[ 237 ] 62 



the Chippeways, whose numbers had increased to the whole amount of 

 those iuhabiting the shores of the other great lakes of this region. 



The day on which the council was to take place, Desire came at day- 

 break to inform me that two large flags had been planted, and were floating 

 at the entrance of my tent. 1 rose immediately, and found that one was 

 that of the United States, the other that of Great Britain. I forthwith 

 sent my interpreter to the chief, Es/tlcibo^ikoj, informing him that I was 

 sensible of the honor that he intended me, but that I was not provided with 

 a forked tongue; that, if we were to meet in council, 1 doubtless would have 

 to reply to him ; this 1 could not do, but in presence of the flag under the 

 auspices of which 1 was then travelling : and that both at once could not 

 protect the same country. My interpreter soon returned, accompanied by 

 a messenger, Oshkabewis, bearing me an apology on the part of the chief, 

 who, he declared, had no other intention than to pay me a compliment, 

 and demonstrate to his nation the estimation in which he held me. The 

 British flag was accordingly removed. In fact, I had more than once sus- 

 pected liiat Fiat Mouth's intention was to talk in {-raise of the British, with 

 disparagement to the Americans ; which I could not, under circumstances, 

 tolerate. 



The talk took place at the appointed time, and lasted nearly four hours ; 

 but I shall not narrate the long harangue 1 was compelled to listen to on 

 this occasion, any more than what 1 heard from the under chiefs and 

 speakers of the tribe, previous to my departure for the sources of the 

 Mississippi. Still, I took them down minutely as they were recited; and, 

 on referring to them, find them both curious and interesting, although con- 

 veyed in a style of great sameness: "The heavens were obscured by 

 clouds" — " our women and children were suflfering" — " we did not know 

 what to do" — "on thy arrival the sky has brightened up," (fee. The 

 harangue of the chief was, however, both ushered in and followed by in- 

 cidents very characteristic of Indian manners, the details of which 1 must 

 postpone for another occasion. 



During three successive evenings I went to take tea with Eshkibogikoj^ 

 and drank it out of fine china ware. I showed him a snufi'box that 

 had been given to me by my friend Colonel Achille Murat, on my visit 

 to the Floridas, upon the lid of which was a full length portrait of Na- 

 poleon at St. Helena. The cliief took much notice of this portrait, and 

 <juestioned me largely about this great warrior, whom he named Napo- 

 neon; the Chippeway tongue being deficient in the consonant letter /. 

 He frequently asked me for the box; and, contemplating it, would say, 

 " Well, it is strange, on whatever side I turn it, the figure looks at me, 

 and seems to say ' thou art my brother warrior.' " 1 need scarcely add, 

 that these three long evenings spent with Eshkibogikoj were full of in- 

 struction. 



By the bye, the Chippeway tribe inhabiting the shores of Leech lake 

 have received from the Indian traders the name of pillagers, (pilleiirs,) 

 in consequence of some suspicious transactions of which Mr. Schoolcraft 

 has given an account in his narrative of an expedition to Itaska lake. 

 They have adopted this cognomen as their 7iom de bataille; calling them- 

 selves, in their own tongue, Makajidwi/, which means pillagers; or Ma- 

 Jcandwe-iniiiniwug, a pillaging people. 



The circuit ©f Leech lake, including its indentations, is not less than 

 160 miles. It is next in size to Red lake, which is said to be 200 miles 



