The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-16

Of the unateo states-Entsrtainins
Dolly Warden with Tradition.
Of the Great Northwest
| CANOE DOLLY WARDEN, LAKE wNNnIcosHrsu
Upper Mississippi, June II. 1874
The stay at the old trading post the shorea al
WinnibicOshish, despite Its romance and wierdnesa
was not fraught with the pleasantest Of prospects,
We awOke to the alarming fact that the several
raids from which the c,ttstns had suffered
through the sociabllity and thefts Of the
Indians, had reduced our stock Of provisions
to an exceedingly low epb. The twenty-six
pounds Of ships bread had dwindled to q mass OF
broken crackers, the twenty pounds Of pork were
gone, the stock Of condensed meats, milk and
conee was exhausted; game or nsh we had none,
the last OF peaches was broken for the evening
meal, and together with tea and broken bread
formed the whole OF the bill Of fare.
MORE PROVISIONS MUST Be HAD.
The nour-we had started with half sack-had
been wet so often that IL had soured and had been
abandoned. The water was much too rough
to troll for fish, What to do we did
not know. At this critical juncture the
Indian informed the crew that there was Q set~
Element Of Red Lake Indians distant about half q
days voyage up a small stream which enters the
lake further to the northward. From these Indians
we were In hopes Of obtaining some dried nsh and
sugar. There was no way lett but to start In the
morning. after
VERY SLIM BREAKPAsT,
for this settlement leaving the Indian In charge OF
the Dolly Warden. The birch bark furnishing &C!
commodation for the guide and myself was
selected for the voyage. The fear that the
Indian might take 1t into his head to capture
and convey to some unknown region the adventur>
craft at first made hesitate but the desire I'd
see the tribes Of the interior soon overpOwered all
doubts. 1t was q critical moment, but the guide
was ordered to prepare for the trip
Having made up o small pack, including the Rob
Roy cuisine and some tobacco the guide shouldered
the birch bark, and, with parting oath to the In
dams, started
The crew Of the Dolly, with pencil and notebook.
followed. portage Of about two miles, leading
through forests OF poplar and beach, brought us I'd
the small creek which was to be assembled to tna
village. Many small swamps had been encoun.
his course Tor bog hole or morass and the crew.
had long since learned to follow, without word Of
semOnstl ance, no matter whittier he led.
The canoe was launched, ana the crew OF the
Dolly, for the first time paddle in hand, took his
seat in the stern. Of the bIreh.barR craft the
navigation, hut its sharp bends and sand bars em-
barrassed us at every turn. Thus for ten %
twelve miles We
getting out into the water times without numbes
to lift the canoe over brush sand bars or through
black loan. with Occasional ssreaIs Of sand and
a. IT. Eas % .s g
the village was sighted. First we were greeted by
the barking Of the dogs, and then the dark faces 81
seemed astonished at the character Sf taeF vsitor
but welcomed us in their best style. A white man
ie not seen every day.. A judcious distribution Of
tobacco
friendly.
THE VILLAGE
consisted Of some twelve or fifteen lodges cora
structed Of birch bark, blankets and poles. II III
were not for the birch tree 1t is very hard to inn
the material for his canoes and his lodge; IL ID
formed into crates for sugar, salt, nour and villa
ing together the sides Of his lodge and his canoe
The bark ignites like rosin, and with It fire ID
started In the forest. although the wood be wet II
is the greatest friend which the red man finds In
the forest
AN INDIAN LODGE.
number Of poles, about fourteen feet In length.
are driven into the ground around radius of ten
or twelve feet: The tops are pulled together ana
long, wide strips of bark are fastened. The top IL
left open for the escape OF the smoke. II might he
low, smouldering IRE Is always kept burning, 50
that go to lodge at what time you may you
sSe sw fSs s sa Sss of PIPE y
to protect the inmates rom the mosquitoes. mo
to the but O. ho nSs 70
dure the bites which they innict.
Around the entire circumference of the lodge.
except that part opposite the door, ID seen q bed
ground ny sticks , AFTER little practice the lndi
s sem una posture. 1t is probably les:
dinicuit than to sleep standing against :
nos whsn nigh. ovsasass them
the swamps and the trees are too small TO give
them shelter in the branches.
HOW IS THIS FOR LOT
Pushing aside the blanket Of the largest lodge.
the crew stood face TO face with the son OF the
chief Of the Red Lake tribe. He burly Indian,
painted red on the right cheek, and yellow strpee
adorned his left. heavy black streak was laid
his hand it was found to Dc as soft
and delicate as lady's. He evidently enjoyeda
main branch Of the tribe on the shores Of Red Lake.
some dfty miles to the northwest After an cx-
s oSasso % ana quite en
gagged him IN conversation, and. through tn, inter-
prefer, both ELECTED and impaired incarnation.
lie ASKS THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
~ have heard" he said tthe guide Interpreting
as he proceeded that there is to be new Great
Father. What Is his name ~
The crew then explained that there was soon to
be an election and that man named Horace
Greeley had been chosen as one candidate; that
the people would choose between him, and tho
present Great Father
GLOW many white people are there now in the
great country ~ he inquired.
About lorty millions" the crew replied.
The looks OF the Indian manifested great surprise
when he had heard the answer, and shaking his
head, he muttei cd something to the erect that he
could not imagine where they all came from.
After learning that we were from O-muss kose.
or itasca, he Was particularly anxious to learn
about It, In return he impaired the following
INTERESTING TRADITION,
which, he said, was current among his people. He
said that about two months voyage to the north
west there was great lake, larger than the Gitche
Gu-mee,
LAKE SUPERIOR;
that the trip thither was one OF great danger, a.
forests OF weeks In length had to be passed, many
OF them so dense that the sun could not be seen.
(The Indians know nothing OF distance save a
regards the time taken to traverse the cOuntry,l
The shores OF this lake abounded In fur bearing
animals. Tho elk, deer and mink were there and
the water ewarmed with offers, seals and rats.
tribe OF Indians dwet upon the lower shore, who
MURDERED EvERYBoDY
who came there to trap 30 that he mi0ht nevev