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

TIC PoiSohcr 10 uig up the remains Ol us
victim, and sacrifice it in feast to the
spirit of his poison. The priests Of the
me da zee lcin, were thus much feared,
respected and honored in the tribe, it Is
also given as first cause for the deser-
ton of the island, that the above evil
practices being carricdt to great extent,
the howlings Of the dead or che Jy ug,
were heard nightly resounding through
the village, till at last, the inhabitants in
fear, left their village, and scattering on
the shores opposite the island, some took
their course towards st. Maries, others
towards the Wisconsin, the Chippeway
and st. Louis rivers, driving their enc
mics as they went. 1t is true, that for
many years before Mr.. Cadotte, an old
trader, built his trading post onthe island,
60 years ago, no Indian dare singly to
sleep over night on the island for fear of
the che by ug, or ghosts Of the dead.
| The first white men that visited this
tribe, were found on the east end of the
island, where they had been caught or
confined by the ice, on their way up the
lake to trade for furs from the Indians.
They were discovered by fishermen who
perceIving smoke on the then unfre-
quented island, found them in a starving
condition. One had died of starvation,
and the remaining two were eating their
cloth and blankets, burnt over the fire to
crisp. Care and hospitality was freely
rendered the starved men by the Indians,
and their lives saved, they were taken
to their village liz the adjoining bay of
Chag Wammick
Soon after this occurrence, l learn
that they were visited in their village by
a white man in long black robe, the
old men Go not all give me this account,
and would not mention it here were it
not for the circumstance of small sill
yer crucifix of antique workmanship,
having been found lately by an old wo-
man at Bad River in her garden after il
had been ploughed up.
This would 60 to prove that priest
had been among them, and when we con-
slider the untiring zeal and perseverance
of the old Jesuits, it is not an unlikely
fact, that one of this fraternity should
have visited them in the early period OF
the settlement of Canada.
AT the time Of their residence as a
body at Mo Ming Wun-a-Kaming, they
were at war with many tribes around
The Boin-us or Sioux, the O-mam-eeg,
Kodugapmees or foxes, on the north
and west, and the Nun Dua and Md 0
Hay of the east, were their inveterate
foes. Having 50 many enemies is the
cause probably, of their choosing an
island for their residence, and even liv-
ing Oh an island two or three miles from
the main. Twice their enemies found
means to kill some women and take a
few prisoners, from the environs of their
village.
The tribe which l have called the
Nun Qua, appear from a tradition, re-
lated to me by the old chief of Sandy
Lake, to have resided in the east on the
shores of large lake. They formed a
large and popnlous body, living in one
village or town, and like the Sious of the
present day, were at eternal enmity with
all surrounding tribes; they called none
brother, striking indiscriminately their
fellows, and burning their prisoners at
the stake. AT last, for some terrible
stroke against them, the Ojibways formed
coalition of tribes to eXterminate this
powerful tribe. Numbers of warriors
were collected and marched against the
doomed town, which stood on the shores
of lake. The attack was made stimuli
taneousiy at all points. And for three
days the battle ragged fercely, when the
Nun Dtas being entirely hemmed in,
commenced to throw themselves into the
water. Their chief. who was renown-
ed warrior and medicine man, caused.
(as the story goes, fog to cover tie
face of the earth, by calling in despair
on the spirits in the fog and smoke of his
burning village, he led the few remnants
Of his tribe, secretly through the ranks
Of his enemies; for a day and night,
they travelled increasingly in darkness,
and when at last, they imagined them
selves far away from their pursuers, they
stopped on the summit Of hill, and the
fog slowly disappeared. What was their
surprise to find themselves on the hill
back of their burning village, and in full
sight of their enemies. ''t is the viii
of the Great SPIRIT that we should die. -
And feeble and exhausted, the Nun Qua
again resumed his retreat The pursuit
was hot and close, the yells of thesr foes
were resounding in their rear. Arriving
in wood, they dug holes in the ground
and buried their woman and children,
leaving but small space open for
breathing. Here the men again took
their stand and resumed the battle, till
nearly all were killed. After their enc
mics had left the ground, the few sur
vivors returned and dug up the women
and children; this feeble remnant was
afterwards captured by an Ojibway war
party. and the prisoners incorporated in
the tribe. Individuals are pointed too,
this day, as descended from these an
cient Nun Duas. Thus this tribe be-
came extinct. They appear 10 have be-
longed to the .Nndoray family, ana
might have been the lost tribe of Fries
But leave others with better informa-
ton, to conjecture, l have related the