it will produce you good crops.

"I thank the Great Spirit that I am now friendly with my white
brethren--we are here together--we have eaten together--we are
friends--it is his wish and mine. I thank you for your friendship.

"I was once a great warrior-I am now poor. Keokuk has been the cause of
my present situation--but do not attach blame to him. I am now old. I
have looked upon the Mississippi since I have been a child. I love the
Great river. I have dwelt upon its banks from the time I was an infant.
I look upon it now. I shake hands with you, and as it is my wish, I hope
you are my friends.'

"In the course of the day he was prevailed upon to drink several times,
and became somewhat intoxicated, an uncommon circumstance, as he was
generally temperate.

"In the autumn of 1837, he was at the house of an Indian trader, in the
vicinity of Burlington, when I became acquainted and frequently convened
with him in broken English, and through the medium of gestures and
pantomine. A deep seated melancholy was apparent in his countenance, and
conversation. He endeavored to make me comprehend, on one occasion,
his former greatness, and represented that he was once master of
the country, east, north, and south of us--that he had been a very
successful warrior-called himself, smiting his breast, 'big Captain
Black Hawk,' 'nesso Kaskaskias,' (killed the Kaskaskias,) 'nesso Sioux
a heap,' (killed a great number of Sioux). He then adverted to the
ingratitude of his tribe, in permitting Keokuk to supercede him, who, he
averred, excelled him in nothing but drinking whisky.

"Toward Keokuk he felt the most unrelenting hatred. Keokuk was, however,
beyond his influence, being recognized as chief of the tribe by the
government of the United States. He unquestionably possessed talents of
the first order, excelled as an orator, but his authority will probably
be short-lived, on account of his dissipation and his profligacy in
spending the money paid him for the benefit of his tribe, and which he
squanders upon himself and a few favorites, through whose influence he
seeks to maintain his authority.

"You inquire if Black Hawk was at the battle of the Thames? On one
occasion I mentioned Tecumthe to him and he expressed the greatest joy
that I had heard of him, and pointing away to the East, and making a
feint, as if aiming a gun, said, 'Chemocoman (white man) nesso,' (kill.)
From which I had no doubt of his being personally acquainte