The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-02-27

ir5ety, comprising tue WnneHSh, me tutl-
be, musketon, bass, sunfish, and bull
head. Turtles Of magnificent size and
flavor are also found. After a bolster
Gus passage over this lake. through
heavy sea, which ran so high that the
boat astern of US. not more that twenty
yards distant, with sails extending fifteen
feet above deck, could not be seen, We
made the trading post Of George Bange
a Metis or cross of the African and ln-
dian.
After spending day or two at Leech
lake, we commenced our return voyage, in
tending to describe water circle, aud de-
scend by the course Of the Mississippi.
Making severn! portages, we once more,
after considerable absence, found ourselves
floating on its waters in Cass laks--so nam
ell from General Cass, whose exploring ex-
petition on the upper Mississippi in 1920
terminated here. This sheet is an expan-
sion Of the Mississippi river, about l49
miles from it's source in Lake ltasca. Ii is
worthy Of note that, so far north as 40 So,
the missionaries had fields of winter wheat
growing, and all kinds of planted vegetation
looked fine. Cass lake is, in several res.
poets, beautiful body Of water. Il is full
of islands, and about sixteen miles long aud
nearly ns broad.
The oars Of our royageurs, keeping time
ito their cheerful boat song, sent US apidly
over its swelling waves into another pretty
watery gangIiou called Lake Winneb;go.
shish; and thence, with all possible speed.
we descended the riveg TO Sandy Lake, at
the outlet Of which the Mississippi is sal
feet wide.
Sandy lake is about twelve miles long and
six or seven wide. II derives its name
from its sandy beaches, witch are yaraga-
ted with quartz pebbles, coIorei in all the
shades of red, from a bright vermilion to
q brown, including often many fine speci-
mems Of corneians and agates. The lake
shores are hilIy, and the country around
arid and unproduclive. The labc is famoua
among voyag eurs and fur traders as the ter
minus Of the old trading route from Lake
Superior 10 the Mississippi. 1t is distant
Is miles in nearly straight line due west
from the Fond du Lac of tha; Uyery great
water"
AT this place we determined temporarily
10 locate the agency, though our selection
was controlled i,y other circumstances than
the natural advantages of The site. i.eech
lake is The place; but for prudential reasons
already adverte, TO, its selection was placed
out Of the question.
In this connection, would respectfully in
ivite the attention of the department 10 u
communication from this Office Of date July
10th, 1880, urging the policy Of entering
into conventional arrangement with the Pill
layers, with view of opening their coun-
try to the use and occupancy Of the other
hau,ls of Chppewas. These lands shonid
he held by tenancy in common, subject 10
The unrestricted use of all the members of
the tribe.
| Iaff hc Il.
rable site for an agency can be had-One
that will he permanent, accessible to the In
dians, and convenient for government.
Should the department coincide with the
views advanced in that letter, and direct the
initial for locating the permanent agency Of
the eDtire tribe nj Leech lake, the slight inn
provements which, with grea, economy,
have been made during the pas, summer at
Sandy lake, couli I've turned to account a.
the residence Of an Indian farmer.
Although formal order to remove has at
mo time been communicated to the Chippe-
was occupying the ceded lands in Michigan
and Wisconsin, yet, under instructions from
your bureau, they were early informed that
during tho year they would he called upon
SO TO do. Many of them, during the pas.
season have voluntarily migrated to the
seat of the'agency, and these will require
itence during the winter; for. to exnose
them to rivation, would exert a bapeful in
fueuce upon the residue Of the tribe, who
will be expected TO remove the coming
spring.
Officers Of the Indian department, at diff
ferent times, have pressed the purchase of
the Chippewa country rast Of the Mssissip-
lpi. This region lies altogether within tho
limits of Minnesota, north of line running
nearly due east from the mouth of the Crow
Wing river. A narrow strip of the coun-
TRY, to which alIusion has already heen
made, on the northwest shore of Lake Su-
iperior, is represented TO hold large deposits
of copper ore, This it might he polite to
treat for. On other portions is sonie valu-
able pine, though but n limited amount
The privilege Of cutting this might be ex-
tended to our white population, bu. not an
acre of the residue can, conceive governs
nent will ever need for its Citizens. IL is q
country no American population would ever
occupy, Most Of it is in:erminabe swamps
with occasional sand ridges and rice lakes.
In short, il is just suited to the habits Of
the people who at present inhabit it, and no
others,
| Wltb this estimate of the country. in orr
der 10 quiet the apprehension of further re-
movals entertained hy the Chippewas, 1
think it would be wise and hua,ane for
government to guaranty them, by solemn
act oflegisla:ion, the undisturbed possession
forever of these regions.
The .Metis or Half breeds cf the Rcd
river Of The North number eleven hunsired
souls, and nre mostly Of mixed descent Of
Chippewa and Canadian French. Owing
TO their apparent seclusion from the world,
the accounts given Of them have been mea-
gre and jejuns; yet already have they laid
solid foundation for the fabric of social in.-
provement, and, NJ political community,
present many interesting features for con-
siderntion. By the laws Of Minnesota, they
are admitted to the rights Of citizenship,
and by means Of annual caravans, carry on
an extensive and profitable commerce with
our citizens. Many oftheir traders, during
the past seasOn, have been robbed hy the
Piliagcrs. through whose territory they are
IcompelIed. to pass in pursuing the trail TO St.
Paul.
Since my last annual reperr, this people
have, upon several occasions iinporfunat.ly
tkns a a