Wandiokiya did so, and has since forwarded the writing to the Rev. Mr. P——­, who resides near Fort Snelling.  The Dahcotah adds, “We have now learned that the object of Hole-in-the-Day was to deceive and kill us; and he and his people have done so, showing that they neither fear God nor the chief of the American people.

“In this manner they deceived us, deceived us in the name of the Gods.

“Hole-in-the-Day led the band of murderers.

“WANDIOKIYA.”

CHAPTER II.

We shall see how faithfully the Chippeway chief kept the treaty that he had called upon the Great Spirit to witness.  There has been great diversity of opinion concerning Hole-in-the-Day, The Chippeways and Dahcotahs all feared him.  Some of the white people who knew him admired, while others detested his character.

He was certainly, what all the Chippeways have been, a friend of the white people, and equally an enemy to the Dahcotahs.  He encouraged all attempts that were made towards the civilization of his people; he tried to induce them to cultivate the ground; indeed, he sometimes assumed the duties which among savages are supposed to belong exclusively to females, and has been frequently seen to work in his garden.  Had it been possible, he would even have forced the Chippeways to civilization.

He had three wives—­all sisters.  He was fond of them, but if they irritated him, by disputing among themselves, or neglecting any thing which he found necessary to his comfort, he was very violent.  Blows were the only arguments he used on such occasions.

The present chief is one of his children; several of them died young, and their father felt their loss most keenly.  Grave and stoical as was his deportment, his feelings were very strong, and not easily controlled.

He was a man of deep thought, and of great ambition.  The latter passion was gratified to as great a degree as was possible.  Loved by his tribe, feared by his enemies, respected and well treated by the white people, what more could a savage ask?  Among the Indians he was a great man, but he was truly great in cunning and deceit.

On this occasion, however, the Dahcotahs had perfect confidence in him, and it was on the first day of April, in the same year, that they arrived at the place appointed to meet the Chippeways, near the east branch of the Chippeway river, about thirty miles northeast of Lac qui parle.  The women raised the teepees, six in number, and prepared the scanty portion of food for their families.  Here they remained, until their patience was almost exhausted, constantly expecting Hole-in-the-Day to appear; but day after day passed, and they were still disappointed.  Now and then the reports of fire-arms were heard near them, but still the Chippeways did not visit the camp of the Dahcotahs.