Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/360

350 the Mississippi, and here he was obliged to pass the winter, erecting comfortable quarters for his people, and collecting an ample supply of provisions from the abundance of game, buffalo and elk, which at that time covered this portion of the Upper Mississippi country. During the winter he proceeded with a party of his people to Leech Lake, where the Northwest Fur Company held a stockaded trading post, and here he formally proclaimed our right to the country, by planting a flag stripes on which waved, for the first time, the stars and stripes. On this occasion, the young Pillager chief and warrior, Esh-ke-bug-e-coshe, who already held unbounded influence over his fellows, exchanged his British flag and medal for the flag and medal of the United States; and as the now aged chief expresses himself, "he ceased to be an Englishman, and became a Long Knife."

During this journey, Lieut. Pike had intercourse also with the chiefs, Curly Head and Broken Tooth, and recognized their rank and authority by bestowing on each a medal and flag.