552 APPENDIX. 



bad been committed by a person non compos^ and lie deplored tlie 

 folly of it, and disclaimed all agency in it for himself and liis 

 band. The murderer, I believe, belonged to his band ; he desired 

 a reconciliation. lie also said the measures adopted at Yellow 

 Eiver, to bring about a firm peace with the Sioux, had his fullest 

 approbation, and that nothing on his part should be wanting to 

 promote a result in every view so wise and so advantageous to 

 the Indians. In this sentiment, Wabezhais and Odabossa, who 

 made distinct speeches, also concurred. They confirmed their 

 words by pipes, and all the assembly made an audible assent. I 

 invested Mozojeed with a flag and a medal, that he might exert 

 the influence he has acquired among the Indians beneficially for 

 them and for us, and that his hands might thus be officially 

 strengthened to accomplish the work of pacification. I then dis- 

 tributed presents to the chiefs, warriors, women, and children, in 

 the order of their being seated, and immediately embarked, leav- 

 ing them under a lively and enlivened sense of the good-will and 

 friendship of the American government, on this first official visit 

 to them, and with a sincere disposition, so far as could be judged, 

 to act in obedience to its expressed and known wishes. 



The Indians at Torch Lake being dispersed, and my message 

 to them not having been delivered, from this uncertaint}'' of their 

 location, I should have found reasons for not proceeding in that 

 direction, independent of the actual and knov/n difficulties of the 

 route at that time. I was still apprehensive that my appearance 

 had not wholly disconcerted the war-party of Neenaba, and lost 

 no time in proceeding to his village on the Eed Cedar fork. We 

 found the village at Lake Chetac, which in 1824 was 217 strong, 

 almost totally deserted, and the trading-house burnt. Scattering 

 Indians were found along the river. The mutual fear of interrup- 

 tion was such that Mr. B. Cadotte, Sen., the trader at Ottowa 

 Lake, thought it advisable to follow in our train for the purpose 

 of collecting his credits at Rice Lake. 



While at breakfast on the banks of Sapin Lake, a returning 

 Avar-party entered the opposite side of it; they were evidently sur- 

 prised, and they stopped. After reconnoitring us, they were en- 

 couraged to advance, at first warily, and afterward with confidence. 

 There were eight canoes, with two men in each ; each man had a 

 gun, war-club, knife, and ammunition-bag : there was nothing else 



