246 EXPEDITION TO THE 



professes friendship for them, and allows them to share in 

 his confidence. 



It may here be remarked, that the Indians westward of 

 the Mississippi are, for the most part, addicted to an erratic 

 life, migrating from place to place in quest of game on 

 which they principally subsist. They are divided into nu- 

 merous bands, each of which has its appropriate leader, and 

 in all their movements they are prepared for any event 

 whether of the chase or warfare. 



The Chippewas, from the nature of the country they in- 

 habit, are distributed into families rather than tribes, the 

 general scarcity of game, and other necessaries of life, ren- 

 dering it impracticable for them to dwell in large num- 

 bers at any one point. In the event of a war, several fami- 

 lies unite in forming a martial force suitable for the occa- 

 sion. They subsist principally upon fish and wild rice, the 

 latter of which is very abundant in the region they inha- 

 bit, and would afibrd them a competent supply of food, 

 were they sufliciently industrious in collecting it, and fru- 

 gal in its expenditure. 



However gloomy the prospect of the Indians, as it re- 

 lates to the means in their own power of ameliorating their 

 condition, we cannot forbear to entertain the hope, that 

 the humane exertions made in their behalf by our govern- 

 ment, and especially by charitable missionary institutions, 

 will prove efficacious in promoting their welfare. The ef- 

 forts of the Baptist Missionary Society, which have been 

 particularly noticed in the preceding narrative, have been 

 bestovved in a manner that promises great advantage to the 

 unfortunate savage, and nothing seems wanting to secure 

 unbounded success, but perseverance in the same benevo- 

 lent course. In witnessing the striking change that has 



