CHAPTER I.

Origin of the Sac and Fox Indians--Removal to Green Bay--Their
subjugation of the Illini confederacy--Their attack upon St. Louis in
1779--Col. George Rogers Clark relieves the town--Governor Harrison's
letter--Maj. Forsyth's account of the conquest of the Illini--Death of
the Sac chief Pontiac--Sac and Fox village on Rock river--Description
of the surrounding country--Civil polity of the Sacs and Foxes--Legend
about their chiefs--Division of the tribes into families--Mode of
burying their dead--Idea of a future state--Their account of the
creation of the world--Marriages--Social relations--Music and musical
instruments--Pike's visit to them in 1805--Population--Character for
courage.


The word Saukee, or O-sau-kee, now written Sauk or more commonly Sac, is
derived from a compound in the Algonquin or Chippeway language,
a-saw-we-kee, which means "yellow earth." Mus-qua-kee, the name of the
Fox Indians, signifies "red earth." These two tribes have long resided
together, and now constitute one people, although there are some
internal regulations among them which tend to preserve a distinctive
name and lineage. The chiefs, on ceremonial occasions, claim to be
representatives of independent tribes, but this distinction is nominal.
For many years past the principal chief of the Sacs, has been, in fact,
the chief of the Foxes likewise. They are united in peace and war, speak
the same language, claim the same territory, have similar manners and
customs, and possess traditions which represent them as descended from
the one common origin--the great Chippeway nation.