OCR Text |
Show 86 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE n1e to bear to the Sioux, on which were seven strings of wampum, as authority from seven bands of the Chipcways either to conclude peace or to make war. As he had ~hosen the former, he sent his pipe to the Sioux and requested me to inform them, that he and his people would encamp at the mouth of the Riviere De C~rbeau the ensuing summer, where he v;rould ~ee th~ Ur:r~ed States ~ag flying. As a proof of his pa:If1c dis~ositr~n, the Jtols Avoin chief then spoke and sa~d, " His natiOn was rcn" dered small by its enemies, only a remnant was left, " but that they could boast of not being slaves ; for that " always in preference to their women and children bcin.g " taken, they themselves killed thern. But that their " father (as they called me) had travelled far, and had "taken much pains to prevent the Sioux and Chipcways 4:c from killing one another; that he thought none could '' be so ungenerous as to neglect listening to the words of " their father : that he would report to the Sioux the pa" cific disposition of the Sauteurs, and hoped the peace " would be firm and lasting.'' I then in a few words informed De Brechc, " that I would report to the Sioux all " he had sajd, and that I should ever feel pleased and " grateful that the two nations had laid aside the tom~" hawk at my request. That I thanked the Fols Avom -r' chief for his good wishes and parole which he had given " the Sauteurs." After all this, each chief was furnish· ed with a kettle of liquor, to drink each others health; and De Brcchc's flag (which I had presented him) was displayed in the fort. The Fols Avoins then departed, at which I was by no means displeased, for they had already consmned all the dry n1cat, I had laid aside for my voyage, and I was apprehensive that my hunters would not be able to lay up another supply. 28tb Marcb, Friday.-Latc in the afternoon Mr. Grant and the Sauteurs took their departure, calculating TO TilE SOUHCES Of TilE ::\IlSSISSlPPf. that the Sioux had left the country. 'Took with n1e one of my soldiers and accompanied then1 to the Fols Avoins lodge (called the Shawoncse) where we (ten) stayed all night. The Fols AvQins and Sauteur had a dance, at which I left them and went to sleep. Feasted on elk, sugar, and syrup. Previously to the Indians departing fi·orn my post, I demanded the chief's ncdal and flags ; the former. he delivered, but with a bad grace, the latter he said were in the lands when I left Lake De Sable; (as in~ tructed by the traders I suppose) and that he could not obtain them. It thundered and lightened. 29th March, Saturday.-W e all marched in the morning. Mr. Grant anJ party for Sandy Lake, and I !o.r my hunti~g camp. I gave hin1 my spaniel dog. He JOined me agam after we had seperated about 5 miles. Arrived at ~1y hunting camp about 8 o'clock in the morning, and was mformed that my hunters had gone to brino- in a deer; they arrived with it, and about 11 o'clock :e all went out hunting. Saw but few deer, out of which I had the good fortune to lcill two. On our arrival at camp fo~nd one of my men at the garrison, with a letter from Mr. Dickson. The soldier informed me that one Sioux had ~rrived with Mr. Dickson's zncn. Although much fatigued, soon as I had eat something, I took one of my men and departed for the garrison one hour before sundown. !he distance was 21 miles, and the ice very dangerous bemg rotten, and the water over it noarly a foot deep · we h ad St·ic k s I· n our hands, and in many places ran the1n' t~rough the ice. It thundered and lightened with rain. The SIOux not finding the Sautcurs, had returned jmmediately. . 30th March, Sunday.-W rotc to Mr. Dickson and dts~atched his man. Considerably stiff from my yesterday s march. Caulked our boats, as the ice had every appearance of breaking up in a few days. Thus whilst on the wing of eager expectation, every day seemed an |