286 APPENDIX. 



the articles of the treaty of Prairie du Chien. Blind to their 

 true interests, these tribes continue a warfare as hopeless in its 

 termination as it is inglorious in its results. Notwithstanding 

 every pains which has been taken by the government to convince 

 them of the erroneous policy of such a contest, and to inspire in 

 them fidelity to their public treaties with each other, restless and 

 ambitious young men, on either side, continue to lead war-parties 

 into the territories of the other, and to waylay the unsuspecting. 

 I am satisfied that the authority of the chiefs is not always suffi- 

 cient to restrain the incursions of these young warriors, who are 

 led on by the thirst of fame, and stimulated by hereditary ani- 

 mosity. Such a course is not surprising among savages. But it 

 is the dictate of humanity to restrain this false ardor, and to make 

 use of every practicable means to put a stop to scenes at which 

 the heart sickens. It is but recently that a Mr. Cadotte, a young 

 half-breed of the Sault Ste. Marie, another young man of mixed 

 blood, called the Little Frenchman, living as an Indian, and two 

 Chippewas, one a female, travelling down the St. Croix in a 

 canoe, were fired upon from an ambush by the Sioux, and killed. 

 And this injury still remains unredressed. 



The Chippewas complain of this mode of warfare, which it 

 would be an idle affectation to designate by any other term than 

 murder. They say the Sioux are indeed ready to smoke the 

 pipe of peace with them, and never fail to do so when it is pre- 

 sented to them ; but that a confidence, on their part, in these 

 smoking councils, is paid with the loss of lives. 



I have despatched a message to the Sioux chief, Petite Cor- 

 beau, and another to Wabisha, reminding them of their treaty 

 engagements with the Chippewas, and of the recent violation of 

 them above referred to, and requesting them to use their influence 

 efficaciously to terminate further inroads. These messages are 

 accompanied by others from Shakoba and from Kabamappa, 

 Chippewa chiefs on the St. Croix and Snake Rivers. 

 I am, sir, 



Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 



H. R. Schoolcraft. 



