Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/185

 

CHAPTER XIII.

 

THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

 

The adaptation of this region of country as a home for the Indian—The Ojibways first find it in possession of the Dakotas—Bi-aus-wah, an Ojibway war chief, leads a large war party and dispossesses the Dakotas of Sandy Lake—Sandy Lake becomes the first Ojibway village on the Upper Mississippi—Remarks on the earthen mounds which are scattered throughout this region of country—Gi-aucth-in-ne-wug, "men of the olden time," occupy the Upper Mississippi country prior to the Dakotas—Origin of the earthen mounds, as given by the Ojibways.

 

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 quan-