114 NARRATIVE, &c. 



the monotony of its incidents, was relieved by descrying an In- 

 dian canoe, ascending the channel before us. A simultaneous 

 yell of recognition, both from it, and from our men, shewed the 

 accuracy, with which each could identify, on a first glance, and 

 at a distance, the approach of friends, for it proved to be a Chip- 

 pewa with his family. Our flag-staff was instantly placed in its 

 socket, in the stern of the canoe, and the distance between us 

 and them, made to appear less, under the influence of un chan- 

 son du voyegeur. The Indian, who, on reaching him, seemed 

 pleased, informed us that we were at no great distance from the 

 mouth of the river, where the Sandy Lake and Miile Lac bands 

 were assembled, awaiting our arrival. And that the count, by 

 which they were assured of the day appointed for meeting them, 

 would be finished with the setting of this day's sun. We had 

 pushed forward to attain the object, and were highly gratified, 

 that it had pleased a favoring Providence, to enable us to k eep 

 our word, with them. Every face in this canoe, appeared to 

 wear a smile, and the maja ! maja ! which the owner of it ut- 

 tered on parting, conveyed with a truth, which could hardly be 

 mistaken, the equivalent English sentiment of " God speed 

 you ! " 



The remainder of the distance was easily despatched. We 

 reached the parting of the channels, which encloses the large 

 island of Be Corbeau, about twelve o'clock. On issuing out of 

 the upper channel, and entering the broad current of the ma- 

 jestic Mississippi, we beheld the opposite shore lined with 

 Indian lodges, with the American flag conspicuously displayed. 

 The Indians commenced firing a salute the instant we hove in 

 sight, and continued it, with yells of joy, to the moment of our 

 landing. A throng then crowded the banks, among whom I 

 recognized the two principal chiefs, who, with their retinue, 

 evinced, both by word and act, the gratification they felt ; not 

 only at the meeting, but the punctuality with which it had been 

 observed. We were gratified on being told, within a few hours 

 of our arrival, that our canoe, with the goods and supplies from 



