The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-09-27

line and the st. Peters river. Some of these
bands south of u.s. once owned the land on
this side; for which they receive certain an.
nuities, amounting however to only about
$1,000; Of which the annual payment was
made last Monday, at Fl. Smelling, eight
miles southwest Of Saint Paul, at the mouth
of the river St. Peters. This payment,
made necessary the attendance in person at
the Fort, of all indians Ginning share in
this annuity; that is to say, the whole Of the
Red Wing and Wabashaw bands of the 81.
oux tribe; making for them voyage of 70
or 100 miles up the Mississippi.
A flotilla Of Canoes.
A low, sandy island, lies Ike Ioafer in
the bed Of the MISSISSIPPI; aretching out in
front Of the town Of St. Paul; upon which
island, koown as Strawberry Island, our
good people, inhabiting the exalted hluas Of
town, look down with sovereign eonteHpt;
for the lower end Of the island is a mere
sand bank; and the upper end Of it is COW
cred with willows, which are of no use for
any thing hut for the ribs Of IN Indian
lodge. On Saturday, in the snorning, the
Indians turned the point below ST. PaYl,
and came up the river with their hundred
canoes, the paddles sparkling in the sun
shine, and moored their lnuItitudinons feet
to the island above described, and fastened
their bows tn the beach
An Indian Encampment.
In ten minutes after landing, the canoes
were nioaded, the little dogs and the pap
doses were capering over the island, and the
squaws were busy in cutting down and trim
ming willow poles, while others were drag
ging the poles cut upon the open part of the
island, and erecting the skeletons Of their
lodges. In two or three hours, above forty
of these peaked, exte,npore houses were got
up, and covered with skins, looking Ike
miniature circuses; and in the warm ss:l-
shine of AN Indian summer day, the picture
resting upon Il rich Underground of forest
trees uow turning yellow, WINS really de-
lightful. We tkddght here in St. Paul, that
we had some experience in hustiing up
village; but these Sioux put mp more dvsall-
ings in three hours, than we can put up i.
three weeks.
On Sunday evening the whole encamp-
ment embarked for the Fort, leaving the
skeletons of iheirfiodges-st sransliug.
The coup dell of the payment rcrninds
US of military muster, in the Eastern
States. The Indians are seear struggling
along the road--the males, with bows and
arrows, pipes and guns-ihe females, labor
ing under huge packs of Luggage Sung by
a strap across the forehead. Upon the
ground about the Agency ut Fort Smelling,
while aw ating their turns for the hard hand
fuI of silver dollars, they are seen in every
posture-sorne reclining in their tents Tor
lodges some sitting on a rail-so,ne
stretched on their bellies and lazily picking
at the ground with their toes--some smok-
ing, and inducing fuddIe by fuming the
smoke through the nose--some sauntering
in squads Of two or more, about the grounds,
with their arms in school-boy fashion, about
each others necks-some outside The cnclo.
sure, running between two long rows of In.
dian spectators for prize--and others of
the dignitaries, seated by lhemselv YES, talk.
ing over the affairs Of the invincille Sioux
nation.
We stepped inside the agency" and
found four or five of the agents Of the Uni
ted States, with pay-rolls spread before
them. and calling upon the payees sne after
another to come up and take their snoaey.
A name is called, and either the rightful re-
cipieni or his sponsor, steps forward, touch
es the pen Of the secretaryto signify his re-
ceipt, reaches forth his hand, takes the ron
cy and usually deposits it by the hand Of a
white friend, in the box Of his land. :,
just as we leaving the Fort, the Y.
5, Band struck up some thrilling airs, which
lent much interest to the scene.
-------------------------
% Col. WooDs. Of Fort Spelling. has
returned from his expedition to the British
line, at the North. We have had the pleas
ure of brief recital of the results Of BIS
observations, and hope through his polite
ness, to present to our readers, at Al, early
day, some interesting descriptions Of scenes
peculiar to those remote regions. 80
The expedition set forth from Fort tSueli-
ing on the 7th Of June last, under sIireetions
to report the most feasible military road 70
Pembina, which is situated upon the line;
to describe the general character Of the
country. ard to establish two military posts