[144] These small shell cylinders are known to be cut out of the shells of the Venus mercenaria, and strung on threads; they are arranged blue and white alternately. All the northern and eastern nations, in the neighbourhood of the great lakes, and even the tribes on the Lower Missouri, use this ornament, but not those on the Upper Missouri. On this subject see Blumenbach, Handbuch der Naturgeschichte, 12 ed., p. 359, 385.—Maximilian.
[145] An iron battle-axe, made by the whites, which has a pipe bowl at the back, the handle being bored through, to serve as tube to the pipe.—Maximilian.
[146] This instrument is the only weapon of the Indians which has lost something of its original character, since the merchants have had them manufactured with a steel point, as an article of trade with the Indians. A specimen of the original form is found in Pennant's "Arctic Zoology," Plate VI., the middle figure.—Maximilian.
[147] See Plate 81, figure 4, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.—Ed.
[148] See the same Plate, figure 3.—Ed.
[149] In 1816, in order to control the neighboring territory, Fort Armstrong was erected on Rock Island. For many years Thomas Forsyth was Indian agent to the Sauk and Fox tribe at this place, and by many it was thought that had he not been removed the Black Hawk War might have been prevented. Felix St. Vrain, his successor, was slain at the outset of that uprising (1832). At the time of Maximilian's journey, W. S. Davenport was agent at Fort Armstrong.
This treaty referred to was made in 1804 at St. Louis, by Governor William H. Harrison. It was not ratified, however, until January, 1805. It was the inciting cause of the Black Hawk War. See Thwaites, op. cit. in note 127, ante, pp. 116-126.—Ed.
[150] For this reference see note 104, ante, p. 201.—Ed.
[151] See Thwaites, "Early Lead Mining on the Mississippi," in How George Rogers Clark won the Northwest, pp. 299-332.—Ed.
[152] Portions of this collection are still in possession of Clark's descendants; see Thwaites, "Newly Discovered Records of Lewis and Clark," in Scribner's Magazine, xxxv, pp. 685-700.—Ed.