PIGEWIS'S NEPHEW. 



119 



when, to my surprise, I found the mother, with 

 the Indian, in my room, in about a week after 

 they had left the Settlement with Pigewis, 

 saying that they had parted from him in con- 

 sequence of their not being able to obtain any 

 provision ; and that (i they thought it long " 

 since they had seen the boy. He was per- 

 mitted to go from the school-house to their 

 tent, which they had pitched near me in the 

 woods, almost daily without restraint, till at 

 length he refused to return. I repeated my 

 request for him without effect ; and having 

 my suspicion excited, that they would take 

 him away for the sake of the clothing and 

 blankets which I had given him, I determined 

 upon having them again, as an example to 

 deter others from practising the like imposition. 

 The parties were angry at my determination, 

 and looking upon the medicine bag that was 

 suspended on the willows near the tent, and 

 which is carried by most of the Indians, as a 

 sacred depository for a few pounded roots, 

 some choice bits of earth, or a variety of ar- 

 ticles which they only know how to appreciate 

 with superstitious regard, they told me that 

 " they had bad medicine for those who dis- 

 pleased them." I insisted, how T ever, on the return 

 of the articles I had given to the boy, and ob- 



