The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-10-30
The PembiDa observation-disclosures of the
Journey, etc.

Journey, etc.
PEMbiNA, MINI. TERRIroRy.
Lat. 40 deg. ~, on The lt-d river
oil the North, Sept. 2lst, 1851.
4 DEAE SIR:-An opportunity unex xpected-
~ presents itself, and seize it, Ia drop you
a line 10y gentlemen who viii reach ST. Paul
two or three weeks before our party can
arrive. We LEFT Sauk Rapids on the 2lst,
and reached here on the evening Of Thurs
day, September lIlh. We " ere favored
win fine weather our whole tap, except the
last day, and the roads were unusually
good. We kept nearly due west from Sauk
Rapids; and did not cross the main Red
river at all, hat that branch OF it known as
the Bois des Sioux, having its source in
Lake Traverse This we struck ai,ou, six
miles above It's Junction with The Red river:
aud crossed on RATS. We then kent high
up towards the heads of the iributarie, of
Red river, and crossed The Will Rice and
Shian rivers, on bridges made by the traders
last spring. This is the new road, and a
good one, made during season of high
water; when the route near the Red river
was impasSible. We passed over a very
fine countryside finest grazing country, al
most, in the world. Soon after crossing The
Shan, we met buffalo; and enjoyed in
common with the rest Of our party, and the
dragons, the novel pleasure Of hunting
them. Our friend, Hugh Tyler, ESD, had
the honor Of killing the first one, large
bull; and we killed some every day for a
number of days; and could have DESTROYED
great numbers, hut The Governor very prop-
erly discountenanced killing any more than
we needed for fresh meat, as unnecessary
and wanton. These were all bulIs--sorne
of them quite fierce and showing fight
They were not in large droves, but in small
parties, scattered over the prairies. We
saw no cows, who always 90 in herds. At
this season of the year, the skins Of the
buffalo are useless for robes, the hair being
too short. On our approach to Penibina,
wc were received by the inhabitants with
Sundry demonstrations Of JOY, and s;,luted
with the firing of guns, Sc.
The negotiations for the treaty, com
menred on the Monday after our arrival
the Penbina aud Red lake bands of Indians
being represented in Council by their Chiefs
and headmen. A great aud interesting
crowd of the Hat-breedS, in their peculiar
uniform or costume, were likewise iu at
tendance, as lockers on merely. Great dii.
hrulty was experienced in doing business
with these Indians, they being entirely un-
acquainted "lth the Usual forms, and filled
besides with eAttavdgant notions of the val
ne of their lands and the anxiety of the
Government 10 purchase them. On Satur-
day afternoon last, Ihry were at length
brought to sign a treaty, fair in its proyis-
ions, both for them and The Uniied States,
aud satisfactory to the Half: b. eeds, the real
posseSsors of the country, thnugh the In
dians are the quasi owners. The provisions
of the treaty are in substance as follows:
Between 4 and 5000, goo of acres are pur-
chased, being the valley Of the Red river of
the North, 50 miles on each side and cy-
tending up the river to the Buffalo river on
the east side, and the south branch OF Goose
river on the west side. The international
line Is Of course the northern boundary of
ihe purchase.
For this, the United States agrees TO pay
them $50, 900 in hand, so enable them to
make provision for their Hali-breet!s, and
TO arrange their atfairS.''
Aud to pay them annually, for 90 years,
the sum of $ $4,000 in ca>h-eXcep. $4,000
of it, which may I've reserved by the Presi-
dent. and applied under bis direction, to
farming, educational aud other beneficial
purposes.
One article provides for their union with
the other bands of Chippewas, and holding
ever the United States shall secure from
these bands Il reciprocal arrangement.
Another, retains The trade and intercourse
laws 80 far as regard spirijuous liquors, over
the lands ceded.
Another article, provides that rules and
regulations to protect the rights of persons
aud property among these Indians, may he
prescribed and enforced among them by the
u. ). Government
he same day aud evening on which the
treaty was signed, The presents were dis
tiibuted, and they commenced making pre-
parations to depart, we'll satisfied with hat
bad taken place.
Early tomorrow morning, Gov. Ramsey,
Mr.. Tyler, Lieut.. Corley, Pierre Boutineau
aud DIR. Foster, depart for Fort Garry, the
Capital of the British settlement in Prince
RuPerl's Land. 1t is on Red river, at the
mouth of the Asinehon, 20 miles by land
and 100 by water, below this place, or
"down North" We 90 in large bark ca
noes, each rowed by 8 men. We expect 10
he back in about a week. When we get as
far as Fort Garry, should we take notion
TO go in search of Sir John Franklin, of
course, we will be longer
NOUS VERRONS.