Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/266

 somewhat in liquor, came to us and invited us to his wigwam. Another drunken Indian came, who laid hold of my arm and said that he hated me from his very heart. I told him I could not help what he thought of me. He then went to some of the brothers, and spoke very rudely to them. The rest of the Indians told us not to mind what he said, as he was a very bad man. From this place we were shown the residence of the head Chief; we went to the house and found the old Chief perfectly sober. We sat down on mats, and informed the Chief that we had come a great way to speak to him and his people, and that if he wished to hear what we had to say he might appoint a time to hear us. The old Chief replied that on to-morrow morning he would send for all his people and they would then listen to us. We built a fire on the shore and slept: we were much disturbed by mosquitoes. At the door of every wigwam that we have seen on this river was erected a magic pole with something tied to it; to one of them we observed a dog fastened near the top of the pole; to some was tied tobacco, to others the skins and feathers of fowls, &c. These poles are the signs or standards of the power of powwows; and they imagine that so long as they keep up the traditions of their fathers, they will receive the blessings of the imaginary god that they worship.

Tuesday 4th. — In the morning the old Chief, whose name was Pazhekezhikquashkum, came and entered into a friendly conversation with us about temporal things. He remarked that the articles of merchandize in the dominions of our father the King were very dear, but said that the goods of our stepfather of the United States were not so high. This is the first time I have heard our Canadian Indians call the President of the United States step-father. About noon all the principal men of the Indians in this vicinity came together to the number of about thirty. The Indian women fixed a