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170 The Louisiana Historical Quarterly Mercury's wings are generally painted, the Calumet in hand, with mystery bells strung around their bodies, thus announcing their coming from a distance. I told them that I was not like the French chiefs who command warriors and who come with booty to give them presents; that I had come solely to make the Great Spirit known to them, and that I had brought only what was necessary to that end; that I, however, would accept their calumet while awaiting the time when a pirogue would come to me; this was putting them off indefinitely. They passed the calumet over my face and returned to their nation to carry my answer. Two days later the Chiefs came to make the same demand, saying that it was without design that they came to dance the calumet before me. "Without design," in Indian parlance, means that they give a present without expecting one in return; I was forewarned of all this, I knew that hope of presents made they very assiduous in their attentions and that when the Indians give, even without "design," one must return twice as much or arouse ill feeling. Therefore I gave them the same answer I had given the deputies. They reiterated their demand, inquiring if I would, at least, allow their young men to dance the dance of discovery before me. (This dance is danced when they are sent to discover the enemy.) I answered that I did not need to be entertained, but their young men could dance before me; that I would see their dance with pleasure. All the village, except the women, came the following day, at daybreak, and the dances, chanting and harangues lasted till noon. Their dances, as you may imagine, are fantastical. The regularity with which they observe the cadences is as surprising as their contortions and exertions. I realized that I must not let them depart without giving them a "high pot" (chaudiere haute). I borrowed, from a Frenchman, a pot similar to the one at the Invalides. I gave them as much corn as they wanted and there was no confusion. Two among them served as cooks and divided the shares equally and impartially, and distributed them in like manner. The only sound heard was the ordinary exclmaation "Ho," that each one pronounced as his share was presented to him. I never saw any one eat so with little grace nor with better appetite. They returned to their village, quite satisfied, but before leaving one of the chiefs spoke to me again of receiving their calumet. I amused them as I had hitherto done, for it is a considerable expense to receive their calumet. In the beginning when they had to be dealt with cautionsly, the directors of Mr. Law's concession and the commandants who received their calumet gave them costly presents; these Indians thought that I would Concession of Ste Catherine 171 revive the old custom, but even if I was able to do so, I would beware of renewing it in the fear that they might listen to religious instruction only through interested motives. Besides, we know by experience, that the more one gives the Indians the less satisfaction one obtains, and that gratitude is a virtue of which they have not the faintest idea. Until now I have not found time to study their language, however I question them during their frequent visists.—"talon jajai" (how do you call that?); I know enough to be understood in ordinary needs. There is not a Frenchman here who knows it thoroughly. They have learned very superficially only what is necessary to commerce; I already know as much as they do. I foresee that it will be difficult to learn it sufficiently to talk of religion to these Indians. I have reason to believe that they are persuaded that I possess their language perfectly well. One of them said to a Frenchman who spoke of me: "I know he is a great spirit, he knows everything." You see that they hold me in higher esteem than I deserve. Another made a long harangue of which I understood only the words "INDATAI" (my father), "UVGINGUAI" (my son). I answered at hazard when he questioned me: "ai" (yes) "igalon" (that is good). Then the speaker passed his hand over my face, and after all these agios, he departed apparently quite satisfied. Another came a few days later for the same"ceremony. As soon as I perceived them I begged a Frenchman to repeat what he said to me without seeming to serve as an interprepter. I was anxious to know if I had been mistaken in my answers to the other. This indian asked me if I was willing to adopt him as my son, that on returning from a hunt he would throw game at my feet, WITHOUT DESIGN; that I would not, as other Frenchmen, ask him: "What are you hungry for?" which means: what do you want me to give you for that? That I would ask him to be seated, that I would feed him as my son, and that when he would again come to visit me, I would say: "Sit there, my son, there is vermilion and powder." Do you see the cunning of the savage? He wishes to appear generous in giving "without desgin" and, at the same time, he is unwilling to lose anything. I responded to his discourse: "Igaton the" (that is very good, I approve it, I consent.) After this he passed his hand over my face as the other had done. Here is another trait of their generosity: the day before yesterday I received the visit of a chief; I offered him a smoke, not to have done so would have been a want of politeness. A few moments later he brought me a spotted deer skin which he had left in the alle