Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/493

Rh He reached the Falls of Saint Anthony on the 27th of September, 1886, upon his return from Lake Itasca, and wrote the following letter to Major Taliaferro at Fort Snelling, which showed he had not mastered the English language, "Dear friend; I arrived last evening about dark; all well, nothing lost, nothing broken, happy, and a very successful journey. But I done exhausted, and nothing can relieve me, but the pleasure of meeting you again under your hospitable roof, and to see all the friends of the garrison who have been so kind to me.

"This letter is more particularly to give you a very extraordinary tide. Flat Mouth, the chief of Leech Lake, and suite, ten in number, are with me. The day before yesterday, I met them again at Swan River, where they detained me one day. I had to bear a new harangue and gave answer. All terminated, by their own resolution, that they ought to give you the hand, as well as to the Guinas of the fort (Colonel Davenport). I thought it my duty to acquaint you with it beforehand. Peace or war are at stake of the visit they pay you. Please give them a good welcome until I have reported to you and Colonel Davenport all that has taken place during my stay among the Pillagers. But be assured I have not trespassed, and that I have behaved as a good citizen of the United States. As to Schoolcraft's statement alluding to you, you will have full and complete satisfaction from Flat Mouth himself. In haste, your friend, J.N. Nicoley."

Not many weeks after the visit of Nicollet to Leech Lake, on the sixth of December, Alfred, a mixed blood, the eldest son of William Aitkin of Sandy Lake, who, for