NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 169 



CHAPTER XV. 



Mr. Schoolcraft makes a visit to the lead mines of Dubuque — Incidents of the trip 

 — Description of the mines — The title of occupancy, and the mode of the mines 

 being worked by the Fox tribe of Indians — Who are the Foxes ? 



I SOLICITED permission of Gov. Cass to visit tlie lead miues of 

 Dubuque, wliich are situated on tlie west bank of the Mississippi, 

 at tlie computed distance of twenty-five leagues below Prairie du 

 Chien. Furnished with a light canoe, manned by eight voya- 

 geurs, including a guide, I left the prairie at half-past eleven 

 A. M. (6th). Passed the entrance of the Wisconsin, on the left 

 bank, at the distance of a league.'^ Opposite this point is the 

 high elevation which Pike, in 1806, recommended to be occupied 

 w^ith a military Avork. The suggestion has not, however, been 

 adopted; military men, probably, thinking that, however eligible 

 the site might be for a work where civilized nations were likely 

 to come into contact, a simpler style of defensive works would 

 serve the purpose of keeping the Indian tribes in check. I pro- 

 ceeded nine leagues below, and encamped at the site of a Fox 

 village,t located on the east bank, a mile below the entrance of 

 Turkey River from the west. The village, consisting of twelve 

 lodges, was now temporarily deserted, the Indians being probably 

 absent on a hunt ; but, if so, it was remarkable that not a soul or 

 living thing was left behind, not even a dog. My guide, indeed, 

 informed me that the cause of the desertion was the fears enter- 

 tained of an attack from the Sioux, in retaliation for the massacre 

 lately perpetrated by them on the heads of the St. Peter's, which 

 was alluded to in the speech of the Little Crow, while we were at 

 his village {ante, p. 160). 



* It was at this spot, one hundred and thirty-seven years ago, that Marquette 

 and M. Joliet, coming from the lakes, discovered the Mississippi. 



f Now the site of Cassville, Grant County, AVisconsin. It is a post town, plea- 

 santly situated, with a population of 200. 



