About this time the Indian traders formed a company of militia, which I joined with the rank of adjutant and lieutenant, under Captain {148} John Macnamara. In the month of June 1780, news was brought from the _Mississippi_, that the Indian traders had deposited their furs at _La Prairie des Chiens_, or Dogs’ Field, (where there is a town of considerable note, built after the Indian manner) under the care of Mons. Longlad, the king’s interpreter;[91] and that the Americans were in great force at the _Illinois_, a town inhabited by different nations, at the back of the Kentuckey State, under the Spanish government, who have a fort on the opposite shore, commanded by an officer and about twelve men, to prevent illicit trade.[92] The commanding officer at _Michillimakinac_[93] asked me to accompany a party of Indians and Canadians to the _Mississippi_, which I consented to with the utmost cheerfulness. We left the post with thirty-six Southern Indians, of the _Ottigaumies_ and _Sioux_ nations, and twenty[94] Canadians, in nine large birch canoes, laden with Indian presents. After a march of three days I was taken ill, which I attributed to hard living in the Nipegon Country; considering, however, the urgency of the business, and that there was not any one of the party capable of acting as interpreter, I struggled with my indisposition; apprehending, also, that if I could not pursue the journey, I should be exposed to great inconveniences; and therefore I encreased my endeavours, determined to risk my life at all hazards. The fourth day we encamped at Lac les Puans, so called, I apprehend, from the Indians who reside on the banks being naturally filthy[95]—here we got plenty of deer and bears, Indian corn, melons and other fruit. The Southern Indians have more villages, and are better civilized than the Northern, the climate being warm, and nature more prolific, which {149} enables them to raise the fruits of the earth without much labour. Their houses are covered with birch bark, and decorated with bows and arrows, and weapons of war. Their beds are bark and matts made of rushes. We pursued our voyage to _Ouisconsin_, a fine River, with a strong current for about sixty leagues, which our canoes ran down in a day and a half; and upon which we saw an immense quantity of ducks, geese, and other fowl. On this river we were obliged to unload our canoes, in order to transport our goods across the portage, about two miles in length. We encamped on the banks, and intended setting off at break of day, but one of the Indians was bitten by a rattlesnake, which Mr. Adair calls the bright inhabitant of the woods, and which had fourteen rattles.