342 EXPEDITION TO THE 



port confirmed. Tlie mouth of the Blue Earth river is the 

 chief residence of a tribe of the Dacotas, who call themselves 

 the Mi&k^cli^k^'s^a, and who are generally known by the 

 traders by the name of Sisitons. They are a warlike and 

 powerful band, and at that time were considered as un- 

 friendly to the Americans on account of the government's 

 having arrested, and sent to St. Louis for trial, one of their 

 tribe who had killed a wdiite man. It was chiefly from 

 them that hostilities had been apprehended, and the force 

 which we had taken at Fort St. Anthony was intended to 

 protect the party against an attack from them ; but in order 

 to evince a friendly disposition on the part of our govern- 

 ment, Major Taliaferro had intended to hold a council with 

 them at the same time. The news of their being dispersed 

 on their summer hunts, was the principal reason which in- 

 duced Major Long to desist from his intention of visiting 

 the mouth of the Terre Bleue, and which determined him 

 to order back part of our escort. 



In the evening, the party encamped on the bank of a 

 small pool, which forms one of a group of ponds, dignified 

 with the appellation of the Swan Lakes, on account of the 

 abundance of these birds said to exist in their neighbour- 

 hood. The Indian name is Miiilifi tankaota nienda, wdiich 

 signifies the lake of the many large birds. Observations 

 were made by Mr. Colhoun to determine the longitude of 

 this place ; although taken at a time when the sun was very 

 low, they served to correct the observations made at the 

 Crescent, These lakes are more properly marshes, the 

 quantity of water in them varying according to the sea- 

 sons. We had passed several of them during the day ; in 

 one of these marshes our pack-horses were several times 

 exposed to much difficulty ; and the mule that carried the 

 biscuit having stumbled, part of our provisions were wet 



