to take the customary presents, which often amount in value to a considerable sum.  Occasionally the murderer arranges the whole matter, by marrying the widow of the man he has killed.  There is but one offence that is considered of a national character, and that is of rare occurrence.  It consists in aiding the enemies of the tribe, in times of war, and is punishable with death.  A sentinel who has been placed on duty by a chief, but who neglects it, is publicly whipped by the women.  The Sauks and Foxes have no established mode of declaring war.  If injured by a neighboring tribe they wait a reasonable time for reparation to be made, and if it is not, they avail themselves of the first fitting opportunity of taking revenge.  The young Indians manifest, at an early age, a love of war.  They hear the old warriors recounting their exploits, and as the battle-field is the only road to distinction, they embrace the first chance of killing an enemy.  When the question of going to war is under consideration, some one or a number of them, undertake to consult the Great Spirit by fasting and dreams.  These latter are related by them in public, and often have their influence, being generally so interpreted as to inspire confidence in those who may join the war party.  If a party is victorious in battle, the individual who killed the first enemy, leads them back, and on the way, if they have prisoners with them, it is not uncommon to kill those who are old.  The young ones are generally adopted into the families of such as have lost relatives in the battle, or whose children have died a natural death.  Upon the return of the victorious party to their village, a war dance is held round their captives by way of celebrating their triumph.  Prisoners are sometimes held as slaves, and as such are bought and sold.  If they go to war, which they are encouraged to do, and succeed in killing one of the enemy, the slave changes his name and from that time becomes a freeman.  The Sauks and Foxes treat their prisoners with humanity, and if they succeed in getting to the village alive, they are safe, and their persons are held sacred.  But one instance is known of their having burned a prisoner, and that was in a war with the Menominies, and in retaliation for a similar act, first committed by that tribe.  The young Indians go to war generally between the age of seventeen and twenty, but sometimes as early as fifteen.  Many of them at the age of forty and forty-five, look old and are broken down in their physical constitution, in consequence of the hardships which they have endured in war and the chase.  In old age they are usually provided for, and live in peace at their villages.  When one of them is sick, and thinks he is about to go to the land of spirits, he not unfrequently directs the manner in which he wishes to be buried, and his instructions are complied with.  The Sauks and Foxes bury their dead in the ground, and have preferences for particular places of interment.  The graves are not dug to