548 APPENDIX. 



belonging to a Ctiippewa village called Pukwaewa, baying, as its 

 geographical centre and trading-post, Ottowa Lake. As I had 

 directed part of the expedition to precede me there, during my 

 journey to Yellow Eiver, I requested these Indians to meet me 

 at Ottowa Lake, and assist in conveying the stores and provisions 

 to that place — a service which they cheerfully performed. Ou 

 ascending the lower part of the Namakagon, I learned that my 

 messenger from Lake Superior had passed, and, on reaching Yel- 

 low River, T found the Indians assembled and waiting. They 

 were encamped on an elevated ridge, called Pekogunagun, or the 

 Hip Bone, and fired a salute from its summit. Several of the 

 neighboring Indians came in after my arrival. Others, with their 

 chiefs, were hourly expected. I did not deem it necessary for all 

 to come in, but proceeded to lay before them the objects of my 

 visit, and to solicit their co-operation in an attempt to make a 

 permanent peace with the Sioux, whose borders we then were 

 near. Kabamappa, the principal chief, not being a speaker, re- 

 sponded to my statements and recommendations through another 

 person (Sha-ne-wa-gwun-ai-be). He said that the Sioux were of 

 bad faith ; that they never refused to smoke the pipe of peace 

 with them, and they never failed to violate the promise of peace 

 thus solemnly made. He referred to an attack they made last 

 year on a band of Chippewas and half-breeds, and the murder of 

 four persons. Perpetual vigilance was required to meet these 

 inroads. Yet he could assert, fearlessly, that no Chippewa war- 

 party from the St. Croix had crossed the Sioux line for years ; 

 that the murder he had mentioned was committed within the 

 Chippewa lines; and although it was said, at the treaty of Prairie 

 du Chien, that the first aggressor of territorial rights should be 

 punished, neither punishment was inflicted by the Government, 

 nor had any atonement or apology thus far been made for this 

 act by the Sioux. He said his influence had been exerted in 

 favor of peace ; that he had uniformly advised both chiefs and 

 warriors to this effect ; and he stood ready now to do whatever it 

 was reasonable he should do on the subject. 



I told him it was not a question of recrimination that was be- 

 fore us. It was not even necessary to go into the inquiry of who 

 had spilt the first blood since the treat}'- of Prairie du Chien, The 

 treaty had been violated. The lines had been crossed. Murders 



