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

66 THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. [1673.hear the voices of the Indians among the wigwams.Then they stood forth in full view, and shouted toattract attention. There was great commotion in thevillage. The inmates swarmed out of their huts, andfour of their chief men presently came forward tomeet the strangers,advancing very deliberately, andholding up toward the sun two calumets, or peacepipes,decorated with feathers. They stoppedabruptly before the two Frenchmen, and stood gazingat them without speaking a word. Marquettewas much relieved on seeing that they wore Frenchcloth,whence he judged that they must be friendsand allies. He broke the silence, and asked themwho they were ; whereupon they answered that theywere Illinois, and offered the pipe; which havingbeen duly smoked, they all went together to thevillage. Here the chief received the travellers aftera singular fashion, meant to do them honor. Hestood stark naked at the door of a large wigwam,holding up both hands as if to shield his eyes."Frenchmen, how bright the sun shines when youcome to visit us! All our village awaits you; andyou shall enter our wigwams in peace." So saying,he led them into his own, which was crowded tosuffocation with savages, staring at their guests insilence. Having smoked with the chiefs and oldmen, they were invited to visit the great chief of allthe Illinois, at one of the villages they had seen inthe distance; and thither they proceeded, followedby a throng of warriors, squaws, and children. On