to a feast. I had to pass at first through all the ceremonies of the calumet; the great chief approached me to shake hands, and gave me a heartfelt "How do you do." "Blackgown," said he, "my heart was filled with joy when I learned who you were. My lodge never received a visitor for whom I feel a greater esteem. As soon as I was apprised of your coming, I ordered my great kettle to be filled, and in your honor I commanded that my three fattest dogs should be served up." The bravest warriors of the nation partook of the repast, and I availed myself of the opportunity to explain to them the most important tenets of Christianity. I told them the object of my visit, and enquired whether they would not be satisfied to have also Black-gowns among them, who would teach them to love and serve the Great Spirit, as 11e wished. " Oh yes," they eagerly answered, " we will gladly provide for everything that they stand is need of; they will not die of hunger amongst us." I have no doubt but a zealous missionary would do a great deal of good among them.' They are about 2,000 in number. Their language, it is said, is very difficult.
On the 30th of June we arrived at the rendezvous. An escort of warriors had been provided for me by the Flatheads. Our meeting was that of children who came to meet their parent, and in the effusion of their heart, they bestowed upon me the fondest names with a simplicity truly patriarchal. They told me of all the interesting particulars of their nation, and of the wonderful preservation of sixty of their men, in a battle against Zoo Blackfeet, which lasted five whole days, and in which they killed fifty of their enemies, without losing a single man of their number. " The Great Spirit watched over them;" they said, " he knew that
2 No formal movement for the conversion of the Cheyennes was, however, made by Catholic priests until 1882. Father De Smet baptized 253 children of the Cheyennes at the Grand Council of 1851. " There are in their midst those still living who remember the great Black Robe and take a pardonable pride in the fact that they were baptized by him."-Palladinn.