veyed us. The Sioux asked me if I was afraid; I told them I had seen a greater number of Savages before, and more wild than any of the Southern Indians. Warbishar gave orders to strike ashore. As soon as we landed, the Renards took our Indians by the hand, and invited them into their camp. In the space of an hour they prepared a feast, which consisted of five {151} Indian dogs, bear, beaver, deer, mountain cat, and racoon, boiled in bear's grease, and mixed with huckleberries. After the repast, the Indians danced and sung. A council was then held, when the chief of the Renards addressed Warbishar to this effect. "Brothers, we are happy to see you; we have no bad heart against you; although we are not the same nation by language, our hearts are the same: we are all Indians, and are happy to hear our great Father has pity on us, and sends us wherewithal to cover us, and enable us to hunt." To which Warbishar made answer.—"It is true, my children, our great Father has sent me this way to take the skins and furs that are in the Dog's Field, under captain Longlad's charge, least the Great Knives (meaning the Americans)[1] should plunder them. I am come with the white man (meaning me) to give you wherewithal to cover you, and ammunition to hunt."
When the speech was finished, we immediately dis-
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- ↑ On the origin of this term for Americans (Great Knives, Long Knives, or Big Knives, indifferently) see Thwaites, Daniel Boone (New York, 1902), p. iii, note.—Ed.
mandant in 1740. Being devoted to the British side, he was dignified with the title of "general," and was received with honors of war at Mackinac. He also visited Quebec several times, and was decorated by the British officials. His village was near the present site of Winona, Minnesota. A son of the same name participated in the War of 1812-15. The French called both these chiefs, "La Feuille."—Ed.
