171 JiXPEDITION TO THE 



birds, (Emberiza oryzivora, Wilson,) sand-hill cranes, (Grus 

 canadensis,) curlews, &c. Many badger holes were observ- 

 ed ; we saw at the garrison one of these animals, that had been 

 raised in the fort, and whose playful, inoffensive manners, 

 had made him a general favourite. 



A ride of about eighteen miles brought us to the banks 

 of Fox river, which is a fine stream about one hundred and 

 thirty yards wide, the scenery of which is varied by seve- 

 ral islands scattered through its channel. The country, 

 which consisted of prairie land, became handsomely wooded 

 in the neighbourhood of the river; a couple of Indian lodges, 

 seen in the distance, gave an appearance of inhabitance to 

 the spot. These we found to belong to the M'e-n6-m'6-n 'e, 

 or wild rice eaters, a nation that appears to be fast decreas- 

 ing in numbers. The reports concerning the Menomone 

 nation are so various, and we observed so few of them on 

 the route, that we had not an opportunity of forming an 

 opinion upon the disputed point of their Algonquin origin. 

 It is said that few if any white men have ever been able to 

 learn their language ; and we have been assured by the late 

 Indian Agent at Greenbay, (Major John Biddle,) that he had 

 found it difficult to obtain an interpreter capable of con- 

 versing with them in their own language. A consider- 

 able intercourse has, however, existed between them and 

 white men ; but it is said to be principally in the Algon- 

 quin languages, the prevailing medium of intercourse being 

 the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi languages, or as in 

 most cases a mixture of these three dialects. The few 

 Menomones whom we met with were of a light colour, 

 resembling much that of the light mulattoes in our Atlantic 

 states, probably nearer the colour of individuals resulting 

 from an admixture of five-eighths European with three- 

 eighths of African blood. It is said that this light colour 



