400 EXPEDITION TO THE 



lated of the mother of Takopepcshencj that she once killed 

 a young Chippewa girl whom she had adopted as her 

 daughter four or five years before. This she did to avenge 

 the death of her nephews, who had been killed by the 

 Chippewas; this occurrence took place in 1807; and some 

 of the circumstances attending the engagement between the 

 two nations, exhibit the great animosity which prevails 

 between the Chippewas and Dacotas. The latter had, it is 

 said, ascended Chippewa river on a hunting excursion, un- 

 der the command of Shakea, the Redwing chief, when 

 their leader informed them that he had dreamed of the 

 near approach of their enemy. This prediction was un- 

 heeded, but the subsequent night, at about two o'clock, the 

 camp was assaulted by the Chippewas, who gained some 

 advantage over the Dacotas ; finding them, however, more 

 numerous than they had anticipated, the Chippewas with- 

 drew, leaving the field to them. The Dacotas pursued and 

 overtook them on an island covered with aspen ; they fired 

 the woods ; the conflagration spreading over the island^ 

 many of the Chippewas perished. It is stated that the 

 Sioux boys afterwards amused themselves in cutting oft 

 the lower joint of the fingers of the slain, as well as strips 

 of skin fi'om their arms, and of these they made necklaces> 

 &c. 



The difficulties, misfortunes, and ill-treatment which at- 

 tend prisoners among Indian nations, as well as the equa- 

 nimity and perseverance which they manifest in order to 

 effect a rescue, appear almost incredible to those who are 

 unacquainted with the Indian character, yet there can be no 

 doubt in the minds of those who have made a study of it 

 The following narrative of the perils and adventures of a 

 Yankton woman, whom we saw near Lake Travers, ha? 



