70 .NARRATIVE, &c. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Council with the Chippewas at Cass Lake. — Speeches of Oza Windib, 

 Neezh Opinais, and Wai Wain Jeegim. — Distribution of presents. — 

 Geographical and Geological notices of Cass Lake. — Coicaspi Isle. — 

 Allen's Bay. — Pike's Bay. — Heights and distances. — Tributary of 

 Turtle River. — Turtle Lake. — Portage from Cass Lake to Leech 

 Lake. — Hieroglyphic marks. — Moss Lake. — Reach Lake Shiba. — 

 The source of the River Shiba flowing into Leech Lake. — Traverse 

 Leech Lake at night, and encamp at Quelle Plat's village. — Received 

 by the Indians with respect. — Description of Leech Lake. — Its popu- 

 lation and principal Chiefs. — Warlike character of the Pillagers. — 

 Efforts made by them to defend the Chippewa frontiers. — Their war- 

 jare defensive. 



Health, and a peaceable intercourse with the natives, had, 

 under Providence, preserved our party at the island in Cass 

 Lake, and we rejoined them in their encampment, with mutual 

 pleasure. The day following our arrival, being Monday, was 

 devoted to die formalities of a council with the Indians. I sta- 

 ted to them the objects of my visit to the region, so far as these 

 related to them — the desire felt by the Government for their 

 welfare, and its anxiety to cultivate their friendship — and en- 

 deavored to impress upon their minds, the importance of ter- 

 minating their warfare with their hereditary enemies, the 

 Sioux. 



Oza Windib spoke in reply. Thanks, he said, were all they 

 had to offer me, and through me, to the Great Chief of America, 

 for the charitable feelings which had led to my visit, and the 

 good counsels he had received. He should remember these 

 counsels. They would be kept in his heart. He would endea- 

 vor to act by them. And although not himself a Chief, or the 

 son of a Chief, he would exert the influence he possessed, to 



