LETTER XXVI. 



Departure from the Fort of the River St. Jofeph. 

 Sources of the Theakiki : What pajfes at the 

 Death of the Indians ; of their Funerals and 

 Tombs. Of their Mourning and Widowhood* 

 Of the Feftival of the Dead. 



Source of the River Theakiki 3 September 17, 1721. 

 Ma dam , 



Idid not imagine I mould have fo foon taken 

 up my pen again to write you; but my guides 

 have juft now broken their canoe, and 1 am de- 

 tained a whole day in a place that affords nothing 

 to attract the curiofity of a traveller, fo that 1 cart- 

 not do better, than employ my leifure time in en- 

 deavouring to divert you. 



I believe I gave you to underftand in my laft, 

 thut I had, two routs to chufe, in order to gain the 

 country of the Illinois; the fir ft was by returning 

 to lake Michigan, coafting along the fouthern 

 coaft, and entering the little river of Chicagou. 

 After afcending five or fix leagues up this river, 

 there is a paffage to that of the Illinois, bv means 



N 4 of 



