CASS LAKE. — A DANCE AT LEECH LAKE. 



09 



a short stroll to the Indian camp satisfied me that his 

 party had all arrived in good condition, and were dis- 

 tributed among the different wigwams. I found Lord 

 Cavendish and Mr. Ashley in one tent, and Mr. Seymour 

 in another, as comfortably " fixed " as it was possible to 

 expect or wish for under the circumstances incident to a 

 midnight journey from the summit of the Mississippi 

 slope, with the thermometer at zero. 



A mission was established at Cass Lake in 1844, and 

 the condition of the Indians is reported to have been 

 much ameliorated by the exertions of the missionaries. 

 The Indian village is situated on both sides of Turtle River, 

 and contains several log cabins erected by the natives. 

 No spirituous liquor is permitted to be introduced into 

 this part of the Indian Eeserves in Minnesota. The 

 prosperity of the Indians, and their gradual approach to 

 civilization, is probably largely due to this prohibition. 



Starting several hours in advance of Monkman, we 

 arrived early in the afternoon at the Indian agency and 

 village on the south shore of Leech Lake, and were very 

 cordially received by the agent. The other travelers 

 came up with us before nightfall, and the half-breeds of 

 the united parties decided upon having a dance. Fiddles 

 were soon procured, a capacious store was cleared of goods 

 and packages, and the female population of the agency 

 and village, which included some very passable half-breed 

 girls and " wives," having promptly assembled, a series of 

 lively dances commenced, which were kept up until mid- 

 night. In the absence of whisky, that curse of savage 

 and half-civilized life, strict propriety of demeanour was 

 maintained throughout, although there was no lack of 

 merriment, joke, and song. The scene was rendered 

 more striking and characteristic of the wild life of these 

 remote woods, by the presence of some Indians who were 



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