Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/508

498 and perseverance, became head chief of all the Chippewas, and when he died I took his place, and am consequently chief over all the nation. To this position I am doubly entitled, for I am as brave as my father was, and through my mother I am by descent the legal heir to the position.

"Now, if I say sell, our Great Father will obtain the land; if I say no, you will tell him he cannot have it. The Indians assembled here have nothing to say, they can but do my bidding."

After this speech, the commissioners negotiated with him, and when he was satisfied with the propositions made, he was told that they must be explained to all the Indians, and their consent obtained. He did not like this, but the commissioners had the treaty explained by the interpreters, and they agreed to it without a dissenting voice. They were then called to sign the treaty, and waited for Hole-in-the-Day first to attach his mark. This he refused to do, but told them to walk up in order of rank, and sign the paper, which they did.

After this, he said to commissioner Rice, that on the next day he would sign, but did not wish his name to appear with the common Indians. After some conversation, it was arranged that below, after the sentence "I approve of this treaty and consent to the same," he should sign his name, and so it appears in the printed treaty.

After the treaty of 1837, the Mississippi Ojibways received their first annuities at Lake St. Croix, but owing to their conflict with the Sioux, in 1839, La Pointe became the place where they received their payments. By the treaty of 1847 at Fond du Lac of St. Louis River, it was stipulated that they should receive their payments on the Mississippi. In 1849, a farm for their benefit was made