The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-12-26

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dead child was taken from Lake Con.
terveille as far as Point Kewenon, or
Superior, for the purpose of having i,
resuscitated by the prophet; but putre-
faction taking place, the journey was
abandoned at this place.
lis surprising how quickly this new
belief spread. The Ojihways, to the re-
motest parts of their country, nearly as
body, believed. am told that the
shores of the lake about Lapointe, were
strewn with the discarded medicine bags
and their contents. The Indians of lake
Superior, collected at point Shag-uh-
'oam-ik, and practiced the rites of this
new religion night and day. From this
place, there started nearly three hum
dred canoes, to go and see the prophet.
They were met by nj. Cadotte at the
Picture Rocks, on his way back from
Mackinaw, with his outfit Of goods; he
told them of the death of the great Sho,r-
an-o, and thus, with his influence, sue
ceeded in turning them back from their
mad journey.
1t is not generally known in this tribe,
that the aim of Tecumseh and his broth
err, the prophet, was ultimately the ex-
termination of the whites from this con-
tinent After his death, the thing died
away of itself. And believe, the con-
sequences have been in the main, good; ;
as formerly their medicine bags contain
ed much poison, which they often used
in revenge on one another. At the ShCw-
on-o excitement, these were all thrown
away; and poisoning has come to be lit
tie practiced.
Under the influence of this excite
lncnt, the Indians pilagcd NJ Cadotte of
81, 900 worth of goods, at lake Confer
vielle, under the charge of j. B. Corbin,
his clerk. This act was consummated
partly in revenge for Mr.. Corbin's bad
treatment of his Indian wife.
have now briefly related the princi-
pal events in the history of the Ojibways
for the past two centuries; which can
be relied on as facts, and which ] have
gathered chiefly from the old men of the
tribe, and from some Of their Oldest half
breeds and traders.
For their history before this period.
we have nothing to rely on hut their oral
traditions, which more resemble the
Arabian Nights Tales; and of course,
would be related under a different head
than that OF matter of fact history. They
have traditions assigning a reason for
the separation Of the red men into tribes,
and speaking different languages; they
believe that all the different tribes sprung
from the same man, whom the Great
Spirit made when the aeorld was ner.
Amongst themselves, the Ojibways
are known by no other or different name
and | am not aware that other tribes
name them differently.
At the time when they all lived togeth-
err at Lapointe, Judging from the extent
of ground they occupied on the island
and its vicinity, they numbered, proba-
bly,, no less than twenty thousand. Al
present, they number about ten thou
sand; and with the Al gonquins of Cana
da and Saginaus of lake Huron, they
would number about fifteen thousand
souls. These two tribes are nearly akin
to the Ojibways, and Of old belonged to
the tribe.
The Lake Superior and the Mississippi
Ojibways, whose history | am more
properly writing, and with whom | an
acquainted, number within the limits o
the United States, eight thousand.
They consist of several bands, who
have all sprung from Lapointe, and now
occupy large surface of country, meas
urino about one thousand miles nortl
and south, and four hundred miles cas-
and west. These bands reside on the
principal lakes and rivers, and gener.
ally live separated by long distances
having thereby but little communication
and it is only on occasions Of general wal
) parties, treaties, or annuity payments
that they see each other.
The bands are known by differen
names; generally, by the country they
occupy. Thus the bands or villages
about the Wisconsin river and lake d,
Flambeau, are called the fiambeau men
they are noted for killing fish by torch
light. The Indians about St. Croix riv
err, are called Rice Makers those living
on the shores Of lake Superior, are call
ed Great Lake men; and the village,
north Of the ia Ike, are named Har,
, Woods; those on the Mississippi, Missis
f sippi men; and those of Leech and Re.
lakes are called Pillagers.
f The first general talk or treaty, the,
tell of having with the whites was IN tn
time of the old French war; when th'
French sent agents to induce them t
Join them in the war, the presents wer'
of course received, but few joined in thu
, war. They have no connected acfoun
of this affair, and can gain from them
+ no certain information on the subject
. Similar councils, in conjunction witt
other tribes, have been had with then
by the English. Some were induced t.
join this nation, through presents an
, promises. During the last war, tw!
.. sons, half breeds, of the late Niche
$ Cadotte. their old trader, acted during
/ the war, as Ojibway interpreters an
guides.
Many Ojibways were present at Gen
Cass's treaty at Prairie du Chen, whe