Page 175 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

distance above where Ottawa now stands. We crossed the
river at the Rapids, and struck the Fox River which empties
into the Illinois st Ottawa; followed up the Pox River to
Mequaneg~, and there found a great many Pottawattamie
Indians. They were rather ugly in appearance, and threat-
ened to kill my cattle. I told them if they killed my cattle I
would kill them; and then I unstrapped my rifle, cocked and
primed it, and then told them to fire on my drove if they
wished, but they finally thought best not to trouble me.
Thence I went to Big Foot Lake, and thence to where
Waukesha now is, where I found three or four hundred
Indians wit11 some of whom I was acquainted. They informed
me that some of the Winnebagoes had been to their village
with their war-wampum, inviting the Pottrwattamies to join
them in war against the pale faces. My intention had been to
go with my drove through the country to Winnebago Lake, and
thence to Green Bay. Had I pursued that route, I should
have had to pass through the Winnebago country, which the
Pottawattamies advised me not to do. After reflection, I
concluded to steer my course for Lake Michigan, in reaching
which I had to pass through SWsmps and marshes. I struck
the Lake where Port Washington, or Ozaukee, now is. We
were out of provisions, except fresh beef, and had been for a
long time. I was compelled to kill a young creature every two
or three days; we had no salt, and the weather was so warm,
that the rneat soon spoiled, and we had nothing whatever to
oat with it.
We followed the Lake shore to Sheboygan, where we tarried
a few days to recruit the cattle; and whilc there, young ARNDT
left us for the Bay, where he probably thought he would fare
better. We next riimed at hlnnitowoc; and at Pine River the
trail or path passcd ncar the bank of the Lake. I had
heavy packs on my blind horse which I got from the Worcester
county gentleman; and unfortunately in his blindness he struck
his pack against a tree, which gave a lee lurch, and over the
bank he went some eighty feet down to the Lake shore, before