144 NARRATIVE, &c. 



ing that wo must be near the lake. Our first certain indication 

 of our proximity to it, was, however, given by hearing the 

 monotonous thump of an Indian drum. We soon after came in 

 sight of camp fires, with Indian forms passing before them. — 

 And we found ourselves, on landing, in the midst of former 

 Indian acquaintances. Among them were Mongazid (Loon's 

 Foot,) the second Chief of Fond du Lac, and Chamees, (Poun- 

 cing Hawk,) a young man who had first recommended himself 

 to notice in 1820, by guiding a part of Governor Cass* expe- 

 dition above the Knife Portage, and who evinced the samo 

 disposition, during the forepart of the present summer, by acting 

 as a guide to the party, between Fond du Lac and Sandy Lake. 

 We were pleased on observing the military boat, used by Lieu- 

 tenant Allen on the lake, safely moored, with its sails and tackle, 

 within the mouth of the river, having been brought down, agrea- 

 bly to promise, by Mongazid, who had faithfully remained in 

 charge of it. 



The day following, being the Sabbath, was spent at this 

 place. And the narrative of our route from the Mississippi, 

 may here be appropriately closed. Some remarks arising frorr 

 observations on the condition of the Indians, among whom we 

 have passed, it may be proper to add ; but from the little leisure 

 we can command, they are necessarily few and brief. 



The Chippewas are spread over a very large area in the north, 

 divided into local bands, and separated by extensive tracts 

 which are, in great part, sterile. They are not fixed in their 

 habitations at any point, during the whole of the year, being 

 compelled to go in search of the game, fish, and other sponta- 

 neous productions, on which they depend. The space which 

 each band periodically traverses, in this effort, is extensive, and 

 subjects them to casualties, which they would otherwise escape. 

 Their condition is still further imbittered by hostilities with the 

 Sioux tribes, who occupy the whole line of their western fron- 

 tier. They cover the entire northwestern angle of the United 

 States, extending down the Mississippi valley on both banks, as 



