6th.  First Distribution of Presents.—­In fulfilment of a general declaration of friendly purposes, made on my opening speech to the Chippewas in July last, the entire home band of St. Mary’s, men, women, and children, were assembled on the green in front of my office, this morning, to receive a small invoice of goods and merchandise, which were distributed amongst them as presents.  These goods were the best that could be purchased in the Detroit market, and were all of the best description; and they were received with a lively satisfaction, which betokened well for my future influence.  Prominent among the pleased recipients were the chiefs of the village, Shin-ga-ba-was-sin, the Image Stone, She-wa-be-ke-tone, the Man of Jingling Metals, Kau-ga-osh, or the Bird in Eternal Flight, Way-ish-kee, or The First Born Son, and two or three others of minor note.  Behind them were the warriors and young men, the matrons and maids; and peppered in, as it were, the children of all ages.  All were in their best attire.  The ceremony began by lighting the pipe, and having it passed by suitable officials to the chiefs and warriors in due order, and by placing a pile of tobacco before them, for general use, which the chiefs with great care divided and distributed, not forgetting the lowest claimant.  I then stated the principles by which the agency would be guided in its intercourse with them, the benevolence and justice of the views entertained by their great father, the President, and his wishes to keep improper traders out of their country, to exclude ardent spirits, and to secure their peace and happiness in every practicable way.  Each sentence, as it was rendered into Indian, was received with the response of Hoh! an exclamation of approbation, which is uttered feebly or loud, in proportion as the matter is warmly or coldly approved.  The chiefs responded.  All looked pleased; the presents were divided, and the assembly broke up in harmony and good will.  It does seem that, according to the oriental maxim,[21] a present is the readiest door to an Indian’s heart.

[Footnote 21:  “Let thy present go before thee.”—­Proverbs of Solomon.]

25th.  The Indian mind appears to lack the mathematical element.  It is doubtful how far they can compute numbers.  The Chippewas count decimally, and after ten, add the names of the digits to the word ten, up to twenty; then take the word for twenty, and add them as before, to thirty; and so on to a hundred.  They then add them to the term for a hundred, up to a thousand.

They cannot be made to understand the value of an American dollar, without reducing it to the standard of skins.  A striking instance of this kind happened among the Potowattomies at Chicago last year (1821).  The commanding officer had offered a reward of thirty dollars for the apprehension of a deserter.  The Potowattomies pursued and caught him, and received a certificate for the reward.  The question with