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Show JOURNAL OF A VOYAG£ in great respect, conceiving us very qu.ar:el~<Jn1e,. and much for war, and also very brave. Thts 1nfonnauon I ust:u as prudence suggested. We stopt at an encamp. n1ent, about three miles below the town, where they gave us smne excellent plums. They despatched a peroque to the village, to give notice, as I supposed, of our arrival. lt con1mcnct:d raining about dusk, and rained all night. Dist anc ' 40 miles. ~ t Sept. Tuesday-Embarked at a pretty early hour. Cloudy. Met two pcroq ues of f~unily Indians ; they at first asked Mr. Blondcau, " if we were for war, or if going to \Var ?" 1 now experienced the good efFect, of having some person on board, who could ~peak their language ; for they presented me with three pair of ducks, and a quantity of venison, sufficient for all our crew, one day ; in return, I made them some trifling presents. Afterward~ met two peroques, carrying some of the warriors spok~n of on the 2d inst. They kept at a great distance, until spoken to by Mr. B. when they informed him that their p1rty had proceeded up as high as Lake Pepin, without effecting any rhjng. It is surprizing what a dread the In· di:.ms, in this quarter, have of the Atnericans : I have often seen them go round islands, to avoid meeting my Loat. It appears to 1ne evident, that the traders have taken great p:Uns, to impress upon the minds of the savages, the idea of our being a very vindictive, ferocious, and warlik~ people. This impression was perhaps 1nade with no good intention; but when they find that our conduct towards them, is guided by magnanimity and justice; instead of operating in an injurious manner, it \vill have the eifcct to mal· e them rever(;ncc at the same time they fear us. Distance 25 miles. 4tb Sept. vVednesday-Breakfastcd just below the Ouiscousing. Arrived at the Prairie Des Cheins about 11 TO TilE SOUHCES OV TirE MISSISSIPPI. 1 :l d'clock; took quarters at capt. Fishers, and were politdy received by him and Mr. Frazer. 5th Sept. Tbursday-Embarked about half past 10 o'clock in .1 Schenectady boat, to go to the mouth of the Ouiscousing, in order to take the latitude, and look at the situation of the adjacent hills for a post. \Vas accompa. nied by judge Fisher, Mr. Frazer, and Mr. Woods. We ascended the hill on the west side of the Misbissippi; and n1ade choice of a spot which I thought most eligible, being level on the top, having a spring in the rear, and conllnanding a view of the country around. A shower of rain came on which completely wet us ; and w returned to the village without having ascended the Ouiscousing as we intended. Marked four trees with A. B. C. D. and squared the sides of one in the centre. \Vrote to the general.* ot/; Sept. Friday- .IIad a small council with the Puants, and a chief of the lower band of the Sioux. Visited and laid out a position for a post, on a hill called the Petit Gris, on the Ouiscousing, three miles above its n1outh. Mr. Fisher who accompanied me, was taken very sick, in consequence of drinking some water out of the Oui~cousing~ The Puants never have any white interpreters, nor have the FoJs Avoin nation. In my council, I spoke to a Frenchman, he to a Sioux, who interpreted t~ so1ne of the Puants. . .7 t/; Sept. Saturday-My men beat all the villagers ( JUmpmg and hopping. Began to load my new boats. 8th Sept. Sunday-l•.mbarked at half past 11 o'clock in t_wo battea ux. The wind fair and fresh. I found mysell very much embarrassed and cr::tmpt, in my new boats, with provision and baggage. I embarked two interpre. ters, one to perforn1 the whole voyage, whose name was 4 Sec oppc:ndix to part I. lNo. :z.l p.i~C z. • |