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Show 82 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 19tb Marcb, Hfcd11csdny.-This n1orning purchased two ba kets of sugar, for the amount of which l gave onlcrs on l\lr. J)ickson. After feasting upon a swan, took our leave for camp ; still snowing. It inding my two companions unabLe to keep up, I pushed on and arrived at the river. When I arrived at the place, I had hung up my fl rt~t goose, 1 found that the ravens and eagles had not left a feather, and, feasting upon the deer, was a banJ uflicicnt to have carried it away, who had pickcdits bones nearly clean ; what remained I gave my dogs. Stopped at the place where I expected to find the last goose; but could sec nothing of it; at length 1 found it hid under the grass and snow, where son1e animal had concealed it, after eating ofT its heaJ and neck. I carried it to the fort, where l arrived about an hour before sundown. Dispatched, immediately, two men with rackets, to n1eet the interpreter and Le Roy. They arrived about two hours after dark. Some men also arrived at the hunting camp with three deer. The snow ceased falling about one hour after dark ; it was nearly two .feet deep on a level, the deepest that had fallen so low down this winter. 20tb March, Tbursday.-Despatchcd nine men to mr hunting camp, frorn whence received two deer. Cloudy almost all day ; but the water rose fast over the icc. 21st Marcb, Friday.-Reccived a visit from the Fols Avoin chief, called the Shawonoe, and six young men. I informed him without reserve, the news l heard of him at Red Cedar Lake, and the letter I wrote to Mr. Dick· 5on. lie denied it in toto, and on the contrary aid, that he presented his flag and two meda,s to the Chipeways, as an inducement for them to descend in the spring; and gave thern all the cncouragen1ent in his power. IIis party was much asto11bhec.l at the language l held with him. But from his firm protestations, we finally parted friends. lie in· formed me that a camp of Sauteurs were on die river, waiting TO THE SOURCES OF TilE MISSTSSIPPL 81 for the chiefs to come down; fr01n which it appeared they were still expected. J\t night (after the others had gone) Thomas arrived and staid all night. \¥ e agreed upon a hunting party, also promised to pay the old Shawonoe a VISit. lie informed n1e, that he set out the other clay to follow me, but finding the storn1 so very bad, r eturned to his wigwam. The thermometer lower than it has been at any time since I commenced tny voyage. 22d Marcb, Saturday.-'I'en of my men arri veJ from the hunting camp, with four deer and a half. Thomas departed, sent a man with him to his camps, from which he sent me two beavers. 2Sd Marcb, Sunday.-Agreeably to promise, after breakfast I departed with Miller and my interpreter to pay a visit to the old chief Shawonoe. We arrived at his camp in about two hours. On our way we met the F oh Avoin, called the Chein Blanche, who had visited 1ny post, previously to my starting up the river, at whose house we stopped when passing. We were received by old Shawonoe at his lodge, with the usual Indian hospitality, but very different from the polite r ception given us by Thomas. Charlevoix and others have all borne testimony to the beauty of this nation. From 1ny own observation, I had sufficient reason to confinn their information as respected the males ; for they were all straight and well n1ade, about the middle size ; their complexions generally fair for savages, their teeth good, their eyes large and rather languishing ; they have a mild but independent expression of countenance, that charms at .first sight; in short, they would be considered any where, as handsome men. But their account of the women, I never before believed to be correct. In this lodge there were five very handsome women when w' arrived; and about sun-down, a married pair arrived, whom my interpre· ter observed, were the handsomest couple he knew; and |
