eir entertainment, the chief of all
the Illinois tribes sent them an invitation to attend a council at his
village. They were treated by him with great kindness, and Father
Marquette, having explained to him the motives of this voyage, enforcing
each part of his speech with a present, the chief in reply expressed his
approbation; but urged him, in the name of the whole nation, not to
incur the risks of a further voyage, and rewarded his presents by the
gift of a calumet.

The council was followed by a feast, consisting of four courses, from
each of which they were fed with much ceremony; and afterwards they were
conducted in state through the village, receiving many presents of
girdles and garters from the natives. The following day, they took leave
of the chief, promising to return in four moons, and were accompanied to
their canoes, with every demonstration of joy, by more than six hundred
savages.

Before leaving this nation, Father Marquette remarked some of their
peculiarities. The name _Illinois_, in the native language, signifies
_men_, as if implying thereby, that other tribes are brutes in
comparison, which in some sense Father Marquette thought to be true, as
they were more civilized than most of the tribes. Their language, on the
borders of the river, was a dialect of the _Algonquin_, and was
understood by Father Marquette. In the form of their bodies the Illinois
were light and active. They were skilful in the use of arms, brave, but
mild and tractable in disposition. They were entirely ignorant of the
use of leather, and iron tools, their weapons being made of stone, and
their clothing of the skins of wild beasts. The soil was rich and
productive, and game abundant.

After this peaceful interview with the natives, the voyagers embarked
again, and passed down the stream, looking out for the river
_Pekitanoni_ (Missouri), which empties into the Mississippi from the
northwest.

They observed high and steep rocks, on the face of which were the
figures of two monsters, which appeared as if painted in green, red, and
blue colors; frightful in appearance, but so well executed, as to leave
Father Marquette in doubt, whether they could be the work of savages,
they being also at so great a height on the rocks as to be inaccessible
to a painter.[131-19]

As they floated quietly down a clear and placid stream, conversing about
the figures they had just passed, they were interrupted by the sound of
rapids before