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Show .. ~ JOUHNAL OF A VOYAGE of them, and I should have been supported, by the chiefs of the St. Peters, at the 1nouth of which were 300 warriors, attending my arrival ; also the rascal who fired on my sentinel last winter. I dreaded the consequences of the meeting not for the present; but for fear the impetuosity of my contluct might not be approved of by my government; who did not so intimately know the nature of those savages. This day, for the ilrst time, we saw the commencement of vegetation, yet the snow was a foot uecp in some places. lOtb April, Tbursday.-Sailed at half past 5 o'clock; about 7 passed Rum river, and at 8 were saluted by 6 or 7 lodges of Fols Avoins, amongst whmn was a Mr.-, a clerk of Mr. Dickson's. Those people had wintered on Rum river, and were waiting for their chiefs and traders to descend in order to accompany then1 to the Prairie l)es Chiens. Arrived at the li ails of St. Anthony at 10 o'clock. Carried over all our loading and the canoe to the lower end of the portage, and hauled our boats up on the bank. I pitched my tents at the !ower end of the encampment where all the men ~'1camped except the guard, whose quarters were above. The appearance of the Falls was much more tremendous than when we ascended; the increase of water occasioned the spray to raise much higher, anti the mist appeared like clouds. !low different my sensations now, from what they were when at this place before ; at that time not having accmnplished more than half my route, winter f~tst approaching ; war existing between the most savage nations in the course of my route ; 1ny provisions greatly diminished, and but a poor prosp(;ct of an aduitional supply. Many of rny men sick, and the mhers not a little c.lisheartenecl; and our success in this aruuous undertaking, very doubtful; just unon the borders of the haunts of civilized n1cn about to launch iJ)to an unknown wilderness ; for ours w'a s the first canoe TO TIIE SOURCES OF TIIE l\11SSISSIPPI. 93 that hau ever crosscu this portage, were sufficient to di ~possess my breast of contentment and case. But now we have accomplished every wish, peace reigns throughout the vast extent ; we have returned thus far on our voy~ ge, without the loss of a ingle man, and hoping soon to be blessed with the society of our relations and frienlls. The river this morning covered with icc, which contimlcll ftoati.ng all day. The shores still barricaded with it. llt!J April, Friday.-Although it snowed very hard, we brought over both boats and descended the river to the island at the entrance of the t. Peters. I sent to the chiefs and informed thexn I had something to communicate to them. The Fils de Pinchow immediately waited on me, and informed me that he would provide a place for the purpose. .About sun-down I was sent for and introduced into the council house, where I found a great many chiefs of the Sussitongs, Gens des Feuillcs, and the Gens du Lac. The Yanctongs had not yet come down. They were all waiting for my arrival. There were about 100 lodges or 600 people; we were saluted on our crossing the river with ball as usual. The council house was two large lodges, capable of containing 300 1nen. In the upper were 40 chiefs,-. and as many pipes, set against the poles ; along side of which I had the Sauteur -' pipes arranged. I then inforn1ed th 111 in short detail, of 1ny transactions with the Sauteurs; but my interpreters were not capable of making themselves understood. I was therefore obliged to omit mentioning every particular relative to the rascal who fired on my sentinel, and of the scoundrel who broke the Fols A voius' canoes, and thrc.:atened my life ; the interpreters however iufonned them that I wanted smne of their principal chiefs to go to St. Louis; and that those who thought proper 1night descend to the prairi• where we would give thcn1 more explicit infc>nnation. They all smoked out of the Sauteurs' pipes, C>..- |
