256 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



"his hand, suspended by ribbons, five silver medals, smeared with 

 vermilion, to symbolize blood. 



A person not familiar with Indian symbols, might deem such 

 signs alarming. 1 knew him to be very fond of using these sym- 

 bols, and, indeed, a man who never made a speech without them; 

 and I had the fullest confidence that, while he aimed to produce 

 the fullest effect upon his listening, but less shrewd tribe of folks, 

 and upon all, indeed, he never dreamed of an act which should 

 bring him into conflict with the United States. Like Blackhawk, 

 who was now exciting and leading the tribes at lower points to 

 war, he had, from his youth, been in the British interests. He 

 displayed a British flag at his breakfast, and three of his medals 

 were of British coinage, but he was a man of far more compre- 

 hensive mind and understanding than Blackhawk, 



Having been, as a government agent, the medium of the agree- 

 ment of the Chippewas and Sioux in fixing on a boundaiy line 

 for their respective territories at the treaty of Prairie-du-Chien, in 

 1825, 1 made that agreement, on the present occasion, the basis of 

 my remarks, for their preserving in good faith the stipulations of 

 that treaty, and of renewing the principles of it in the points 

 where they had since been broken and violated. I concluded by 

 assuring them of the friendship of the United States, of which my 

 visit to this remote region must be deemed proof, and of the sin- 

 cerity with which I had communicated the words of the President. 

 The presents were then delivered and distributed. 



Aishkebuggekozh, or the Guelle Plat, replied, with much of the 

 skill and force of Indian oratory. He began by calling the atten- 

 tion of the warriors to his words ; he then turned to me, thanking 

 me for the presents. He said that he had been present when Pike 

 visited this lake in 1806. He pointed with his fingers across the 

 lake, to the Ottertail Point, where the old trading house of the 

 British Northwest Company had stood. "You have come," he 

 continued, "to remind us that the American flag is now flying 

 over the country, and to offer us counsels of peace. I thank you. 

 I have heard that voice before, but it was like a rushing wind. It 

 was strong, but soon went. It did not remain long enough to 

 choke up the path. At the treaty of Prairie-du-Chien, it had been 

 promised that whoever crossed the lines, the long arms of the 

 President should pull them back ; but, that very year, the Sioux 



