we intend hunting, and
tell them where to build their houses. At this place we deposit a part
of our corn, and leave our old people. The traders have always been kind
to them and relieved them when in want, and consequently were always
much respected by our people, and never since we were a nation, has one
of them been killed by our people.

We then disperse in small parties to make our hunt, and as soon as it
is over, we return to our trader's establishment, with our skins, and
remain feasting, playing cards and at other pastimes until the close f
the winter. Our young men then start on the beaver hunt, others to hunt
raccoons and muskrats; the remainder of our people go to the sugar camps
to make sugar. All leave our encampment and appoint a place to meet on
the Mississippi, so that we may return together to our village in the
spring. We always spend our time pleasantly at the sugar camp. It being
the season for wild fowl, we lived well and always had plenty, when the
hunters came in that we might make a feast for them. After this is over
we return to our village, accompanied sometimes by our traders. In this
way the time rolled round happily. But these are times that were.

While on the subject of our manners and customs, it might be well to
relate an instance that occurred near our village just five years before
we left it for the last time.

In 1827, a young Sioux Indian got lost on the prairie, in a snow storm,
and found his way into a camp of the Sacs. According to Indian customs,
although he was an enemy, he was safe while accepting their hospitality.
He remained there for some time on account of the severity of the storm.
Becoming well acquainted he fell in love with the daughter of the Sac
at whose village he had been entertained, and before leaving for his own
country, promised to come to the Sac village for her at a certain time
during the approaching summer. In July he made his way to the Rock river
village, secreting himself in the woods until he met the object of his
love, who came out to the field with her mother to assist her in hoeing
corn. Late in the afternoon her mother left her and went to the village.
No sooner had she got out of hearing, than he gave a loud whistle which
assured the maiden that he had returned. She continued hoeing leisurely
to the end of the row, when her lover came to meet her, and she promised
to come to him as soon as she could go to the lodge and get her blanket,
and toge