The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-26


smell Of the buffalo chips. We kept then
all out Of the tents too, and had the mos
comfortable sleep, we have bad since start
ing; which makes amends for last night
torments and is like a change from purga
tory TO the third heaven. A splendid aurers
borealis was witnessed from the camp las
night; glorious display which il very sci
dom equalled.
Our escort which is always far ahead o,
out Of timely reach in case Of need behind
passed as at our camp at neon and are Out
of sight ahead to night. After supper we
were screnaded by large band Of wolves
wh oh prowled round our camp aud how led
most fearfully nil night long.
We utterly disregard all wolves. Indians
and other parmiass. This r. d.. chased
a large drove Of greyi.h brown wolves for a
mile or two and shot a number Of them. In
the distance, when first seen they looked
large like Elk or deer and one black one
moved like buffalo. Our march to day
was from 16 to 1S miles.
FRIDAY 5th. Clear, fine and pleasant;
sun very hot, with a good breeze from south
west. Rode 10 miles in A. NJ, over gent
ly rolling prairie, ascending one ridge and
down another, with nothing but level prai-
succession. with knoIIs, ponds aud a small
lake or two by way of variety, and a strip
Of woodland away off to the right. Halted
q, 10 A. NJ, and dined on branch Of Goose
river; though not SO large as the one pass
ed yesterday in fact it is now mere rivulet
of or feet wide. The water good and
rather cool. Having but little wood to cook
we dined on herring, tea and crackers.
hn al tfsp
and camped at dark on the brow Of a hill,
near small stream; the dragons were en-
camped in the edge Of some timber about
TWO miles ahead. A very pleasant, clear
evening and the mosquitoes scarce; supped
on buffalo meat and tea, and slept con,forta-
bly, and soundly.
SATURDAY 9th. Cloudy and cold, quite
a change since yesterday, mercury AZ at
daylight. At IL A. NJ, rain commenced
falling and a heavy thunder storm passed
around the horizon, portion visiting US;
wind fresh from the north-requiring gloves
and overcoats. Up at daylight and away
on our march as usual very early.
Rode some IL miles and overlook the
DRAGONS at 10 A. NJ; made a temporary
halt till II, then proceeded some 8 miles
further and awaited the arrival of the carts,
which came up at JPN We then camped
on the south side of a small stream branch
ble nights rest and quiet spending Of the
Sabbath.
The dragons had previously encamped
on the north side of the same stream and
had just killed another buffalo in the midst
Of the thunder storm. Our route still lies
over prairie, interspersed with belts of tim
ber and stretching north. The banks of the
brook upon "hieh we have encamped are
also slightly wooded and believe we will
now have plenty The rest of our journey.
We have now bee days without any,
save what we carried with US and all the
old empty barrels, boxes, &C., have been
brought into requisition.
We were amused this morning by Joseph
Coursal, a young half-breed Sioux, who is
our chief cook, &c. He was making a
speech TO the camp in the presence Of the
French boys around the fire. He spoke
and gesricu,,.s.ed With all the earnestness of
the real Indian, and was encored by loud
hobs from the awakened sleepers III our
tent. He spoke 10 Sioux s. suppose from his
he told wonderful things. He was
born away out to the north west Of our pres
ent camp at DEVILS Lake, and was raised at
Mendoza by the Hon. H. H. Sibley. He is
now All excellent hunter, the best shot 10 the
party and promises to become a celebrated
vOyageur and unrivaled in the chase. One
Of the party was taken sick 10 day. We
together that time and medical at
tendance was at once on hand.
Among the so people who compose our
party are an old Canadian FreuchmaD and
a companion younger than himself The
old man passed nearly all the earlier por-
ton of his life on Red river, aud till some
90 years ago-when he moved to Missouri
L erritory and has teen living ever since
away out among the Blackfeet Indians. He
is now returning to live and die at the Sell
kirk settlements. He and his companion
ride in two-horss wagon, drawn by two
grays, and although, they camp with us,
they cook and eat at their own camp fire
and sleep without tent either under their
wagon, or along side on bed of robes and
blankets on The ground. The old gentle
man is active and yet vigorous, though his
head shakes with age.
Pierre BOttinneau, who contracted to
take our goods and provisions from Sunk
Rapids through to Pembina, is half-brec
Chippewa; Of highly nervous tempera-
ment, with Indian features strongly marked,
very swarthy, dark hair, tall muscular aud
active, and is about 35 years of age. He is
an excellent hunter and voyageur; was
born in and has spent bis whole life in wan
dering in and exploring this Territory aud
adjacent country. He has along carts.
each loaded with about 500 pounds Of
freight, and six Canadian French boys as
drivers; also two half.brsed men Of the
Chippewa tribe; one his own brother.
The finest exhibition Of tho Aurora Boz
reals l ever Witnessed, occurred to night,
at 9 O'Clock. No description
not even the most vivid and wild i,nagina-
ton can do it justice. 1t consisted Of bright
masses Of light in some directions iIumina-
ting large portions of the heavens, at 9TH
ers aud nearly over the whole surface of
tho sky, brigh, rays shot upwards beginning
not from the horizon, but at an elevation Of
about As deg, and extending far south Of
the zenith. The rays in fact, appeared to
shoot upwards oil around the upper portion
of the heavens, frem As deg. elevation
uniting at the zenith anil producing one of
the finest effects that was ever produced by
nature in her widest freak or grandes, ef-
fort. To the north and south OF ths zenith
the rays assumed many variegated tints a.