The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-03-04
For the Pioneer,
Sketches by Camp Fire:-Or, rough
notfs of a trip TO Pem6ina and Selkirk
Settlement, on the Red River ffhe North.
Ely J. W. BOND.
Continued.

Continued.
This afternoon we proceeded about five
miles and halted early on an elevated ridge
of timbered land, above wide prairie be-
fore US; bounded on the far side to the
north east by the Poplar Isles, just dimly
visible in the distance. These Islands are
groves Of young poplars thickly collected
together and scattered for miles over the
low fiat prairie like the eoded isles Of
ocean. .i.sql's ..rot.
WEDNESDAY Sept. fesh. Cloudy, cool yet
very pleasant; up at 8 1-2 O'Clock, breakfast
ed about daylight, and off on our march at
sunrise; rode 10 miles and reached Tongue
river as it is called;-a stream Of cold clear
water and a branch Of the Pembina. Here
we overlook the Dragons encamped, they
having been ahead for several days. Here
we also found the Governor and Tyler,
they having gone on and left Us yesterday,
to overtake and stop our escort - and
compel them to accompany US into Pembi-
ma, from which we are now distant only
some so miles. This P. NJ. we travelled 8
miles, when the horses giving out we
camped on the open prairie; without wool
and no good water, and the mosquitoes
nearly as bad as at the Sbayenne. To
night we had u heavy thunder storm, to
avoid which and our unremittiDg prosecutors
we betook ourselves to the tents and thence
inside our mosquito bars and lay secure
from both. We passed through the Pop
lar Isles to day, and found it to be a fiat;
swampy and unnleresting portion of coun-
try. The dragoons are out of sight ahead
again to night.
THURSDAY Iith. Cold and cloudy with rain
.-. N 4, N.nl ,,,,L H.,
far the most unpleasant day we have yet had
Up late and breakfas,ed in the rain for the first
time on the march, Rode about IL miles and at
noon reached Boutineau Point; prominent
point Of woods on Tongue river. Here we halted
and d ired in the high wet grass; our last meal
out. 1t consisted Of ducks, (of which we shot
about so on the banks of Duck Lake, near by)
also pork, and boiled buffalo tongues, potatoes,
tea, SC, with wild plums for dessert; which we
found some scrubby trees on the river
bank, and though not fully ripe, were quite lux
ury AT PIP. NJ. we started on, and soon found
the dragons again; they were encamped in the
edge Of the woods on Tongue river, where they
rema in till to morrow. We now had miles Of
swampy prairie TO cross and at 4 =. NJ, came in
sight of the FIRST houses at the Red River Settle
ments, much TO cur great JOY; as house was as
much efa novelty 10 us after tramp of SOC miles
across the unpecpled praries, as the first sight OF
land to the weary and tempest tost mariner.
The houses were full of llaf-breeds, who sa
luded us with the discharge Of guns, Sc DR.. F.
and Lord rode on ahead and were treated to milk
and potatoes; treat equal TO the milk and honey
received by the wandering children of Israel of
old. A mile beyond we came to the junction Of
Red river and Pembina, and found the trading
post of N. w. Kttson, Esq, and the settlement
called Pembna in the angle at the junction. Here
half Iout txyp a
tity of half-breed and Chippewa Lodges; the A
merican flag flying from the top ola tall flag staff
with barns, stables, hay stacks, horses, cattle
&C., and things generally looking very comforta-
BILE. On the muddy banks in front, stood an
admiring group Of several hundred whites, half
breeds and Indians of all sizes; with any quanti-
ty Of dogs, very large and wolfsh, and amid this
babel of cries, yelps, barks and shouts from the
said big dogs and little papoose Indians, we came
to halt and reconnoi,red; on the south side of
the Pembina and west of the Red river; standing
almost glued fast in the sticky. tenacious mud
caused by the rains and annual overflow of these
two rivers for 3 years past. The timber upon
their banks is dead drowned out) the ground
destitude Of grass with tall rank weeds and 4
feet in height aboundug.
The rivers are very muddy and deep with but
little current. Red river is about 100 yards in
width and the Pembina 25 yards. The country
is very fiat all around-and the streams heavily
wooded, while thick growth Of young dead will
lows line the waters edge from Pembna to Sell
kirk Settlement. Mr.. Kittson and Messrs. Ro-
lette and Caveer soon visited US and took US
over TO the town; giving US the freedom of the
place, besides sending some Selkirk butter and
eggs across to US at camp. Our carts arriving at
dark. we built rousing fire, pitched tents; COW
cred the banks with grass and weeds. spread our
oil cloths and mattresses and were once more
comfortable. This is our last nig ght 'out Of sight
Of land; slept our last sleep on the tented prairie
for the present, which regret it Is far prefer
able to bed Of down within palace. Slep!
well too, considering the multitude Of discordant
and almost unearthiy sounds which struck upon
our drowsy ears, accustomed to quietness and
calm.-NOw are heard the Indians shrieking and
beating upon drums at their camp across the
Pembina; and those big dogs keep bowling dis
maliy like host Of wild voracious wolves. The
dark and cloudy night is made hideous with hell.
like wailings; and the mournfu signing wind
bears to ears the sharp and piercing cries
from an hundred deep-toned throats; sounding in
their awfulness like the despairing howIings o
the damned So much for our first night at Penn
bina. .-
We have thus made the march from Sank
Rapids to this place in 20 travelling dsys--beins
| % in all and from St. Paul just 25 days. Mr.
kittson and Cavileer came through a short time
since in IL days or about l-2 days Of marching
time--the quickest u ip on record.
FRIpAY 18th. Weather cool and pleasant
the mercury 4s deg. at rise This morning
we rode few miles out Of town, and met ths
Dragons advancing, and then escorted them to
the junction Of the Pembna and Red river.
where we all crossed the former stream, to the
settlements beyond. We found busy scene OF
going over. The houses are built around an oper
space, and the square court yard ESQ to speak) j.
filled with a misce Ilaueous crowd of half-breeds
Indians, Of all sizes,-with their lodges Of barl
and skins; together with horses, cattle, carts
dogs &c., in great variety and numbers.
| The houses are built Of logs. filed with mut
and straw; the roofs matched with the latter, Gnl
some covered over with bark. Around the an
giles of the yard, are various ware houses, an ics
house, blacksmith shop, and the trading house o.
store, which is covered c. mpletey over with large
squares of bark, and looked like an entire bari
house. In front towards the river, are barns anl
stables, hay stacks, &C.. with numerous horses
and cattle feeding. and general appearance o
thrift, comfort and industry pervades the scene
so new and interesting to US all, after a 3 weeks
jaunt across the prairies, in which we did no
| meet a single human creature. no, even a roa min: