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Show )3 J !Jtb April, Tuc.rday.-Arose ver~ early and embarked about sunrise, much to the astomshment of the Indians, who were entirely prepared for the council, when they heard I had put ofr; however after some cm:versatiou with Mr. :Frazer, they acknowledged that It was agreeably to what I had said, that I would s~i_l ea_rly, and that they could not blame me. I was very po. Itlve 111 .my wo:d, for I found it by far the best way to treat the Indians. 1he Aile Rouge had a beaver robe and pip: p~epared to present, but was obliged for the present to retain It. ~assed t~rough Lake Pepin with my barges, the canoe bemg obhged to lay by, did not come on. Stopt at a prairie on the ri~ht bank desc nding, about nine n1iles below Lake Pepm. \.Vent out to view some hills which had the appearance of 1 he old fortifications spoken of; but I will speak 1nore fully of thctn hereafter. In these hollows I discovered a flock of elk, took out fifteen men, but we were not able to kill any. Mr. Frazer came up and passed on about two miles. We encamped together. Neither Mr. Wood's nor my canoe arrived. Snowed considerably. 16th Ap1·il, f!Vcdnc.rday.-Mr. Frazer s canoes and my boats sailed about one hour by sun. We waited some time expecting Mr. Wood's barges, and 1ny canoe, but hearing a gun fired first just above our encampment, we were induced to n1ake sail. Passed the Aile Prairie, also La Montagne qui 'I'rompe a L' eau, the prairie De Cross, and encamped on theW. shore, a few hundred yards below, where I had encamped on the day of September, in ascending. Killed a goose flying. Shot at some pidgeons at our camp, and was answered fron1 behind an island with t\vo guns·; we returned them, and w re replied to by two more. 'This day the trees appeared in bloom. Snow might still be seen on the sides of the hills. Distance 75 1 1ilcs. TO THE SOUHCES OF TilE l\IISSISSI PPI. I 7th April, Thur.rday.-Put off pretty early an c.l arr rived at Wabasha's band at 11 o'clock, where I detained all day for him; but he alone of all the hunters remained out all night. Left some powder and tobacco for him. The Sioux presented me with a kettle of boiled meat and a deer. I here received information that the Puants haJ killed some white n1en below. Mr. Wood's and my canoe' arrived. l8tb April, Friday.-Departed from our encampment very early. Stopped to breakfast at the Painted Rock. A.r~ trived at the Prairie Des Cheins at two o'clock ; and were received by crouds on the bank. Took up my quarters at Mr. Fisher's. My men received a present of one barrel of pork from Mr. Campbell, a bag of biscuit, 20 loaves of bread, and some meat from Mr. Fisher. A Mr. Jear. reau, from Cahokia, is here, who embarks tomorrow for St. Louis. I wrote to general Wilkinson by him.* I was called ou by a number of chiefs, Reynards, Sioux of the Des Moyan, &c. The Winebagos were here intending, as I was informed, to deliver some of the n1urdcrers to me. Received a great deal of news from the States and Europe, both civil and military. 19th April, Saturday.-Dined at Mr. Campbell's in company with Messrs. Wilmot, Blakely, Vl ood, Rollct, Fisher, Frazer, and Jearreau. Six canoes arrived from the upper part of the St. Peters with the Yanctong chiefs from the head of that river. Their appearance was indeed savage, much more so than any nation I have yet seen. Prepared my boat for sail. Gave notice to the Puants that I had business to do with them the next day. A band of the Gens DuLac arrived. Took joto my pay as interpreter Mr. Y. Reinville. 20th April, Sunday.- Held a council with the Puant chiefs, and demanded of them the murderers of their na. •;-!lee appendix to part I. [No. n ] pagl! zs. |