156 EXPEDITION TO THE 



for canoes and small l)oats. An intercourse has likewise 

 existed, in wet seasons, across the prairie east of the trader's 

 establishment which we passed on the previous day. At 

 noon we rested our horses in the vicinity of the remains 

 of an Indian village, named the Grand Quoit, and we 

 observed a few Indian lodges scattered along the edge of 

 the forest which encloses this prairie. On discovering 

 our party on the prairie, the tenants of the lodges imme- 

 diately rode out of the woods, advanced towards us, 

 and opened a conversation with our guides. Their inter- 

 course with white men, and the consequent departure from 

 their original customs, were observable in the circumstance 

 of their commencing the conversation, and in their minute 

 inquries respecting our object and intentions in visiting 

 the country. They are said to experience a great scarcity 

 of food, which we can readily believe from the total ab- 

 sence of any kind of game which we have observed upon 

 the route. An Indian who rode up near us, while we were 

 partaking of our dinner, stopped and appeared to long after 

 food ; but called for none. We offered him some, which 

 he very thankfully accepted, and seemed to eat with 

 great voraciousness. 



Our party was this day overtaken by an express from 

 Wayne, who brought letters to Major Long, one of which 

 w^as from Dr. James, stating that he had been waiting in 

 Pittsburg for the party. From the contents of his letter, 

 we concluded that the hopes, which had been hitherto 

 entertained, of his being able to effect a junction with us, 

 were vain. These were the last letters, received from our 

 friends, until we found some on our return at the Sault de 

 St. Marie. 



At about forty-three miles from the Carey station the 

 trail which we followed struck the shores of Lake Michi- 

 gan ; this was a source of great gratification to us ; as the 



