110 NARRATIVE, &c 



CHAPTER XII. 



Further descent of the Be Corbeau. — Remarks on its general course 

 and character. — Junction of Leaf and Long Prairie Rivers. — The 

 latter pursued by the Pillagers in their wars against the Sessitons and 

 Yanktons. Cause of the appellation of Mukkundwa. — Their rob- 

 bery of Berti, and assertion of a belligerant 'principle. — Forest trees 

 of the De Corbeau. — Monotony of its scenery. — Meeting with a 

 Chippewa hunter. — Arrival at the mouth of the river, and entrance of 

 the Mississippi. — Concourse of Indians assembled at that point. — 

 Council with them. — Sketch of the speeches of Grosse Gueule, Soan- 

 gikumig, and White Fisher. — Arrival of the Pierced Prairie. — First 

 intelligence of the breaking out of the Sauc War. — Close of the 

 Narrative. — Notice of the effects of the disuse of ardent spirits by the 

 men, and the observance of the Sabbath. 



The ensuing portion of our voyage down this stream, 

 occupied a day and a half, during which we probably descended 

 a hundred and twenty miles. Its general course, from the 

 forks, is south-east. It is swelled by two principal tributaries 

 from the west, called Leaf and Long Prairie rivers, each of 

 which brings in an ample volume, and both bear the impress of 

 draining an extensive area. On the other bank, it is joined by 

 the Kioshk, or Gull River, a stream of inferior size. Lesser 

 streams or creeks, were noticed at several points, on either 

 shore, by which the mass of water is considerably augmented. 

 Altogether it is a stream of noble size, and is driven on through 

 a diluvial formation, with a velocity indicating no small ratio of 

 descent. There is no part of it, which can be called still water ; 

 much of it is rapid. For about seventy miles below the junc- 

 tion of Shell River, there is a regular series of distinct rapids, 

 in each of which, the descent is several feet, and it requires 

 dexterity to avoid running against the boulders, or " lost rocks," 



