Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/181



“I left Prairie du Chien in a canoe manned by eight voyageurs, including a guide, at half-past eleven, a. m., August 6, 1820. Opposite the entrance of the Wisconsin River is Pike's Hill, the high elevation (near where the city of McGregor stands) which Pike recommended to be occupied as a military post. His advice was not adopted. * * * I camped at seven p. m. on the site of a Fox village on the east bank, a mile below the Turkey River form the west. The village, consisting of twelve lodges, was deserted, not even a dog left behind. My guide informed me that the cause of the desertion was the fear of an attack from the Sioux in retaliation for a massacre lately perpetrated by a party of Fox Indians of their people on the head waters of the St. Peter. I embarked on the 7th at half-past three a. m. and landed at the Fox village of the Kettle Chief, at the site of Dubuque's house, which had been burned down. The village is situated fifteen miles below the entrance of the Little Makokety River, consisting of nineteen lodges built in two rows, pretty compact, having a population of two hundred and fifty souls.

“There is a large island in the Mississippi directly opposite this village which is occupied by traders. I first landed there to get an interpreter of the Fox language, and obtained some information about the location of the mines. I succeeded in getting Mr. Gates as interpreter, and was accompanied by Dr. Muir, a trader, who politely offered to go with me. *

“On entering the lodge of Aquoqua, the chief, and stating the object of my visit, some objections were made by the chiefs who surrounded him, and they required time to consider. In the meantime I learned from another source that since the death of Dubuque, to whom the Indians had formerly granted the privilege of working the mines, that they had manifested great jealousy of the whites, were afraid they would encroach on their rights, denied all former grants, and did not make it a practice even to allow strangers to view their diggings. I had provided some presents, and directed one of my voyageurs to bring in some tobacco and whisky; and in a few moments I received their assent and two guides were furnished. They led me up the cliff where Peosta, the Indian woman, first found lead ore. After reaching the level of the bluffs we pursued a path of undulating hills, exhibiting a half prairie and a picturesque aspect. On reaching the diggings the most striking part of them exhibited excavations such as Indians only do not seem persevering enough in labor to have made.

“The principal mines are situated on a tract of one square league, beginning at the Fox village of Kettle Chief, and extending west. This is the seat of the mining operations carried on by Dubuque, as well as of what are called the Indian diggings. The ore is now exclusively dug by Indian women. Old and superannuated men also partake of the labor, but the warriors hold themselves above it.

“In this labor the persons engaged in it employ the hoe, shovel, pickax

* This Dr. Muir was an army surgeon, and was the first white settler at Keokuk.