About four o’clock the chief of this party hailed us from shore, having headed us by taking a short land route from the Lake of the Cross.  He sought more perfect information on some points, which was given, and he was requested to attend the general council appointed to be held at Lac Courtorielle (Ottawa Lake).  We continued the descent till eight o’clock P.M., having descended about thirty-five miles.

On the 30th we embarked at five in the morning, and reached the contemplated portage to Ottawa Lake at seven.  I stopped, and having written notes for Lieut.  Clary and Mr. Woolsey, put them in the end of a split pole, according to the Indian method.  At ten I landed for breakfast with my canoe badly broken, and the corn, &c., wetted.  Detained till twelve.  Near night met a band of Chippewas ascending.  Got a canoe from them to proceed to Yellow River, and, after dividing the baggage and provisions, put Mr. Johnston with two men in it.  This facilitated our descent, as we had found frequent shallows, in consequence of low water, to impede our progress.  Yet our estimate for the day’s travel is forty miles.

The cicuta is a frequent plant on this river; we found the fox grape this afternoon nearly ripe.  Both banks of the river are literally covered with the ripe whortleberry—­it is large and delicious.  The Indians feast on it.  Thousands on thousands of bushels of this fruit could be gathered with little labor.  It is seen in the dried state at every lodge.  All the careful Indian housewives dry it.  It is used as a seasoning to soups.

On the 31st we were on the water at six A.M.  Soon passed seven Indians in canoes, to whom a passing salute of a few words and tobacco were given.  We landed at ten to breakfast.  The current had now augmented so as to be very strong, and permit the full force of the paddles.  Stopped a few moments at a Chippewa camp to get out some tobacco, and, leaving Mr. Johnston to make the necessary inquiries and give the necessary information, pushed on.  Heard T., our Indian messenger from La Pointe, had accomplished his business and gone back four days ago, Indian conferences now succeeded each other continually, at distances from one to five miles.  The bands are now on the move, returning up the river to their spring villages at the Little and Great Rice Places (this is the meaning of Pukwaewau), and the Lake of the Cross.  Their first request is tobacco, although they are half starved, and have lived on nothing but whortleberries for weeks. “Suguswau, let us smoke,” is the first expression.

The country as we descend assumes more the appearance of upland prairie, from the repeated burnings of the forest.  The effect is, nearly all the small trees have been consumed, and grass has taken their place.  One result of this is, the deer are drawn up from the more open parts of the Mississippi, to follow the advance of the prairie and open lands towards Lake Superior.  The moose is also an inhabitant of the Namakagun.  The Chippewas, at a hunting camp we passed yesterday, said they had been on the tracks of a moose, but lost them in high brush.  Ducks and pigeons appear common.  Among smaller birds are the blackbird, robin, catbird, red-headed woodpecker, kingfisher, kingbird, plover and yellow-hammer.