228                               HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
Wapashaw did not, however, end his days in peace. The vile spirit of the fratricidal Cain sprung up among his brothers, and he was driven into exile by their murderous envy. To their everlasting shame be it recorded, that he died far away from the M'dewakantonwan village, on the Hoka river. It is said that the father of Wakute was his physician, who attended on him in his last illness. The Dahkotahs will never forget the name of Wapashaw.1
During the war of the Revolution, De Peyster was the British officer in command at Mackinaw. Having made an alliance with Wapashaw, the chief desired that, on his annual visit, he should be received with more distinction than the chiefs of other nations. This respect was to be exhibited by firing the cannon charged with ball, in the place of blank cartridge, on his arrival, so that his young warriors might be accustomed to firearms of large calibre.
On the sixth of July, 1779, a number of Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Ojibways were on a visit to the fort, when Wapashaw appeared; and great was their astonishment when they beheld balls discharged from the cannons of the fort flying over the canoes, and the Dahkotah braves lifting their paddles as if to strike them, and crying out, " Taya! taya!"
De Peyster, who was fond of rhyming, composed a rude song, suggested by the scene, which is copied as a curiosity:—
" Hail to the chief! who his buffalo's back straddles,
When in his own country, far, far, from this fort; Whose brave young canoe-men, here hold up their paddles, In hopes, that the whizzing balls, may give them sport.
1 G. H. Pond.