Official Journal, 1820: Expedition with Cass and Schoolcraft

              ISSO.] PAPERS   OF JAMES  DUANE   DOTY. I93
We wished some of them to accompany us to the copper
on this river. After a talk and some presents 4 of them consented, with whom, the Gov. Capt. Douglass, Mr. Schoolcraft, Doct. Wolcott, Lieut. Mackay and myself de¬ parted in two canoes (our smallest) up the river. We had proceeded about 4 miles when we came to a wier made by the Indians across the river, on which there were 6 In¬ dians fishing for sturgeon. Here they set with a hook fastened on a long pole and when they feel a fish running- against it, they draw it up suddenly which forces the hook, into the belly of the fish. In this manner they take great. quantities, and in fact, the Indians around here appear- to subsist entirely upon sturgeon. Still they are the most. fleshy and best looking Indians I have ever seen, We ob¬ tained 3 sturgeon for a little tobacco, and proceeded on 2! miles farther, and encamped at sun set. Sand flies and musquitoes in abundance.
Wednesday, June 28. We rose and embarked at half past 3 o'clock. Having- gone about two miles up a very strong current, and fre¬ quently a rajoid, the Indians informed us there was a path leading across from that place to the copper mine — that it was a good level path, there being but one hill in the whole distance — that it would be impossible to reach the mine in canoes and that we should be compelled to walk at least 6 miles. It was therefore concluded that Capt. Douglass, Mr, Schoolcraft, Doct. Wolcott and myself with two of the men & 2 Indians as guides should take the path, |but before the Indians would consent they were very anx- ¦ious to know our numbers. In this and frequently on our rout they showed how very suspicious they were of us. A few minutes before 7 we started taking a few pieces of biscuits in our pockets, and without having ate a morsel of anything for breakfast. We immediately found our¬ selves at the foot of a very high mountain which we as-
of Tshweetshweesh-ke-wa, or the Plover, and Kundekund, the Net Buoy, Was found on the west bank of the river, near its mouth, the chiefs and ''warriors of which received us in the most friendly manner."—Ed.
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