La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

;1680.] ILLINOIS HOSPITALITY. 173The Indians, on their part, rallying a little from thenfright, made all haste to proffer peace. Two of theirchiefs came forward, holding out the calumet; whileanother began a loud harangue, to check the youngwarriors who were aiming their arrows from thefarther bank. La Salle, responding to these friendlyovertures, displayed another calumet ;while Hennepincaught several scared children and soothed them withwinning blandishments. 1 The uproar was quelled;and thestrangers were presently seated in the midstof the camp, beset by a throng of wild and swarthyfigures.Food was placed before them; and, asthe Illinoiscode of courtesy enjoined, their entertainers conveyedthe morsels with their own hands to the lips oftheseunenviable victims of their hospitality, while othersrubbed their feet with bear's grease. La Salle, onhis part, made them a gift of tobacco and hatchetsand when he had escaped from their caresses, roseand harangued them. He told them that he hadbeen forced to take corn from their granaries, lest hismen should die of hunger; but he prayed them notto be offended, promising full restitution or amplepayment. He had come, he said, to protect themagainst their enemies, and teach them to pray to thetrue God. As for the Iroquois, they were subjectsof the Great King, and therefore brethren of theFrench; yet,nevertheless, should they begin a warand invade the country of the Illinois, he wouldi Hennepin (1683), 142.