Volume 1

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RETURN TO PARK RIVER POST. 131
and move southward. But a few Sioux families secreted
themselves in the woods about the lake, where they continued
to hunt beaver for some years after all the rest of
their people had fled to the Mississippi. They were discovered
by the Saulteurs, who either
drove them down this
river or destroyed them. One thing certain is that about
80 years ago the Saulteurs and Sioux were in perfect
enmity [amity ?], and both inhabited the country eastward,
more particularly Leech lake and its environs, which is
considered the headwaters of the Mississippi.
Our Indian host had speared some excellent sturgeon and
piccancan, of which he invited me to take what I would.
He had also plenty of dried meat and a few beaver skins.
I gave him some tobacco for his friends when they should
arrive, and desired him to tell them I should be happy to
see them at my place, when they had killed a few beaver.
Maymiutch assured them there was no danger from Sioux.
Oct. joth. Early this morning I bid the young man
farewell, telling him I hoped to see him and his friends
at my house with plenty of skins to trade. He smiled,
but said nothing. Having no further occasion to keep
along the river, we took our course directly homeward,
about W. N. W., passing through trembliers [aspen
groves
Populus tremuloides\ willows, tetes-de-femme [tussocks
of long grass], and small meadows until twelve
o'clock, when we came to the open plain. At dusk we
arrived at our camp of the 27th.
Oct. J 1st. At daybreak we saddled, mounted, and came
on at a round gallop and trot, by the same road we passed
in going. We saw plenty of bulls and red deer, but did
not attempt to kill any. At four o'clock we arrived opposite
the fort, and were at once ferried over, with our
horses. The poor beasts were much fatigued, having traveled
hard since they left, mostly over bad roads. Soon
after my arrival my hunter came in with three very fat red
deer. I gave Maymiutch some liquor, and they both began
to drink, but I was not apprehensive he would attempt to