n of warriors received and welcomed their allies. We
landed, and were instantly conducted to the assembly of the chiefs, who
were sitting upon the ground, without external pomp or ceremony, with
their arms beside them; but there was in their countenances and eyes an
expression of ferocious grandeur which would have daunted the boldest
European. Yes, gentlemen, I have seen the greatest and most powerful men
in my own country; I have seen them adorned with every external
circumstance of dress, of pomp, and equipage, to inspire respect, but
never did I see anything which so completely awed the soul as the angry
scowl and fiery glance of a savage American.

"As soon as our leader entered the circle, he produced the calumet, or
pipe of peace. This is the universal mark of friendship and alliance
among all the barbarous nations of America, and he that bears it is
considered with so much respect that his person is always safe. This
calumet is nothing but a long and slender pipe, ornamented with the
most lively and beautiful feathers, which are ingeniously fixed along
the tube; the bowl is composed of a peculiar kind of reddish marble, and
filled with scented herbs and tobacco.

"Colonel Simmons lighted his pipe with great solemnity, and turning the
bowl first towards the heavens, then to the earth, then in a circle
round him, he began to smoke. In the mean time the whole assembly sat
with mute attention, waiting to hear his proposals; for, though we call
them savages, yet in some respects they well deserve to be imitated by
more refined nations; in all their meetings and assemblies the greatest
order and regularity prevail; whoever rises to speak is sure of being
patiently heard to the end without the least interruption.

"Our leader then began to harangue them in their own language, with
which he was well acquainted. I did not understand what passed, but it
was afterwards explained to me that he set before their eyes the
injuries they had mutually received from the French and the tribes in
their alliance. He told them that their great father (for so these
people call the King of Britain) had taken up the hatchet of war, and
was sending an innumerable band of warriors to punish the insults of his
enemies. He told them that he had ordered him to visit the Ottigamies,
his dutiful children, and smoke with them the pipe of peace. He invited
their young men to join the warriors that came from beyond the ocean,
and who were marchi