The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-12-06

left the company, in order to return home
by the easiest road, and took Inc along
with them.
1--WE travelled yet up tho Missouri sew
en- easy days journey, and then went d.
rectly north for five days, at the end of
which time we came TO a river of very
fine, clear water. When we came 10 the
place where the hunters had left their ca
noes, we all three embarked in one Of
them, and fell down the river till we came
to their village. was very well receiv-
ed by them, and soon found that this was
indeed the nation of the Loutres, which l
was in quest of. spent the winter with
them, and employed myself in learnin 6
their language, which they told me was
understood by all the nations. which lay
between them and the great water.
THE winter was scarcely ended, when
embarked in canoe with some provis-
ions, a pot TO cook them, and something
10 lie on. and descended the river. In
little time, came to very small nation,
whose chief happening to he upon the
banks, buntly demanded 'Who art thou?
What business hast thou here with thy
short hairs ?'-I told him my name was
Moncacht-ape, that l came from the ma
ton of Louires, that thong h my hair was
short, my heart was good, and then limited
the design of my journey. He replied,
that though might come from the nation
of the Loutres, he saw plainly was not
one Of that nation, and wondered at my
speaking the language. told him that
had learned it of an old man, whose name
was SaIt-tear. He no sooner heard the
name of Salt-tear, who was one of his
friends, than he invited me to stay in his
village as long as / would. Upon his 1
landed and told him, that Salt-tear had
ordered me TO see an old man, whose name
was the Great Roebuck. This happened
to be the father of the chief; he ordered
him to be called, and the Old man received
me as if l had been his own son, and led
me TO his cottage.
The next day he informed me of every
thing wanted TO know, and told me that
l should be very Hospitality received by
all the nations between them and the great
water, on telling them that was the friend
of the Great Ro buck. only stayedt two
days longer: then put en- board my ca
noe stock Of provision, prepared from
certain small grains, less than French
pease, which afford an excellent food, and
Immediately embarked, and continued to
fall down the river, not staying above Il
day with each nation met with in my
way.
1.-The last of these nations is settled a.
bout days journey from the sea, and about
tie race Of man near League from
the river. They live concealed in the
woods for fear of the bearded men.
was received by them as if / had been one
of Their own conirymen. They are con-
tinually upon their guard, on account of
the bearded men, who do all they can to
carry off young people, without doubt TO
make them slaves. They told me these
bearded men were whites, that they had
a long black beard, which fell down upon
their breast, that their bodies were thick
and short. their heads were large, and
covered with stuflS. that they were ALWAYS
cioa,Ecd, even the hottest seasons. ard
that their cloaths reached to the middle of
their legs, which, as well as their feet.
were also covered with red or yellow
slufls that their weapons made great
noise: and great fire, and that when thoy
saw the red men the natives were more
numerous than themselves. they retired
to great canoe a small ship, without
doubt which contained about thirty of
them. They added, that these strangers
came from the place where the sun sets
ne west in quest OF a soft yellow wood
which yields a yellow liquor of fine
smell, and which dyes fine yellow COL
our and that observing they came every
year as soon as winter was over to fc.ch
this wood, they had according to the adj
vice of one of their old men, cut down
and destroyed all the trees, since which
time they had not been SO often troubled
with the visits of these bearded men; but
that they still visited every wear two adj
jaccnt nations, who could not initiate their
policy, because the yellow wood was the
only wood their country produced; and
that all the neighbouring nations had agreed
TO arm and join together, the approaching
summer, in order to destroy those bearded
men, at their next coming, and rid the
country OF them.
AS l had seen firearms, and was not
AFRAID of them, and as the roat they pur-
posed to take was the way t. the nation
was IN quest OF, they proposing my going
along with them, readily agreed, and as
soon as summer came, marched with the
warriors OF this nation TO the general rem
devious. The bearded men came later
than usual this year. While we waited
Tor them, the natives showed me the place
were they used 10 lay their great canoe
the ship.l 1t was between two high
and long rocks, which formed the mouth
OF a shallow river, the banks whereof
were covered with yellow wood. 1t was
agreed TO lie in ambush for the bearded
men and 1hnt :La., ill.,. l.