234 APPENDIX. 



and being satisfied from my Indian maps that I could make a 

 portage from Cass Lake into Leech Lake, and from the latter into 

 the source of the Cow-wing river, so as to descend the latter to 

 its junction with the Mississippi, I transmitted a message to the 

 Grosse Guelle to meet me, with the Sandy Lake Indians, at Isle 

 de Corbeau, in twenty days, counting from the 4th. I then de- 

 posited the provisions and goods intended for distribution at the 

 council at Isle de Corbeau, with the person in charge of Mr. Ait- 

 kin's house, making arrangements to have the articles sent down 

 the Mississippi, in exact season to meet me there. 



Relieved of this portion of the burden of transportation, we pro- 

 ceeded with more alacrity. We passed the falls of Pukaiguma 

 on the 7th, and encamped at the trading-post at Lake Winnipec, 

 above the savannas, on the 9th, having pursued the side route 

 through Bogotowa Lake. While encamped at Point aux Chenes, 

 in the savannas, a Frenchman arrived from Leech Lake, on his 

 way to the post at Sandy Lake. He reported that the war-party 

 had returned to Leech Lake, bringing three Sessiton scalps, 

 having, in their engagement, lost one man, a brother-in-law of the 

 Guelle Plat's. That the Guelle Plat had led the party, and en- 

 countered the Sioux coming out against them. He also reported, 

 that the Sioux had scalped a Chippewa girl near Pembina. That 

 they were immediately pursued by a party of Chippewas, over- 

 taken in the act of constructing a raft to cross a stream, and four 

 of the number killed and scalped.* 



Finding the waters favourable for ascending, and that our pro- 

 gress had been much accelerated thereby, I sent a verbal message 

 by this man, to have the canoes with supplies destined for Isle de 

 Corbeau set forward two days earlier than the time originally fixed. 



The clerk in charge of the trading-post of Lake Winnipec, 

 communicated a number of facts respecting the location and num- 

 ber of the Indians living in the middle grounds between that post 

 and Rainy Lake. I proposed to him the following questions, to 

 which I have annexed his answers. 



1. Do the Hudson's Bay clerks cross the American lines from 

 the post of Rainy Lake, for the purposes of trade ? Ans. No. 



* See this reported, as modified by subsequent accounts. 



