30 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



its junction with Red River, on a raft, went down the latter 

 about four miles, and concealed themselves in the vicinity of a 

 trading house, at which there were several lodges of Chippewas. 

 After waiting a definite time, and finding no opportunity to 

 effect their purpose, they resolved to return to the raft at the 

 crossing of the river, leaving a select party to make a sally 

 upon the Chippewas. This party met the girl, tore off her 

 scalp in haste, and fled to rejoin their companions at the raft. 

 But as the girl w r as not killed, the alarm was immediately given. 

 Nine Chippewas started in the pursuit. They overtook and 

 fired upon the Mandans, killing one man, and driving them in 

 to their main party. The latter, in the mean time, had tied 

 their guns together and laid them on the raft, preparatory to 

 crossing. Being suddenly roused by the warwhoop, in their midst, 

 and without arms, they plunged into the Pembina, and swam 

 across. During this effort, they were fired upon by their pursuers, 

 who killed two more of their number. One of these succeeded in 

 gaining the opposite bank, and was carried a short distance by his 

 companions before he expired. His body was left. The remainder 

 of the party pursued their flight. But they were without 

 the means of subsistence, for they had lost their arms. A new 

 calamity overtook them. The Sioux (who were also their 

 enemies, as well as the enemies of the Chippewas,) fell upon 

 them, and, in their defenceless state, killed thirty-six men. The 

 survivor reached his people on the Missouri to narrate the 

 disaster. 



The expedition pursued its way on the 9th. The ascent of 

 this part of the river, being through a series of savannahs, the 

 guides availed themselves of an intimate knowledge of the 

 country, and the high state of the water, to avoid numerous 

 curves, which would have consumed much time in coursing 

 around, and led the way through extensive fields of reeds and 

 grass, assuming the character of semi-lakes. Not far above Oak 

 Point, a side route was taken, through a lake called the Bogot- 

 towa, or Lac a le Crosse. This lake, which is a clear and 



