238 APPENDIX. 



across to Red Lake ordinarily ; that it is a three days' journey, 

 but that no annoyance is experienced in the trade of that post 

 from the H. B. Co. factors. He is of opinion, that they do not 

 send outfits into any part of the territory south of the national 

 boundary, beginning at Rat Portage, on the Lake of the Woods. 



Assurances being given by the Indians that the portages of the 

 over-land route from Cass Lake to Leech Lake were not only prac- 

 ticable for my canoes and baggage, but that by adopting it a con- 

 siderable saving would be made both in time and distance, I deter- 

 mined on returning by it. The first portage was found to be 950 

 yards. It lies over a dry sand plain. A small lake, without 

 outlet, is then crossed; and a second portage of 4100 yards 

 terminates at the banks of another small lake, which has a 

 navigable outlet (for canoes) into an arm of Leech Lake. We 

 accomplished the entire route, from the island in Cass Lake to 

 the Guelle Plat's village in Leech Lake, between ten o'clock 

 A. M. and ten P. M. of the 16th July. Although the night 

 was dark, and the Indians had retired to their lodges, a salute 

 was fired by them, and an eligible spot for encampment pointed 

 out. It was so dark as to require torches to find it. The next 

 morning, I found myself in front of a village, numbering, when 

 all present, upwards of 700 souls. They renewed their salute. 

 The chief, Guelle Plat, sent to invite me to breakfast. During 

 the repast, the room became filled with Indians, who seated them- 

 selves orderly around the room. When we arose, the chief 

 assumed the oratorical attitude, and addressed himself to me. 



He expressed his regret that I had not been able to visit them 

 the year before, when I was expected. He hoped I had now 

 come, as I had come by surprise, to remain some days with them. 

 He said they lived remote, and were involved in wars with their 

 neighbours, and wished my advice. They were not insensible to 

 advice, nor incapable of following it. They were anxious for 

 counsel, and desirous of living at peace, and of keeping the ad- 

 vice which had heretofore been given to them. They had been 

 told to sit still on their lands. But their enemies would not 

 permit them to sit still. They were compelled to get up and 

 fight in defence. The Sioux continued to kill their hunters. 

 They had killed his son during the last visit he had made to 



