[buepke] lake of the WOODS TRAGEDY 21 



in the sand, and this left no donbt that the Sioux had also lost some 

 of their number. 



" The news of this adventure having got abroad, Sieur de la 

 VérandeTie was vi'sited by delegates from the Cris and Monsonis, who 

 informed him that during the following autumn the chiefs of their 

 nations would come to him in order that, with him at their head, the 

 blood of his son and that of the other French that the Sioux had 

 killed, mig-^ht be avenged; to which Monsieur de la Véranderie replied, 

 thanking them and telling them that it would be necessary to await 

 the orders of their father as to what course should be followed, and 

 that after these had been received, he would inform them of it. 



" A few days afterwards the Cris and Assiniboels assembled at 

 Fort Maurepas, and sent twelve of their number to Sieur de la 

 Véranderie, to ascertain if it was his intention to go anyd avenge the 

 death of the French, and especially of his own son, whom their nation 

 had adopted as their chief; that they were still mourning his death; 

 that a portion of their warriors would proceed to the point below the 

 fort which is their common meeting place ; and that they had the hope 

 of seeing him himself or one of his children at their head to march 

 against the Sioux, or that at least he would send them a canoe with 

 powder, bullets and tobacco. 



" Sieur de la Véranderie having held counsel with the great 

 chiefs of the Monsonis and Cris, they commenced by bewailing the 

 death (of the French), and the Indian chiefs proposed to Sieur' de liai 

 Véramderie to send expeditions against the Sioux, but upion consider- 

 ing that this would interfere with the autumn hunting, and also with 

 the harvesting of the wild oats, and upon the representations of Sieur 

 de la Véranderie, that owing to the limited number of canoes pro- 

 visions were scarce, it was decided not to undertake the expedition. 

 But this officer proposed at the same time to the chiefs of the two 

 nations, to send word to the Monsonis of Lake Tekamamiouen to the 

 effect that after having met together, they should go every year to 

 meet the convoy of the French and escort it with fifty men, which 

 they would furnish, in order that they might not be exposed to the 

 insults of the Sioux. This was unanimously accepted and was carried 

 out during the autumn of last year. 



" M'onsieuT de la Véranderie, as a mark of gra.titude, gave to the 

 chiefs of these two tribes a collar to be kept by them, the one /given 

 to the Monsonis, at Fort St. Pierre, and the one given to the Cris, at 

 Fort St. Charles, Lake of the Woods. 



" This officer, moreover, promised to the Indians some tobacco, 

 powder and also bullets, which would be delivered to them in the 

 spring and autumn of each year. J 



