BADIN] HiSTOEt 59 



who were with them, and deli\ered to them two others. But the Fox refused to be 

 satisfied unless they also delivered to them four of their own number. This proposal 

 the Winnebago considered an insult, and the siege was resumed. After the fighting 

 had continued for about six weeks. Oapt. Marin with five Frenchmen and thirty-four 

 Menominee, came to the assistance of the besieged. WTien the treachery of the 

 Winnebago in giving up several of their comrades to the Fox became known to the 

 Menominee it required all Marin's powers of persuasion to prevent their deserting from 

 his small command and leaving the besieged to their fate. After four days of fight- 

 ing with the reUef party under Marin it was discovered that the Fox had raised the siege 

 by decamping in the night. Thus were the Winnebago, who had in the meantime 

 been reduced by famine to the eating of boiled bear skins, delivered from the 

 enemy. Marin's force thereupon retiied, the Winnebago accompanying him to Green 

 Bay, "where they established themselves in a fort." 



For a more detailed account of the same events see Wisconsin 

 Historical Collections, Vol. XVII, 88-100. The Wimiebago have 

 preserved a clear recollection of these stirring events in the semi- 

 historical tale known as Tcap'o'sgaga. 



THE TALE OF TCAP'o'sGAGA' 



In the early days of their existence the Winnebago were a success- 

 ful people. They all fasted and were blessed by the spirits. It is 

 for that reason that they were powerful and were called Ilota-qgara. 



At one time a Fox Indian, whose nation w;is about to be destroyed 

 by its enemies, came to these much-feared Winnebago and said, 

 "Brothers, I have come to you for aid." 



The Winnebago lived on one side of the lake" and the Fox on the 

 other and (because of the appeal) the former made friends of the 

 latter, it is said, and the chiefs presented the pipe to one another. 

 When chiefs exchange pipes with one another a very sacred bond is 

 established. Thus many Winnebago and Foxes became friends, 

 and Winnebago men married Fox women and Fox men married 

 Winnebago women. 



There was once a very famous warrior among the Winnebago whose 

 crops were molested by the Foxes. Tcap'o'sgaga' s wife'" thereupon 

 said to him, "Why don't you take them (the marauders) to task?" 

 Then Tcap'o'sgaga went to the Foxes and said, "Boys, all the water- 

 melons are yours when they are ripe, if you desire to eat them. " "All 

 right," they answered. 



On the morning after the second night Tcap'o'sgaga's wife woke 

 up very early and went out to inspect the crops. Again they had 

 been disturbed, so she immediately went back exclaiming, "How 

 terrible: The largest and best of Tcap'o'sgaga's crops have been 



8 This has also been published by me with the accompanying Winnebago text in the Proceedings of the. 

 Wisconsin Historical Society, 1914, pp. 192-207, Madison, 1915. 

 ' Probably at the junction of the Fox River \Tith Lake Winnebago. 

 1° This name means White-throat. 



