Volume 1

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66 STILL AT SCRATCHING RIVER.
great for them to venture further southward with their
families.
that I
They therefore through him expressed their wish
would build here and give them some liquor to drink
this evening. This I would not agree to, telling them I
was determined to proceed further up the river, even if I
should go alone ; if they were afraid of the Sioux, they
might remain and join me after my fort was built; and as
for liquor, they should have none at present. This sent
them away in a pet.
My people have now given over fishing, having plenty of
good meat. This evening our horses appeared restless, at
times terrified, and could not be kept from nearing the fire
at times they would neigh and snort. This gave alarm, and
obliged us to mount guard until daybreak ; the Indians
appeared very uneasy.
Aug. zjth. I took a walk along Riviere aux Gratias, thus
giving the Indians time to reflect on the answer I made
them last night. None of them appeared in a humor to
decamp, and it was not my wish to press them any further.
This small river rises in the Hair hills [Pembina mts.],
where it at first takes the name of Riviere aux Islettes
de Bois [Wooded Islets river]," and is divided into three
branches which, after leaving the hills, continue through
the level meadows on a winding course for about 20
leagues, with banks partially wooded. The wood then
ceases and the water spreads into a large marsh in the open
plain, upward of 20 leagues in circumference. The river
then separates in two branches, which join again after running
about 25 miles.
The Indians being so obstinately bent upon remaining at
this place, where I was assured there were very few beavers,
I sent for the principal men of the Red Sucker band, and
by many persuasions and promises detached them from the
*^ Not necessarily implying that the river has small wooded islands, but that
it is bordered at intervals by patches or clumps of trees, commonly called
islettes de bois by the voyageurs.
Hots:
I presume islettes would be preferably written
compare the literary F. phrase Hots de maisons, blocks of houses.