NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 143 



by the military. To this array, the chief BabesakunJiba, or the 

 Curly Head, added a canoe filled with Chippewa delegates, who 

 accompanied him on a mission of peace to the Sioux. This chief 

 is the same individual who met Lieut. Pike in this quarter, in 

 1806, and he appears to be a man of much energy and decision 

 of character. His reputation also gives him the character of 

 great skill, policy, and bravery in conducting the war against the 

 Sioux. Indian wars are not conducted as with us, by opposing 

 armies. It is altogether a guerilla affair. War parties are raised, 

 marched, fight, and disperse in a few days. The war is carried 

 on altogether by stealth and stratagem. Each one furnishes him- 

 self with food and weapons. In such a warfare, there is great 

 scope for individual exploits and daring. In these wars the 

 Curly Head had greatly distinguished himself, and he was, there- 

 fore, an ambassador of no mean power. In every view, the mission 

 assumed an interesting character ; and we kept an eye on the 

 chiefs movements, on our journey down the river, chiefly that we 

 might notice the caution which is observed by the Indians in 

 entering an enemy's country. 



After entering the Mississippi, below Sandy Lake, the stream 

 presents very much the character it has above. It was below 

 this point that we first observed the juglans nigra in the forest. 

 Its banks are diluvial or alluvial formations, elevated from six to 

 ten feet. The elm, maple, and pine are common. There are some 

 small grassy islands, with tufts of willows, and driftwood lodged. 

 No rock strata appear. The river winds its way through vast di- 

 luvial beds, exhibiting at its rapids granitical, quartz, and trappose 

 boulders. It appears to glide wholly over the primitive or crys- 

 talline rocks, which rise in some places through the soil, or show 

 themselves at rapids. The expedition descended the stream 

 twenty-eight miles, and encamped on a sandy elevation on the 

 west shore, near Alder Kiver, which seemed to promise an ex- 

 emption from the annoyance of insects; but in this we were mis- 

 taken. In the hurry of a late encampment, it had been omitted 

 to pitch the tents. The first ill effect of this was felt on being 

 awakened at night by rain. A humid atmosphere is ever the 

 signal for awakening hordes of insects, and the mosquitos be- 

 came so troublesome that it was impossible to sleep at all after 



