His mourning companions raised over the spot a
cross, the touching emblem of the great atoning sacrifice for sin.

"It is our duty to testify," writes M. Joutel, "to the kindness of this
affectionate people. Their humanity, manifested in this sad accident,
was very remarkable. Their sympathy in our grief was greater than we
could have experienced in any part of Europe."

There were four very pleasant and populous villages here, situated near
each other. The inhabitants seemed to be united in the most fraternal
alliance. And yet these people, who could be so gentle, tender and
sympathetic in receiving their friends, could be as merciless as demons
in torturing their enemies.

On the 30th of June, the travellers again took up their line of march.
There was a wide river, near by, to be crossed. They had spent several
days in this village, receiving unbounded acts of politeness and
hospitality from the people. The men and the women alike vied in
delicate attentions, such as could not have been expected from savages.

There was a broad and deep river near by to be crossed. The chief and a
large escort of the natives accompanied them to the river, and paddled
them over in their canoes, swimming the horses. M. Chevalier, in taking
leave of his friends, gave them some rich presents, not forgetting to
make the women happy in the gift of some gorgeous beads. Several
Indians guided the party to the next tribe, at a distance of about
thirty miles. Here again they were received in the cabin of the chief
with unbounded hospitality.

After being welcomed with their many ceremonials of greeting, guides
were furnished to accompany them to the next tribe. Thus they pressed
on, day after day, with but occasional delays. Their route lay through
a very rich country, abounding with deer and turkeys and prairie
chickens. Village after village they entered. Tribe after tribe they
met. But everywhere they encountered the same invariable hospitality.
On one occasion a group of singers came to their cabin, and treated
them with a serenade of plaintive music. At the same time one of their
number crowned M. Chevalier with a beautiful head-dress of colored
plumes.

The ceremony, on this occasion, was very elaborate, in which the
females as well as the men took an active part. Two girls, of
remarkably graceful form, and whose symmetric limbs were but slightly
veiled, were brought, evidently without any intentional immodesty, into
such affecti