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CHAPTER XXX.

 

OJIBWAYS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

 

The Sandy Lake band are nearly destroyed by the Dakotas—Battle of Cross Lake, and destruction of an Ojibway camp—Captives taken—Escape of a young woman by climbing into a pine tree—The Mississippi Ojibways are reinforced through accessions from Lake Superior—Account of the chieftain "Curly Head"—He takes possession of the Crow Wing hunting grounds—Vain efforts of the Dakotas to destroy his camp—Chiefs of the Mississippi—Lieut. Pike's journey to the sources of the Mississippi—He visits Leech Lake, and takes possession of the country for the United States.

 

We will once more return to the division of the Ojibways, who had made their homes on the waters forming the sources of the Mississippi River. It has already been related how, in the year 1782, the village of Sandy Lake became nearly depopulated by the dreadful ravages of the smallpox. This band, however, gradually recovered their former strength and numbers, through accessions from the villages of their people located on Lake Superior, who were drawn to the Mississippi country by the richness of the hunting grounds, and facilities of obtaining a plentiful and easy livelihood.

In the year 1800 (as near as can be judged from the Indian mode of counting time), the ill-fated village of Sandy Lake again received a severe blow, which cut off its inhabitants nearly to a man. On this occasion, however, they suffered from the implacable hatred of the Dakotas. As it had become customary, in the fall of the year, the hunters with their families, had gone down the Mississippi, and joining with the Pillager camp at Crow Wing, they had proceeded to the rich hunting grounds in the vicinity of Long Prairie, to pursue the chase during the winter. This year the Dakotas did not approach them for the pur-