240 APPENDIX. 



advantages of it in relation to their hunting, their trades, &c. &e. 

 I presented the presents, in bulk, to the chiefs, who immediately 

 directed their distribution. 



Aish Kee Buggi Kozh, or the Guelle Plat, was their speaker in 

 reply. He called the attention of the warriors to his words. 

 He thanked me for the presents, which reminded him, in amount, 

 of the times when the British held possession in that quarter. 

 He pointed across an arm of the lake in front to the position occu- 

 pied by the North-West Company's fort. He said many winters 

 had now passed since the Americans first sent a chief to that post 

 to visit them — alluding to Lieutenant Pike's visit in the winter of 

 18.05-6. He remembered that visit. I had come to remind 

 them that the American flag was flying in the land, and to offer 

 them counsels of peace, for which they were thankful. They 

 had hoped I was to spend more time with them, to enter more 

 fully into their feelings, but as they must speak on the instant, 

 ihey would not lose the opportunity of declaring their sentiments. 



He thought that the advice of the Americans resembled a 

 rushing wind. It was strong and went soon. It did not abide 

 long enough to choke up the road. He said, that at the treaty of 

 Tipisagi, it had been promised that the aggressor should be pun- 

 ished. But that they had even that very year, and almost yearly 

 since, been attacked by the Sioux, and some of their nation killed. 

 He said that they had even been fired on under the walls of the 

 fort at Ishki Buggi Seepi,* and four of their party killed. He 

 had himself been present. He handed to me a small bundle of 

 sticks, which, he said, exhibited the number of Leech Lake Chip- 

 pewas who had been killed by the Sioux since they had touched 

 the quillf at Tipisagi. The number was forty-three. 



He lifted up four American medals, attached by a string of 

 wampum, and smeared with vermilion. He said they were 

 bloody. He wished me to wipe off the blood. He said he was 

 himself unable to do it. He found himself irretrievably involved 

 in a war with the Sioux. He said he believed that it had been 

 intended by the Creator that they should be at war with this 



* St. Peters. 



t Signature is expressed by the ceremony ol making their mark, , J 



