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Show JOURNAL OF A VOYAGl·. ': must come free, as he did not a k for then1." J replied, " that, to those who did not,ask for any thing, I gave free,, ly; but to t.hose who askect tor much, I gave only a little ''or none.'.' We embarked about half past 3 o'clock; came three null's; and encamped on the VT. ~ide. Mr. Frazer \\ c left b"hind, bLit he Cc4nH' ·up witl1· ':~is two pcroqucs about dusk. It comtnenccd raining very hard. In the 11ight a peroque arrived from the lodge~ at his camp. During our stay at their camp, there were soldiers appointed. to keep the croud from my boats; who executed their duty with vigilance and rigor; driving men, won1en, and children back, whenever they came near my boats. At my departure, their soldiers said, ''.As I had shaken hands " with their chief, they must shake hands with my sol. " dicrs." In which request I willingly indulged them. lltb Sept. 1/Vcdncsday-Etubarked at 7 o'clock, although raining. Mr. Frazer's canoes also came on until nine o clock. Stopt for breakfast, and made a fire. Mr. Frazer ::;taid with me, and finding his peroques not quite able to keep up, he dispatched them. We embarked; came on until near 6 o'clock, and encamped on the W. ide. aw nothing of his peroques, after they left u-. Supposu1 to have come 1 G miles this day. Rain and cold winds, all day ahead. The river has never been clear of islands since I left Prairie Des Chein. I absolutely believe it, here, to bet wo miles wide. Ilills, or rather prairie knobs on both sides. 12th Sept. Thursdr)y-It raining very hard in the n1orning, we <.lid not embark until 10 o'clock. lVIr. Frazer's peroques thc·n coming up. It was still raining, and was very cold. Passed the Racine river, a.Jso a prairie called Le Cross, fi·om a game of ball played frequently on it by the Sioux Indians. This prairie is very handS. 01)1"', it:has {r~nnl1 square hill, similar to some tncntiou- .. .. .. .. ·.. c.d by Carver. it i~. buunded in the rear, by hills simibr ... ·.: ...... . ' . ····· TO TilE SOUHCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 1 ~ to the Prairie D es Chdn. On this prairie Mr. Frazer shewed me smne holes, dug by the Sioux, when in expectation of an attack into which they first put their women, and children and then crawl then1selves. They were generally round, and about l 0 feet in diamet:r ;. but some were half tnoons and quite a breastwork. fhts l understood was the chief work, which was the principal redoubt. Their modes of constructing them arc, the Inotncnt they ~pprchend, or discover, an enemy on a prairie, they commence digging with their knives, t01nahawks, an~l a wooden ladle ; and in an incredibly short space of tunc, they have a hole suft1ciently deep to cover themselves and their family, from the halls or arrows of the enemy. They have no idea of taking those subterrancous redoubts by storm, as they woulLl probably loose a great number of men in the attack; and although they might be success· ful in the event, it would be considered as a very impru. <lent action. Mr. Frazer finding his canoes not able to keep up, staid at this prairie to organize one of them, intending then, to overtake us. Came on 3 miles further. 13/b Sept. Friday-Embarked at G o'clock. Came on to a sand bar, and stopt to dry 1ny things. At this place Mr. Frazer overtook me. We ~·emained here t~ree hours ; came on to the foot of the htlls, at le M ontatgne qui Trompe a I' Eau, which is a hill situated on the riv "r. Rain all Jay, exc'pt about two hours at noon. Passed Black ri vcr. l)istancc 21 miles. 1 ~ub Sept. Satllrday-Embarked early; the fog so thick, we could not distinguish objects twenty yards. \Vhen we breakfasted, we saw nothing of Mr. li'razer's canoes. After breakfast, at the head of an island, met Frazer's boats. \Vind coming on fair, we hoisted sail, and found that we were more on an equality with our sails than our oars. 'fhe birch canoes sailed very well, b•_.·~ ·.., Yc wen; a,bh.! to out row them. Met the remainder of t1"1e war party \.be· |