"The Country of the Chilcats 



would do him the honor to lodge in his house during 

 your stay in our village?" 



We replied, of course, that we would consider it a 

 great honor to be entertained by so distinguished a 

 chief. 



The messenger then ordered a number of slaves, 

 who stood behind him, to draw our canoe out of 

 the water, carry our provisions and bedding into the 

 chiefs house, and then carry the canoe back from the 

 river where it would be beyond the reach of floating 

 ice. While we waited, a lot of boys and girls were 

 playing on a meadow near the landing — running 

 races, shooting arrows, and wading in the icy river 

 without showing any knowledge of our presence be- 

 yond quick stolen glances. After all was made secure, 

 he conducted us to the house, where we found seats 

 of honor prepared for us. 



The old chief sat barefooted by the fireside, clad in 

 a calico shirt and blanket, looking down, and though 

 we shook hands as we passed him he did not look up. 

 After we were seated, he still gazed into the fire with- 

 out taking the slightest notice of us for about ten or 

 fifteen minutes. The various members of the chief's 

 family, also, — men, women, and children, — went 

 about their usual employment and play as if entirely 

 unconscious that strangers were in the house, it being 

 considered impolite to look at visitors or speak to 

 them before time had been allowed them to collect 

 their thoughts and prepare any message they might 

 have to deliver. 



At length, after the politeness period had passed, 

 [ 169 1 



