NARRATIVE, 1 11 



which ihew themselves above the water. Betew the junction 

 of Leaf River, this characteristic becomes less noticeable, and 

 it disappears entirety, below the entrance of the Long Prairie 

 branch. Its hanks are * l< rated, presenting to the eye, a race 

 i of pine forests, on the one hand, and an alluvial bend, 

 ring elms and soft maple, on the other. There is a small wil- 

 low island about eighteen miles below the junction of shell 

 river, and several small elm islands in its central part-: but 

 nothing at all comparable, in size, soil and timber, \\ ith the large 



and noted bland, called ft • D ( '<>rh< <ui, which murks its junc- 

 tion with the Mississippi. 



Long Prairie River is the avenue through which the Chippe- 

 was ascend, in their war excursions against the Scssitons and 

 Yanktons. And many tales are related of mishaps and adven- 

 tures on this stream, and the plains contiguous to it. Some of 

 these it may be supposed, are tales merely. Others are the 

 events of Indian history. But truth and fiction appear to be so 

 blended in the accounts, that the separation of the one, from the 

 other, must be often difficult, if not impossible. The recent 

 war party, of which we saw one of the trophies, while encamp- 

 ed on the island of Coleaspi, went up this river in canoes. 

 They encountered the Sioux, as they affirm, coming out against 

 them. A fight ensued in the prairies, and was continued with 

 changes of position throughout the day. Three Sioux and one 

 Chippewa fell. The Sioux withdrew to a more remote position 

 near their village. And the Chippewas returned to exult <>\< r 

 the scalps of their enemy, and to meditate another blow. We 



\ several traces of this war party in our descent of the 

 Corbeau, in their places of hasty encampment, and also in re- 

 nall lire-, tracks in landing on an open sand 

 bank, and abandone : stranded and partly sunk, on the 



shores. 

 This war, between the Chippewas and Sioux, appears to be 

 Locient origin. l< I with the ry of the 



country. Although the Chippewas a; 



