1645.] THE AMBASSADOR. 285 



age, covered from head to foot with belts of wam- 

 pum, stood erect in the prow of the sail-boat which 

 had brought him and his companions from Eiche- 

 lieu, and in a loud voice announced himself as the 

 accredited envoy of his nation. The boat fired a 

 swivel, the fort replied with a cannon-shot, and the 

 envoys landed in state. Kiotsaton and his colleague 

 were conducted to the room of the commandant, 

 where, seated on the floor, they were regaled 

 sumptuously, and presented in due course with 

 pipes of tobacco. They had never before seen 

 anything so civilized, and were delighted with 

 their entertainment. " We are glad to see you," 

 said Champfleur to Kiotsaton; "you maybe sure 

 that you are safe here. It is as if you were among 

 your own people, and in your own house." 



" Tell your chief that he lies," replied the honored 

 guest, addressing the interpreter. 



Champfleur, though he probably knew that this 

 was but an Indian mode of expressing dissent, 

 showed some little surprise; when Kiotsaton, after 

 tranquilly smoking for a moment, proceeded : — 



" Your chief says it is as if I were in my own 

 country. This is not true ; for there I am not so 

 honored and caressed. He says it is as if I were 

 in my own house ; but in my own house I am some- 

 times very ill served, and here you feast me with 

 all manner of good cheer." From this and many 

 other replies, the French conceived that they had 

 to do with a man of esprit} 



He undoubtedly belonged to that class of pro- 



1 Vimont, Relation, 1645, 24. 



