The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-03-07
WHOLE NUMBER AL.
PEMEINA, MINNESOTA.

: I SWlAsAvL<SOAA
At n point five hundred miles north ives,
- 81. Paul, Is d settlement named Pembi
na. y is close upon the British line, and
is very similar in the character and pur
suits Of its Inhabitants 10 The SeIkirk settle.
mont on the other side Of the line. will
remark that the latter settlement beca
about thirty years ago, under the auspices
Of Lord Se!kirk, British nob!emnn. The
Sekirk town shows some interesting fea-
tnres nfcisiIizaiion and refinement. h has
churches, and certainly ono bell 10 wnko
the solitude Of that remote region. IL. the
bell was carried up through 81. Paul the
pas, sea 'on. II has an academy end gen.
eral establishment of schools.
The people os Pembinn are generally
Half Breeds, cross Of the Indian aud
French. Here is lively instance Of tho
well known affinity of the Frenchman Cor
The Indian women. This associstion Of
the two races favors the eide Of civilization
more than barbafism. Indian women are
easily domestica,ed and arc fascinated by
the nr;s Of civilized life. On the contrary.
the Indian men are stubborn.y conservative
:' the customs Of their fathers. Therefore.
the Pembinas are civilized. They live in
houses; they use carts and raise grain. Yet
the circumstances Of their location. or
lingering Of the Indian instinct. leads them
to find their chief subsistence in the chase.
Their arms are guns their dress is half way
between that of the whites and The indians.
They wenr Withholding fur caps, blanket
conts, pants secured around the wai., by d
belt. and deerskin moccasins. Their com.
plexion is swarthy. their hair and eyes
black. Their l,ng' age isnn impure French,
though all probably talk Indian, besides.
10 the Spring they put small paich Of
ground in seed, and pack eff for the buffalo
plains for the ctasc. Having taken tho
buffalo. they select the best poslions Of tho
flesh, dry il. pulyerize and s,ufyit into skins
sewed mp like a pillow case. This prepar.
a,ion is called pemmican. They also dry
'l,e tongues and the hump, cut from The top
of the shoulders. sn the winter, they hunt
for furs. There arc their articles Of ex<
port. As soon Ms the roads nre drv in the
spring caravan starts IF for ST. Paul
vi h these articles, for the purpose Of
trade.
The eqnipage is novel and curicus. A
single OK is hnrnessed into the ihiils of q
cart. with a collar and pad. rs we harness
horse. The car, has high wheels. With
out particle Of iron about any part. Cir
c;.'ar strips Of green hide .are stretched
around the ends of the hubs. 60 that when
the skin becomes dry II makes tight band.
Nor is there an. iron about the harness. a
low covering Of linen cloth is hooped over
the top Of the carts, which cults the equat.
ting posture Of the women and children,
who some times come too, and serves for .
canopy at night.
frequently caravan Of these people 10
seen coming into ST. Paul, strung along,
some twenty in number. Their journey
occupies fifty five davr.
These people are honest, simple hearted,
and accounted by the lnws of Minnesota
as citizens: qualified to vote and hold civil
o1ice.- Minnesota Pioneer. n