OCR Text |
Show • so s. CHIPPEWA YS, of Leach Lalle. Claitn the country on both sides of the Mississip~i, frmn the mouth of the Crow.wing river to its source, and extending west of the Mississippi to the lands claimed by the Sioux, with whom they still contend for dominion. They claim, also, cast of the Mississippi, the country extending as far as lake Superior, including the waters of the river St. Louis. This country is thickly covered with timber generally; lies level, and generally fertile, though a considerable proportion of it is intersected and broken up by small lakes, morasses and swamps, particularly about the heads of the Mississippi and river St. Louis. 'I'hey do not cultivate, but live principally on the wild rice, which they procure in great abundance on the borders of Leach Lake and the banks of the Mississippi. Their number has been considerably rcdLv:ed by wars and the small pox. Their trade is at its greatest extent. OJ Red lalw. Claim the country about Hed lake and Red lake river, as far as the Hed river of lake \Vinnipie, beyond which last river they contend with the Sioux for territory . . T'his is a low level country, a~d generally thickly covered "vith timber, interrupted With many swamps and n1orasses. This, as well as the other bands of Chippeways, arc esteemed the bc3t hunters in the north west country; but from the long residence of this band in the country they now inha .. bit, game is becoming scarce; therefore, their trade is supposed to be a~ its greatest extent. The Chippe~ ways are a well dtsposed people, but excessively fond of spirituous liquor. OJ river P_embena. These people formerly resided on th<: east s1de of the 1\tlississippi, at Sand lake, but were Induced, by the north west com1)any to remove b . , ' a out two years smcc, to the river Pen1bena. Thev do not .clain1 the lands on which they hunt. Tl1c country IS level and the soil o·ood. 'The west side 0 1. the river is principally prairi~s or open plaint. ; on the 51 east side there is a greater proportion of timber. Their trade at present is a very valuable one, and will probably increase for some years. They do not cultivate, but live by hunting. They are well disposed towards the whites. • |