said
to be valuable. They were very kind, very good, and very pretty--for
pale-faces.
Among the men, who treated us with marked friendship, by the
presentation of many valuable presents, I cannot omit to mention the
name of my old friend Crooks, of the American Fur Company. I have known
him long, and have always found him to be a good chief, one who gives
good advice, and treats our people right. I shall always be proud to
recognize him as a friend, and glad to shake him by the hand.
Being anxious to return to our people, our guide started with us for our
own country. On arriving at Albany, the people were so anxious to see
us, that they crowded the streets and wharfs, where the steamboats
landed, so much, that it was almost impossible for us to pass to the
hotel which had been provided for our reception. We remained here but
a short time, it being a comparatively small village, with only a few
large public buildings. The great council home of the state is located
here, and the big chief (the governor) resides here, in an old mansion.
From here we went to Buffalo, thence to Detroit, where I had spent many
pleasant days, and anticipated, on my arrival, to meet many of my old
friends, but in this I was disappointed. What could be the cause of
this? Are they all dead? Or what has become of them? I did not see our
old father them, who had always given me good advice and treated me with
great friendship.
After leaving Detroit it was but a few days before we landed at Prairie
du Chien. The war chief at the fort treated us very kindly, as did the
people generally. I called on the agent of the Winnebagoes, (Gen. J. M.
Street), to whom I had surrendered myself after the battle at Bad Axe,
who received me very friendly. I told him that I had left my great
medicine bag with his chiefs before I gave myself up; and now, that I
was to enjoy my liberty again, I was anxious to get it, that I might
head it down to my nation unsullied.
He said it was safe; he had heard his chiefs speak of it, and would
get it and send it to me. I hope he will not forget his promise, as the
whites generally do, because I have always heard that he was a good man,
and a good father, and made no promise that he did not fulfill.
Passing down the Mississippi, I discovered a large collection of people
in the mining country, on the west side of the river, and on the ground
that we had given to our relation, DUBUQUE, a long time ago. I was
surprised at
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