OCR Text |
Show -., o, JOUHNAL OF A \'OYA(; L hav regretted n1orc, as the wild fowl just began to return on the approach of pring. 9tb Marcb, Sunday.-I examined into the conduct ~>f my sergeant, and found that he was guilty an~ punish~' d him by reduction, &c. Visited the Fols Avmn lougc~ anJ rcrci ved a present of some tallow. One of my men arrived from the hunting camp with two deer. lOtb ~!farcb, Monday.-Was visited by the Fols A voin chief and several others of his nation. 'fhis chief was an extraordinary hunter; to instance his power, he killed forty elk and a bear in one day ; cha ing the former from dawn to eve. We were all busied in preparing ars, guns, mast, &c. by the time the ic~ broke up, which was opening fast. lltb March, Tucsday.-In a long conversation with a Reynard, he professed not to believe in an hereafter ; but he believed that the world would all be drowncJ. by water, at some futur period; he asked how it was to be re-peopled. In justice to hi~ nation, howev r, I must ob-~ erve, that his opinion was singular. 1 Zth lv!farrb, TVedn~.·sday.-Made preparations ; haJ fine chase with de 'r on the ice ; killed one. Since our return I received eight de r from our can1p. lStb Marr!J, '1'/Jursday.-Receivcd two deer from 111) hunting G'.. mp. vV cnt out with my gun on the opposite 'lide of the 1 iver. Ascend d th n1ountain which boruers he pr::1irie. On the point of it I found a stone, on which the Indians had sharpened their knives, and a war club half finished. :Frmn this spot you may extend the eye over vast prairies without, scarcely any, interruption, but ·lumps of trees which at a distance appeared like mou n~ tains ; from two or thr 'C of which the smoke rising in the air, denoted the habitation of the wandering savage, and too often marked them out as victims to their enemies; from vho~e cruelty, I have had the pleasure in thf t TO THE SOUHCES OF Tl!E :\IISSISS1PPI. 'l9 course of the winter, and through a wilderness of immense extent to relieve them, as peac<' l1as reign 'd through my 1nediation, from the prairie Des Cheins to the lower Red river. If a subaltern with but ~0 men, at so great a distance from the seat of his government could cfiect so important a change in the minds of those savages, what mi[ht not a great and indep<'ndcnt power drcct, if instead of blowing up the flames of discon1, th 'Y cx(·rtcd their influence in the sacred cause of peace ? When I returned to the fort, I found the Fols Avoin chief who intended to remain all nig ht. llc told me that near thl' conclusion of the revolutionary war, his nation began to look upon him as a warrior ; that they received a parole front Michilimackinac, on which he was dispatched wilh ., 4·0 warriors ; that on his arrival he was requ 'Sted Lo lead them against the Americans. To which he rcplicJ, " We " have considered you anu the Americans as one people. " You are now at war ; how arc we to decide who ha~ " justice on their side ? Besides you white people ar~.; " like the leaves on the trees for numbers. Should 1 " march with n1y 40 warriors to the field of battle, they " with their chief, would be unnoticed in the mul titude ; " and would be swallowed up as the big waters cmbo " som the small rivulets which discharge themselves into " it. No, I will return to my nation, where my coun" trymen may be of service again~ t our red enemies, anc.l. " their actions renowned in the dance of our nation." 11·tb M arc/;, Friday. Took the latitude by an artificial horizon, and mcasureJ the river. RccciveJ one deer and a half fr orn my hunting camp, Icc thinner. l5tb M arc/;, Saturrlay.-This was the day fixed upon by Mr. Grant and the Chipeway warriors, for their arrival at my fort ; an l I was all day anxiously cxpcctiug them; for I kn 'W that shoull they not accompany me down, the peace partially efrectcd between them and the Sioux, would |