparing him ; they formed a large ring of war- 

 riors convened in council and, having summoned the chief, 

 they asked him what had induced him to venture among 

 them ; he replied that, having searched the field of battle 

 after their departure, he had not discovered the body of 

 his young daughter, who was but five or six years of age, 

 and concluding that she was a prisoner, he had resolved to 

 come and claim her from them; the black colour, with 

 which he was painted, was a symbol of his mortification ; 

 his wounds were still fresh. The Dacotas having agreed to 

 release her, the prisoners were all brought up ; he immedi- 

 ately recognised his daughter, wept over her, and embrac- 

 ed her. He remained two days among them, and was much 

 feasted, the Dacotas expressing the greatest admiration of 

 his valour. On his departure, they loaded his canoe with 

 presents, and one hundi^ed of them accompanied him as a 

 protection, as far as Rum river. During his stay he ob- 

 served the scalps of his wife, brother, and other relations, 

 and pointed each out. When asked by the warriors why 

 he had not fought with the same desperate courage to re- 

 sist their attacks, which he had manifested when he sur- 

 prised them on the St. Croix river? he replied, it was not 

 his courage, but his strength which had failed, he had 

 fought until he fell senseless, being wounded in many places 

 both by arrows and fire-arms. 



Instances exist, however, in which the Dacotas have 

 killed their prisoners of war, and in some cases, long after 

 they had been taken. Thus, for example's sake, it is re- 



