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  The Country about the Source of the Mississippi The region of country from which the Mississippi derives its source, is covered with innumerable fresh and clear water lakes,connected with one another,and flowing into the “Father of Rivers” through rapid and meandering streams. All these lakes and streams abound with fish of the finest species and flavor.In Leech,Winnepeg,Cass,and other of the larger lakes, the whitefish are found equal in size to the celebrated whitefish in Lake Superior. And so are also the salmon trout which (curious enough) are to be found only in Puk-a-gum-ah and trout lakes. Mus-cal-longe have been found to grow to the great size of from four to six feet in length. Brook trout, sturgeon and catfish are not found in the waters of the Mississippi above the Falls of St.Anthony. The shores of these beautiful lakes are lined with groves of the tall pine, and the useful maple from which the Indian manufactures sugar.The birch tree also abounds, from which the Ojibway has long been accustomed to procure the covering to his wigwam, and material for the formation of his ingeniously wrought canoe. In many of these lakes which lie clustered together within an area of several hundred miles, the wild rice grows in large quantities and most luxuriantly, affording the Indian an important staple of subsistence. In former times this region of country abounded in buffalo,moose,deer, and bear, and till within thirty years past, in every one of its many water courses,the lodges of the valuable and industrious beaver were to be found. Possessing these manifold advantages, this country has always been a favorite home and resort for the wild Indian, and over its whole extent, battle fields are pointed out where different tribes have battled for its possession. The attention of the Ojibways was early directed to it.They found it in possession of the powerful and wide-spread Dakotas, whom after many years of severe fighting, they eventually forced to seek for new homes farther westward,and they in turn,took possession and have kept to this day the large and beautiful lakes which form the sources of the “Great River.” 119 Schenck bk p i-xxiv 1-318_Layout 1 5/13/11 10:54 AM Page 119 It is related by their old traditionalists, that the boy whose father had died in his stead on the burning fagots of the cruel O-dug-am-ees (as has been related in a former chapter),grew up to be a man.The remembrance of his deep wrong made him a warrior.He never let pass an opportunity of taking revenge and letting his prowess be known among the enemies of his tribe. To him, war not only became a chief business in life, but a pastime, and having adopted the name of his murdered father,Bi-aus-wah,eventually became a noted war-leader and chief,and the first Ojibway pioneer to the country of the Upper Mississippi. After the death of his father,he proceeded with his relatives to Fond du Lac,where he remained till middle age,and from which place he joined the war parties which marched against the Dakotas at Sandy Lake, on the St. Croix River and in the vicinity of Mille Lac. When he had earned in many hard-fought battle, the admiration and confidence of his people, he sent his war-club, tobacco, and wampum belt of war, to the far-scattered bands of his tribe,inviting the warriors to collect at Fond du Lac by a certain day,and march with him,to put out the fire of the Dakotas at Sandy Lake. Men from all the villages of the Ojibway responded to his call, and canoes laden with warriors arrived on the appointed day from Sault Ste. Marie,Grand Portage,La Pointe,and all the camps of the tribe within the area of the Great Lake. It is said that the train of warriors which followed Bi-aus-wah on this occasion, was so long, as they marched in their usual single file,that a person standing on a hill could not see from one extremity to the other. They marched against the Dakotas of Sandy Lake. They found the enemy collected in force,notwithstanding which,they made the attack, and after a severe fight, they (being armed with the murderous weapons of...

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