Volume 1

l8o
WOOD TICKS—PLANS FOR THE SUMMER.
He is a sly scoundrel, and I shall take measures to counteract
his proceedings."
Ever since April 25th we have been
ticks [a species of Ixodes\ ;
and
plagued with wood
now that we are daily in
the woods and grass, our clothes swarm with those troublesome
and dangerous insects, which often get into the ear
and cause inflammation. When they have time to get
firm hold they cannot be removed without pulling the body
from the head, which remains in the skin, and causes an itching
which may last for several months. The bellies of our
horses and dogs are covered with them ; they adhere to the
flesh until they have sucked themselves full of blood and
are swelled nearly to the size of a musket ball, when they
fall off of themselves. Their natural size is about that of a
grain of barley, and in shape they are perfectly flat, with a
tough, hard skin, of a chestnut color. They continue to
the end of July, when they suddenly disappear.
May joth. Two of my men came from Portage la
Prairie, nth. All the Indians arrived ; also, a canoe from
Red lake, containing an Indian and his family, with 20
beaver and five bear skins. 12th. I assembled them all,
and gave them five kegs of mixed rum gratis, besides clothings
to the two chiefs, Vieux Collier and Chamanau, with a
long speech, telling them how they must conduct themselves,
and informing them of my determination to build a
fort this summer on Panbian river, where Langlois was to
Three men arrived
remain with six men for that purpose.
from Portage la Prairie with tools for building, bringing also
30 very small potatoes, making about half a hat full, and
four horses to haul wood, i/f-th. The plains on fire in
every direction, and smoke darkens the air.
May 15th. I made up the packs. Indians drinking and
troublesome. Engaged Langlois, Desmarais, Pierre, and
*' No doubt the "sly scoundrel "was lying, and perhaps the story was made of
whole cloth ; nevertheless, see Tanner, p. 124, where Tabushshah is spoken of
in connection with a certain Aguskogaut, named as "a Muskego chief," who
" called himself a prophet of the Great Spirit, like the one who appeared some