_Farther observations on the exploration of the Upper Mississippi,
and the discovery of its source.—An expedition authorised
by the United States government, in 1832.—Its organization,
objects, and route.—Leaves St. Mary, and proceeds through Lake
Superior.—Sketch of this lake.—Notice of the murder of Brunet,
by an Indian, in 1831.—Mission at Lapointe, or Chagoimegon.—The
importance of this point in Indian history.—Mongozid,
Wahbojeeg.—Meet Ozawindib, at the Brule.—Route to Sandy Lake, on
the Upper Mississippi.—Portages on the St. Louis.—The Savanne
portage.—Sandy Lake.—Assassination of Mr. Kay._
Early in 1832, the plan of visiting the source of the Mississippi,
was resumed. And a memoir for its execution, accompanied by estimates,
forwarded to the Department of War, which received the sanction of the
Hon. L. Cass, then placed at the head of that department. An expedition
was accordingly organized, consisting of thirty persons, including
an officer of the army, detached, with ten men, for topographical
duty, a surgeon and geologist, an interpreter of the language, and a
missionary to the north-western Indians, who was invited to accompany
the exploring party. This expedition was based on a renewal of the
effort to effect a permanent peace with the two principal Indian
nations, who inhabit that region, and whose continued feuds, not only
weaken and harass each other, but embarrass the trade, interrupt
the execution of the intercourse laws, and involve the lives and
property of the frontier inhabitants. Additional weight was given
to these considerations, by the unquiet state of the Indians on the
Upper Mississippi, which broke out in open hostility during the year.
These reasons were connected with the supervision of the trade, the
acquisition of statistical facts, and the carrying into effect an act
of Congress of that year, for extending the benefits of vaccination
to the Indian tribes. To which end it was enjoined “to proceed to the
country on the heads of the Mississippi, and to visit as many Indians
in that, and the intermediate region, as circumstances would permit.”
This expedition, to the account of which the present volume is devoted,
left St. Mary’s on the 7th of June, 1832. As the route through
Lake Superior, and thence north-west, on the waters of the Upper
Mississippi, to Cass Lake, has been described in a “Narrative Journal
of Travels in the North-west,” of 1820, heretofore published by the
author, no details of the geography of the country then passed over
and described, or of the ordinary incidents of a journey through this
portion of the country, will be given. A brief sketch, however, of
the general route, will serve to refresh the memory of readers whose
attention has been before called to the subject, and cannot but prove
acceptable to all, who feel an interest in the development of its
natural features and character.
The village of the Sault of St. Mary’s is situated on the communication
which connects Lake Huron with Lake Superior, fifteen miles below
the foot of the latter. A strong and continued rapid, over shelving
sand rock, interrupts the navigation for vessels. The water has been
computed to sink its level, twenty two feet ten inches, at this place.
A portage exceeding half a mile, enables boats to proceed beyond.
The river above has a brisk current, which is imperceptibly lost on
entering between the two prominent capes, which form the opening into
Lake Superior.
This lake, which is called Igomi, Chigomi, and Gitchigomi, by the
Indians, as the term is more or less abbreviated, is remarkable for
its extent, its depth, and the purity of its waters. It lies in a
basin of trap rocks, with alternations of the granite and sand stone
series. No variety of calcareous rock is present,[1] and its waters
are consequently free from impregnations from this source. As it is
the largest and the purest of the series of lakes it is also the
highest in position; its altitude being computed at 640 feet above
the Atlantic. Its banks are diversified with mural precipices, with
extensive deposits of marine sand, and with beds of mixed detritus. Its
immediate margin is loaded with primitive boulders and pebble-stones,
alternating with shores of yellow and of iron sand. Several bold
mountains of primitive construction, stand near the central parts of
its south shores, which are in striking contrast with the ruin-like,
walled masses, of horizontal structure, which characterize other parts.
Among the detritus of its shores are still occasionally found masses of
native copper, which are now referred to the trap formation.
Of a body of water so irregular in its shape and imperfectly defined,
it may be vague to speak of its superficial area, but this may be
assumed to cover 30,000 square miles. It embraces numerous islands,
the largest of which are Grand, Royal, and Magdalen islands. It has
several noble harbors, bays and inlets, and receives numerous rivers.
It abounds with fish, the most noted of which are white-fish, sturgeon,
and salmon-trout. But by far the most valuable product of its present
commerce, is its furs and peltries. The Indian population of its
immediate shores, is not great. Exclusive of bands located on the heads
of its rivers, it does not exceed 1006 souls, to which may be added 436
for the American side of the St. Mary’s river. Their trade is conducted
by 15 clerks, licensed by the Indian department, employing 70 boatmen,
interpreters and runners. Recently a mission has been established on
Magdalen Island (_La Pointe_ of the traders,) by the American Board of
Foreign Missions, and the gospel began to be preached to the natives.
The estimated population which, in a comprehensive view, should be
added for the south shores, extending to the borders of the Winnebago
and Monomonee lands, and running west, to the Sioux line, is, for the
northern curve of Green Bay, 210; heads of the Monomonee and Wisconsin
rivers, 342; the Chippewa river and its tributaries, 1376; the St.
Croix and its tributaries, 895; Grand Portage, and Rainy Lake, 476;
to which latter may perhaps be added, 249, making, with the former
estimates, 5000 souls.
In travelling through this lake, in boats or canoes, the shores are
followed round. The distance from Point Iroquois to the entrance of the
St. Louis river of Fond du Lac, is estimated at 490 miles, exclusive
of the journey around the peninsula of Keweena, which is ninety miles
more. The general course is nearly due west, in consequence of which,
the climate is deemed to be decidedly more favorable to agriculture at
its head than at its outlet. Traders, who course round the peninsula
in boats, take, on an average, twenty-six days in the voyage. Fifteen
were employed on the present expedition. Indians were met at various
points, and wherever it was practicable, they were vaccinated. The
surgeon employed on that service reported 699 vaccinations on the
voyage through the lake, and experienced no difficulty in getting them
to submit to the process.
At the mouth of the Ontonagon, where the party arrived on the 19th
of June, a band of Indians was encamped on its way out, from Ottawa
lake. Mozojeed, their chief, confirmed a report of the murder of an
_engagé_, or under clerk, named Brunet, by a Chippewa, named Waba
Annimikee, or the White Thunder. He said that he had concurred with
the traders in apprehending the Indian, and bringing him out to be
delivered up to the Indian agent. But that he had effected his escape
on the Mauvais Portage. He promised to exert himself to re-apprehend
him, the following year. And he rigidly performed his promise. In July,
1833, the White Thunder was delivered by Mozojeed and his followers, to
the civil authorities. He was tried for the murder at the U. S. circuit
court holden at Michilimackinac, in that month. Counsel being assigned
to defend him, every advantage was secured to him that the laws
provide. His own confessions were proved, to substantiate the murder,
and on these he was convicted.
He made no defence whatever on the trial, silently submitting to the
determinations of his counsel. When judgment had been pronounced, he
arose, and, through an interpreter, stated to the judge the reasons
which had actuated him. He observed, that after aiding Brunet, on a
certain occasion, in carrying his goods to the banks of a river, he
had taken a canoe bound there, (being his _own_ canoe) to cross the
stream. For this Brunet threatened him, and _shook a tomahawk over his
head_. On another occasion, having sold Brunet a shaved deer-skin, he
asked him (as is customary after getting payment) for tobacco; but he
replied abusively, that he did not give tobacco to _such scaly dogs_.
Not long afterwards, being engaged in playing at the Indian game of
bowl, Brunet took him by the hair, _on the crown of his head_, and
shook him. Finally, on the morning of the day of the murder, Brunet had
struck him on the chin, with violence. This, together with the other
indignities, took place in the presence of the Indians, in whose eyes
he was, consequently, disgraced. In the afternoon of that day, Brunet
went back from the lake on which they were encamped, into the forest
to procure some birch bark for making flambeaux for fishing. The White
Thunder secretly followed him. He observed him tie up a roll of bark,
put it across his shoulders, and commence his return. He soon crossed
a log which lay in his path. The Indian quickly followed him, mounting
the same log, and, from this elevation, raised his gun and deliberately
shot him in the back. He fell dead.
At _La Pointe_, the party were introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Hall,
missionaries, who, with Mr. Ayer, had proceeded to this place, in 1831,
to establish a mission among the Chippewas. Mrs. Hall had presented to
her husband a daughter during their residence, which is believed to
be the first child of white parents, both by father and mother, ever
born within the precincts of this lake. The mission had encountered no
unforeseen obstacles in its first efforts. It has since been enlarged
in its means and the number of its laborers, and promises to exert a
happy influence in the region.
It is interesting to observe the dawning of the gospel at a spot,
which has been long noted as the scene of Indian trade, and the
rallying point of Indian war parties. It is at this place, the
Chegoimegon of early writers, that tradition places the ancient
council fire of the Chippewa nation. And here resided the presiding
chief, called Mudjikiwis, or Waishki, who exercised the sovereign
power over a rude confederation of local tribes, whose dissolution, or
separation into independent fragments, may be traced to the right of
each chieftain of declaring a negative to any decision, and silently
withdrawing his aid, for the time being. Personal influence and
authority may be supposed to have counteracted this defect, while
the tribe was small, as tradition represents it to have been when it
first migrated from _the east_, to this lake; but its increase and
spread over the adjacent country, would naturally destroy so feeble a
tie of political power, and must soon have left each local band as it
now remains, independent and sovereign in its acts. Yet the voice of
tradition refers to this era of the reign of the Mudjikiwis as one of
comparative splendor. Although republican in all that is left of their
institutions, the succession of the Mudjikiwis is said to have been
hereditary among the Chippewas, and the descendants of this magistrate,
who yet exist at Chegoimegon, evince a pride of ancestry which we
should only look for, among feudal or despotic nations. The last
person who may be said to have exercised this office was Mongazid, (or
Mamongazida,) who was in high favor with the French. He is represented
to have visited Quebec in the time of Montcalm, and to have been an
actor in the final battle in which that distinguished commander fell.
His son Wahbojeeg, or the White Fisher, succeeded him as the ruling
chieftain of the band, and eminently distinguished himself as a war
leader. He died in 1793, after having been greatly instrumental in
driving his cousins-german, the Foxes, from the Chippewa country. The
present chieftain, Chi Waishki, alias Pizhickee, or the Buffalo, is
the representative of this line. He said to the Indian Agent, who, by
direction of the commissioners at the treaty of Fond du Lac, in 1826,
invested him with a silver medal, “What need I of this! It is known
whence I am descended.”
But there is no space for these reminiscences. Many scattered parties
of Chippewas were encountered east of this point, interspersed with the
loaded boats of the traders, bringing out their annual returns. Some of
the parties were bound to the British post of Penetanguishine, others,
to St. Mary’s or Michilimackinac. Chi Waishki, the chief above alluded
to, was met at Keweena, on his way to visit the Agency. He expressed
his regret that the agent would not be there, evinced a strong interest
in the object of the expedition, and presented a peace-pipe, as the
evidence of his friendship. At the mouth of the river Brule, a small
party of the Chippewas was encountered, from the sources of the
Mississippi. It turned out to be the family of Ozawindib, one of the
principal Chippewas, from Cass Lake. He was persuaded to return, and
proved himself to be a trusty and experienced guide through the most
remote and difficult parts of the route.
The expedition entered the mouth of the St. Louis river on the
23d of June. The ascent of this stream is attended with separate
portages of nine, and of three miles. There is, finally, a portage
of six miles across a sandy tract, which separates the Lake Superior
from the Mississippi waters, making 18 miles of land carriage. The
other portions of the route consist of rapid water, much of which is
shallow and interspersed with sharp rocks, requiring both strength and
dexterity in the men to manage the canoes, and to repair them when
injured. A part of the summit portage, immediately after quitting the
Savanne river, consists of bog, the sod of which being cut through,
it becomes necessary to wade in a pathway of mud and water, portions
of which, are mid-thigh deep. The entire distance from Lake Superior
to the Mississippi, estimating from water to water, is 150 miles. The
expedition spent about ten days on this part of the route, and reached
the trading house of Mr. Aitkin, on the banks of the Mississippi, on
the 3rd of July. It remained there, until the evening of the 4th,
giving Lieut. Allen, who was in command of the troops, an opportunity
to fire a salute in honor of the day, to the no small gratification of
the Indians, who, being apprized of the occasion, thronged the banks of
the river to witness the ceremony.
Sandy Lake has been a post of importance in the fur trade from the
earliest French times, being one of the central seats of Indian
power on the Upper Mississippi. An assassination occurred here in
1785, which affords a striking illustration of the evils of using
ardent spirits in the Indian country. Mr. Kay, the victim of Indian
resentment on this occasion, was a gentleman of Montreal, who had
come out with an adventure of Indian goods, into this region. After
passing the winter on the waters of the Mississippi, he awaited the
assembling of his clerks at this place, and employed himself in closing
the spring business with the Indians, preparatory to his return to
Michilimackinac. On the 2nd of May, he was informed of the near arrival
of one of his clerks, and prepared to go and meet him. The sequel is
given in a translation of the words of an eye witness, whose manuscript
account is before the author.[2]
“Mr. Kay said that he would himself go, although somewhat fatigued by
the continual running of the Indians, the night previous. On parting
he told me to draw some rum, of which he took a stout drink. And as
he knew there was no rum at the post of Pine river, when he left Mr.
Harris, he thought a dram would be pleasing to him also; for which
reason he told me to fill one of the flagons of his liquor case, to
take with him. And he gave me orders to give the Indians no drink
during his absence, which was difficult, because they were already
tipsey.
“The Indians had given me the name of The Writer, which they are
accustomed to do to all whom they observe writing. As soon as Mr. Kay
had gone, I did not want for visits, his _savagesse_ remaining in
the tent with me. A great many Indians came in; among the number was
Katawabida and Mongozid, who said to me, “Writer, give us rum!” I told
them that I could not—that I was not master. They tormented me a long
time. Mongozid threw to me a pair of _metasses_, which he had got on
credit, and had not paid for, (for he was a poor paymaster,) demanding
rum for them. I told him, no! He then talked with Mr. Kay’s woman, who
was tired of them, as well as myself. She begged me to give them a
little, after which they went out of the tent.
“Within an hour after _Le Barrique Eau_ arrived, and told me that Mr.
Harris and Mr. Pinot had actually arrived at the fish-dam. The Indians,
one and all, set up a shout of joy, and ran to the beach to receive
them. They did not however, meet with a very good reception, the flagon
Mr. Kay had taken with him having intoxicated the whole party. They
debarked, and while Mr. Harris was getting his tent pitched, Mr. Kay
entered mine and took a glass in my presence. Mr. Harris was quite
noisy. To complete the scene, the ferocity of _Cul Blanc_[3] (an Indian
unfriendly to Mr. K.) had returned. He had persuaded _Le Cousin_ to
stab Mr. Kay, in the course of the winter, saying to him, that he had
not courage enough himself to do it. The other gloried in being equal
to the commission of a crime, which he had promised to perpetrate when
they came together.
“The Cul Blanc was sitting, with many others, on a hillock, before
the fire, smoking, directly before Mr. Kay’s tent. Le Cousin got up
and went towards the tent, at the entrance of which he met Mr. Kay.
Mr. Kay’s bed was placed across, opposite the pole supporting the
tail-piece of his tent. The barrel of rum was behind the bed, in the
bottom of the tent. Mr. Kay saw him coming, as he was going to take
a seat beside me on the bed. At this moment Le Cousin entered. He
tendered his hand, and asked for rum. Mr. Kay, who did not like the
man, answered, “No! You do not pay your credits! You shall have none!
Go out, immediately!” With this, he took him by the arm, and conducted
him out of the tent. On turning round to re-enter, the Indian, who
was armed with a knife, which he had concealed under a _mantelet de
calmande_, gave him a stab in the back of the neck. He then retired
towards the camp fire, which was surrounded by a great many Indians and
our men. I got up immediately, hearing the scream of his wife, whom I
perceived in front of me. “Have you been stabbed?” I inquired of Mr.
Kay. “Yes!” he replied, “but he shall pay for it.” So saying he put his
hand in the mess-basket and drew out a large, pointed table knife, with
which he sallied furiously from the tent, without my being able to stop
him. The Indians seeing the knife in his hand, asked the cause of it.
He said that Le Cousin had stabbed him, and that he was in search of
him to kill him. But Le Cousin had taken refuge in his own lodge which
was near our camp. Mr. Kay went towards the lodge. We ran after him to
prevent some fatal accident. The tumult was, by this time, very great.
Great numbers were collected from all sides, and all, both French and
Indians, bereft of their reason, for it was in the midst of a general
carouse. In a moment, every one seized his arms, and there was a motley
display of knives, guns, axes, cudgels, war-clubs, lances, &c. I found
myself greatly at a non-plus, for I had not before witnessed such
a scene. I saw so many preparations that I judged we should have a
serious time.
“Mr. Kay pursued Le Cousin, but before he could reach him, the passage
to his lodge was blocked up by the crowd. Le Cousin’s mother asked him
what he wanted. “Englishman!” said she, “do you come to kill me?” She
made her way among the crowd, armed with a small knife, and reached
the spot where Mr. Kay was standing, without any one’s observing the
knife, for she came in an humble attitude imploring Mr. Kay for the
life of her son. In a moment, Mr. Kay cried out, in a loud voice, “I am
killed,” and he fell. We entered, and found that she had struck him in
the side, making an incision of more than three inches. We now took him
to his tent, bathed in his blood. We laid him on his bed, which in a
moment, was soaking with his blood.
“At this moment his friend _Le Petit Mort_, (Jeebyains) who had been
tipsey and gone to sleep, started up. He ran to Mr. Kay’s tent, where
the first object he saw, was his friend pale and quivering. He went and
embraced him amidst a flood of tears, saying, “My friend, you are dead,
but I survive to revenge you.” In contemplating a calico night-gown
which Mr. Kay had on when he was wounded, and which was all bloody, he
could no longer restrain his anger. He took up the knife which Mr. Kay
had, at the time he was wounded, and which had been brought back by
his wife, who was present. He sallied out of the tent to seek revenge,
not of Le Cousin,—who was the instrument, but not the author of the
murder—but of Cul Blanc, who was sitting before the fire, smoking his
pipe. He seized him by the scalp-lock, drew his body back with one
hand, exclaiming, “Die, thou dog!” with the other hand, he plunged a
knife into his breast, Cul Blanc begging all the while for mercy.
“This scene of carnage put a stop to the drinking. The women spilled
out all the rum, of which there was still no small quantity in the
different lodges. The stab Cul Blanc had received did not prove mortal,
notwithstanding the ghastliness of the wound, the knife having passed
out through the flesh without penetrating any vital part. But the blood
issued copiously and disfigured his wife, who carried him off, trailing
his blood through the camp.
“This tragedy being finished, Le Petit Mort re-entered the tent. He
told his wife, who followed him, to go and search for certain roots,
which he chewed and formed into a cataplasm for the wound, after having
applied his mouth to it, and sucked out the extravasated blood, an
operation that caused Mr. Kay great pain. He enjoyed a little ease
during the remainder of the night and following day. Le Petit Mort
passed the night opposite to his bed. The next day he took off the
compress, and replaced it by another, after having once more sucked
out the blood and cleaned the wound. The patient became so exhausted
by this dressing, that for the space of half an hour he lost all
recollection. When he regained his senses he felt easier, and asked for
the Bras Casse, (the chief of the band,) who had not yet heard what had
happened, for the Indians had been occupied in drinking, and he had
been getting ready to depart, having only delayed a little, to give
some game to the Frenchmen. He came to the field of these atrocities,
entered Mr. Kay’s tent, and gave him his hand, saying, “My friend, your
misfortune has given me much pain. If I had been here, it would not
have taken place. One thing, however, consoles me. It is, that I had
not gone off; you may depend on my best efforts to restore you.” Mr.
Kay accepted his offer, having confidence in him, and in his skill in
the medical art, in which he was very expert. He resolved to take him
along with him on his route to Mackinac, to take care of him.
“On the third of May, the Bras Casse took him in hand, and began to
apply his medicines, which were found to be efficacious. After letting
him repose a little, he told him he would cure him, but in order to do
this he must consent to bridle his appetites. He must abstain from the
use of pepper and salt in his food; he must guard against drinking, _de
ne point toucher des femmes_. The next day Mr. Kay was a little better.
He sent for M. Harris and myself to come to his tent, to receive his
orders. He said to us: “Gentlemen, you see my situation. I do not know
whether God will spare my life or not. I have determined to leave you,
and at all hazards to set out for Mackinac with seven men, accompanied
by the Bras Casse and his wife, to take care of me on the road. Assort
the remainder of the goods, and ascend to Leech Lake, and wait there
for the return of the Pillagers, who are out on the prairies. In short,
complete the inland trade. Mr. Pinot is too feeble an opponent to do
you much injury. I confide in the capacity of you both.” A few moments
afterwards Mr. Harris went out, when he said to me particularly, taking
hold of my hands—“My dear friend, you understand the language of the
Chippewas. Mr. Harris would go with me, but he must accompany you. He
is a good trader, but he has, like myself and others, a strong passion
for drinking, which takes away his judgment. On these occasions, advise
him. I will myself speak to him before my departure. Prepare every
thing to facilitate our passage over the portages and along the lake. I
shall set out to-morrow. I find myself better every day.”
“I left him with his physician, and went to distribute the provisions
and lading for two inland canoes, one for Mr. Kay, and one for the four
men who were to take the furs from Pine river, consisting of 19 packs
of 80 lbs. each, and four packs of deer skins, to serve as seats for
Mr. Kay’s men. The next day Mr. Kay was a little better, which diffused
pleasure among us all. I constructed a litter (_un broncard_) for two
men to carry him over the portages, and he set out the same day, being
the 5th of May, about two o’clock, in the afternoon. Mr. Pinot also
departed the same day. Bras Casse and his wife departed about sun set.”
The sequel of this tale is briefly told. Mr. Kay reached Mackinac,
where Capt. Robinson, then in command, had a second operation performed
on him by the post surgeon. He afterwards closed his business, and went
to Montreal. A suppuration of his wound, however, took place at the
Lake of Two Mountains, which terminated his life on the 26th of August,
1785, three months and twenty-four days after receiving the wound.