Shingabowossin requested that another Chippewa interpreter might be employed, in which he was seconded by Kagayosh (A Bird in Everlasting Flight), Wayishkee, and Shewabekaton, chiefs of the home band.  They did not wish me to put the present interpreter out of his place, but hoped I would be able to employ another one, whom they could better understand, and who could understand them better.  They pointed out a person whom they would be pleased with.  But his qualifications extended only to a knowledge of the Chippewa and French languages.  He was deficient in moral character and trustworthiness; and it was sufficiently apparent that the person thus recommended had solicited them to make this novel application.

28th.  The wife of Metakoossega (Pure Tobacco) applied for food for her husband, whom she represented as being sick at his lodge, and unable to apply himself.  The peculiar features and defective Chippewa pronunciation of this woman indicated her foreign origin.  She is a Sioux by birth, having been taken captive by the Chippewas when quite young.  A residence of probably thirty years has not been sufficient to give her a correct knowledge of the principles or pronunciation of the language.  She often applies animate verbs and adjectives to inanimate nouns, &c., a proof, perhaps, that no such distinctions are known in her native tongue.

Chacopa, a chief of Snake River, intimated his wish to be heard.  He said he had visited the agency in the hope that some respect [52] would be shown the medal he carried.  The government had thought him worthy of this honor; the traders had also thought him deserving of it; and many of the young men of Snake River looked up to him to speak for them.  “But what,” he asked, “can I say?  My father knows how we live, and what we want.  We are always needy.  My young men are expecting something.  I do not speak for myself; but I must ask my father to take compassion on those who have followed me, &c.  We expect, from what our great father said to us at the treaty of Fond du Lac, that they would all be clothed yearly.”

[Footnote 52:  This term was not meant to apply to personal respect, but to presents of goods.]

Ahkakanongwa presented a note from Mr. Johnston, Sub-agent at La Pointe, recommending him as “a peaceable and obedient Indian.”  He requested permission to be allowed to take a keg of whisky inland on his return, and to have a permit for it in writing.  I asked him the name of the trader who had sold him the liquor, and who had sent him to ask this permit.

Wayoond’s widow requested provisions to enable her to return to her country.  Granted.