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Show ,,, • 94 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE cepting three, who were painted black, and were some of those who lost their relations last winter. I invited the Fils de Pinchow, and the son of the Killeur Rouge, to come over and sup with me; when Mr. Dickson and myself endeavored to explain what I intended to have said to them, could I have made myself understood ; that at the prairie we would have all things explained ; that I was desirous of n1aking a better report of thetn than capt. Lewis could do fron1 their treatment of him. The forn1er of those savages was the person who remained around my post all last winter, and treated my men so well; they endeavored to excuse their people, &c. 12th April, Saturday.-Embarked early. Although my interpreter had been frequently up the river, he could not tell me where the cave (spoken of by Carver) could be found ; we carefully sought for it, but in vain. At the Indian village, a few miles above St. Peters, we were about to pass a few lodges, but on receiving a very particular invitation to come on shore, we landed, and were received in a lodge kindly ; they presented us sugar, &c. I gave the proprietor a dram, and was about to depart, when he demanded a kettle of liquor; on being refused, and after I had left the shore, he told me, that he did not like the arrangements, and that he would go to war this summer. I directed the interpreter to tell him, that if 1 returned to the St. Peters with the troops, I would settle that affair with him. On our arrival at the St. Croix, I found the Petit Corbeau with his people, and Messrs. Frazer and Wood. We had a conference when the Petit Corbeau made many apologies for the m'i sconduct of his people; he represented to us the different manners in which his young warriors had been inducing him to go to war; t.hat he had been much blamed for dismissing his party last fall; but that he was determined to adhere as far as lay in his power to our instructions; that he thought it mo,st TO THE SOURCES OF THE 1\1ISSISSIPPl. pruJent to remain here and restrain the warriors. He then presented me with a beaver robe and pipe, and his message to the general. That he was determined to pre. serve peace, and make the road clear ; also a remembrance of his promised medal. I made him a r eply, calculated to confirm him in his good intentions, and assured hin1 that he should not be the less remembered by his father, although not present. I was inforn1ed, that, notwith~ standing the instruction of his licence, and my particular request, Murdoch Cameron had taken liquor and sold it to the Indians on the river St. Peters ; and that his partner below had been equally imprudent. I pledged myself to prosecute them according to law; for they have been the occasion of great confusion, and of n1uch injury to th~ other traders. This day met a canoe of Mr. Dickson's, loaded with provision, under the charge of Mr. Ander .. son, brother of the Mr. Anderson, at Leech Lake. lie politely offered me any provision he had on b ard, (for which Mr. Dickson had given me an order) but not now being in want, I did not accept of any. This day, for the first time, I observed the trees beginning to bud, and indeed the climate seemed to have changed very materially sjnce we passed the Falls of St. Anthony. 13th April, Sunday.-We embarked after breakfast. Messrs. Frazer and Wood accompanied me. \Vind strong a-head. They outrowed us ; the first boat or canoe we rnet with on the voyage able to do it, but then they were double manned and light. Arrived at the band of the Aile Rouge at 2 o'clock, where we were saluted as usual. We had a council, when he spoke with more detestation of the conduct of the rascals at the mouth of the St. Peters, than any man I had yet heard. He assured me, speaking of the fellow who had fired on 1ny sentinel, and threatened to kill me, that if I thought it requisite, he should be killed ; but that as there were many chiefs above, "·ith |
