e visitors. They
continued, however, straggling along in larger or smaller parties
all day, without stopping. At night, one of them, a young warrior
of prepossessing appearance, came to the house, and in the most
respectful manner, asked permission to sleep upon the floor of the
cabin. Mr. D., although by no means pleased with his guest, knew
not how to refuse. The Indian warrior was invited to supper. A
plentiful meal, such as composed the ordinary repast of the family,
was placed before him, and having satisfied his hunger, he wrapped
himself in his blanket, threw himself on the floor before the fire,
and went to sleep. In the course of the night, Mr. D. happening to
go out, discovered some Indians lying in the bushes not far from
the house; without disturbing them, he proceeded in a different
direction, where he found another party; they were strewed, in
short, entirely around his dwelling. The fact of being thus
surrounded, the concealment, and the silence of the Indians, all
conspired to awaken suspicion, and he passed the night in no small
degree of uneasiness. He rose early in the morning; his Indian
guest also started up, gathered his blanket around him, and took
leave; first, however, explaining to Mr. D. that he belonged to a
party of Sacs who were returning from St. Louis, and that many of
them being intoxicated, it had been thought proper to station a
guard round Mr. D.'s house, to protect him and his property from
injury. He added, that if any depredation should be discovered to
have been committed by the Indians, the chiefs would pay Mr. D. the
full amount. Such an example of the care taken by the chiefs of
this tribe to avoid giving umbrage to the whites, affords the
highest testimony, either of their friendship for our people, or
their respect for our power.
"The Sac and Fox tribe inhabited, at that time, a beautiful tract
of country in Illinois, upon the borders of Rock river. These two
tribes are usually mentioned in conjunction; because the Foxes,
many years ago, having been nearly exterminated in a war with some
of their neighbors, the remnant of the nation, too feeble to exist
as a separate tribe, sought refuge in the Sac villages, and have
remained ever since incorporated with the latter people. They are a
fine looking r
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