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Show JOUR:'\AL OF A VOYAGE jumping into the lake we brought them into a safe harbor. Distance 40 nulcs. 1 7tb Sept. Tztcsday-Aithough there was every appearance of a very SC'vcre storm, we embarked at ~alf pa.st G o'clock, the wind f::lir, but before we had all ho1stccl scul, those in front had struck thcirs. The wind came on hard ahead. The sky became inflamed, and the lightning srcmed to roll down the sides of th hills, which border .. ed the shore of the lake. The stonn in all its grandeur, majesty, and horror, burst upon us, in the Traverse, while malcing to Point De Sable ; and it required no moderate exertion, to weather the point and get to the wind ward c;ide of it. There we found Mr. Canwron, who had sailed from the prairie on the 5th ; he had three bark, and one wooden, canoes, with him. Jie had been laying here two days; his canoes unloaded and turned up for the habitation of his men; his tents pitched, and living in all the ease of an Indian trader. He appeared to be a n1an of tolerable information, but r~tther indolent in his habits ; a Scotchman by birth, but an Engli hman by prejudice. lie had with him a very handsome young man, by the nan1e of John R udsdell, and also his own son, a lad of fifteen. The storm continuing, we remained all day. I was shewn a point of rocks from which a Sioux wmnan cast herself, and was dashed into a thousand pieces, on the rocks below. She had been informc~, that her friends intended matching her to a man she despised ; anJ having refused her the man ~he had chosen, she ascended the hill, singing her death bong ; and before they could overtake her, and ob\'iate her purpose, she took the io·:e·'s leap ! and ended her troubLs, with her life. A wonderful display of sentiment in a savage ! Distance 3 miles. IStb Sept. liVcrlnesday-Embarked after breakfast. Mr. Cameron, with his boats, came on with 1nc. Cros .. sed the lake~ sounded it, and took an observation at the TO THE SOU HCES OY.' THE l\'1£S <)ISSIPPL upper end. I einbarkcd in one of his c~nocs, and we came up to Canoe river, where there was a ~mall band of Sioux, unJc'r the con1mand of Red Wing, the second war chi~f in the nation. I-Ie made me a speech and presented a p1pe, pouch, and buffalo skin. I-Ie appeared to be a man of sense, and promised to accompany n1e to St. P eters; he saluted n1e, and had it returned. I made him a small present. We encamp d on the end of the island, and alth~ugh not .n1ore than 11 o'clock, were obliged to stay allmght. Distance 18 miles. . 19~/; Sept. Tbur.rdoy-Embarkcd early; dined at St. Cr~1x nver. Messrs. Jt'razer and Cameron, having son 1 e busmess to clo with the savages, we left them at the cnca111pment ; ?ut they promised to overtake me, though they were obhgcd to travel unti112 o'clock at nig ht. Fired a blunder buss for them at 'Tattoo. The chain of my watch became u~hooked, by lending her to my guard ; this was a very senous misfortune. . 20tb Sept. Friday-Embarked after sun rise. Cloudy Wlt~l hard head winds; a small shower of rain; cleared up 11~ :he afternoon, and became pleasant. Encamped on a praine on the east side, on which is a large painted stone about 8 miles below the Sioux village. lThc traders had not yet overtaken l11e. Distance 26 l-2 nules. 21st Sept. Saturday-F1nbarked at a seasonable hour, ~reakfastcd at the Sioux village, on the east side. It con .. ;Ists o~ eleven lodges, and is situated at the head of an sland JUSt b low a ledge of rocks. The village was evaeuated t h. · a t IS t1me, all the Indians having gone out to the lands to gathcJ· fols avoin. About two mil"s above saw three b · · ' . cars swm1mmg over the river, but at too great a dtstance for us to have killed them ; they made the shore b~fore I could come up with them. Passed a camo of Sioux of [; 1 cl · . ! ' our o ges, m wh1ch I saw only one man, whose name wa · Block Soldier. The garrulity of the wo, |
