“My Friends,”—[here was a burst of irresistible laughter from the ladies, which the drollness of his expression and his figure excited at the moment, and in which, having met it all in good humour, he was taking a part, but continued]—
“My Friends,—I believe that our dance was pleasing to you, and that our noise has not given you offence. (Applause.)
“My Friends,—We live a great way from here, and we have come over a great salt lake to see you, and to offer you our hands. The Great Spirit has been kind to us; we know that our lives are always in his hands, and we thank him for keeping us safe. (How, how, how! from the Indians, and applause, with Hear, hear, hear!)
“My Friends,—We have met our friend Chip-pe-ho-la here, and seen the medicine things that he has done, and which are hanging all around us, and this makes us happy. We have found our chiefs’ faces on the walls, which the Great Spirit has allowed him to bring over safe, and we are thankful for this. (How, how, how!)
“My Friends,—This is a large village, and it has many fine wig-wams; we rode in a large carriage the other day and saw it all. (A laugh, and Hear!) We had heard a great deal about the people on this side of the water, but we did not think they were so rich; we believe that the Saganoshes know a great deal. (How, how, how!)
“My Friends,—We have come on your great medicine road, and it pleased us very much. When we landed from our ship, we came on your medicine road, and were told it would be very fine; but when we started, we were all very much alarmed; we went in the dark; we all went right down into the ground, under a high mountain; we had heard that a part of the white people go into the ground when they die, and some of them into the fire; we saw some fire; there was a great hissing, and a great deal of smoke coming out of this place,[4] and we could not get out; we were then somewhat afraid, my friends and I began to sing our ‘death-song;’ but when we had commenced, our hearts were full of joy, we came out again in the open air, and the country was very beautiful around us. (How, how, how! and great applause.)
“My Friends,—After we got out from under the ground, we were much pleased all the way on the medicine road until we got to this village. There were many things to please us, and I think that before the trees were cut down, it was a very beautiful country. My friends, we think there were Indians and buffalos in this country then. (How, how, how!)
“My Friends,—We think we saw some of the k’nick k’neck[5] as we came along the medicine road, and some quash-e-gon-eh-co,[6] but we came so fast that we were not certain; we should like to know. My Friends, this is all I have to say.” (How, how, how! and great applause.)