252 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



been trod by the Indians for centuries. I observed, as we passed 

 along, the alum root, hyacinthus, and sweet fern, with the ledum 

 latifolium, vaccinium dumosum, and more common species of pine 

 plains. The pinus resinosa assumes here a larger size, and the 

 Indians pointed out to me markings and pictographs drawn with 

 charcoal, and covered with the resin of the tree, which were made 

 by the Indian tribe who preceded them in the occupancy of the 

 sources of the Mississippi. This must have been, if I rightly ap- 

 prehend their history, prior to A. D. 1600. That such markings 

 should be preserved by the pitch, which sheds the rain, is, how- 

 ever, probable. They were of the totemic character, i. e. relating 

 to the exploits or achievements of groups of families, in which 

 the individual actor sinks his specific in the generic family or 

 clan name. Antiquities of this character are certainly a new 

 feature in Indian history. Letters have perfectly preserved the 

 landing of Car tier at the mouth of the St. Lawrence in 153-i. 

 Pictography here records, that certain clans had killed bears and 

 taken human scalps before that time. And the fact is deeply 

 important in shedding light on Indian history and character ; for 

 the killing of deers and bears, and the taking of human scalps, is 

 precisely what these tribes are doing at the present time. In the 

 three hundred years' interval, they have made no mental progress. 

 The Chippewa is just as fierce to-day, in hunting a Dacota scalp, 

 as the Dacota is in hunting a Chippewa scalp. The conquering 

 tribe has, however, pushed the Dacotas nearly one thousand miles 

 down the Mississippi. 



" Talk of your Hannibals, Napoleons, and Alps, 

 My glory," quoth the feathered hunter, "is in scalps." 



After following the deeply indented path nine hundred and 

 fifty yards, we reached a small lake which disclosed, as we passed 

 it, patches of a dark, coarse, mossy-like substance at its bottom. 

 On reaching down with their paddles, the men brought up a sin- 

 gular species of aquatic plant with coral-shaped branches. After 

 crossing this lake, the pine plain resumed its former character. 

 There was then a shallow bog of fifty or sixty yards. The rest 

 of the path consists of an arid sand plain, which is sometimes 

 brushy, but generally presents dry, easy travelling. We had 

 walked four thousand one hundred yards, or about two and a 



