THE GREAT LONE LAND: A NARRATIVE OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE IN THE NORT-WEST OF AMERICA.
BY COLONEL W. F. BUTLER, C.B., F.R.G.S.
AUTHOR OF "HISTORICAL EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT," ETC.
"A full fed river winding slow,By herds-upon an endless plain."
"And some one pacing there aloneWho paced for ever in a glimmering land,Lit with a low, large moon."
TENNYSON.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND ROUTE MAP.
LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON and COMPANY Limited
St. Dunstan's House FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET,
First Published 1872 (All rights reserved)
PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIFINGTON, LD.,
ST. JOHN'S HOUSE, CLERKEMWELL ROAD, E.C.
PREFACE.
At York Factory on Hudson Bay there lived, not very long ago, a man whohad stored away in his mind one fixed resolution it was to write a book.
"When I put down," he used to say, "all that I have seen, and all that Ihavn't seen, I will be able to write a good book."
It is probable that had this man carried his intention into effect thenegative portion of his vision would have been more successfal than thepositive. People are generally more ready to believe what a man hasn'tseen'than what he has seen. So, at least, thought Karkakonias theChippeway Chief at Pembina.
Karkakonias was taken to Washington during the great Southern War, inorder that his native mind might be astonished by the grandeur of theUnited States, and by the strength and power of the army of the Potomac.
Upon his return to his tribe he remained silent and impassive; his dayswere spent in smoking, his evenings in quiet contemplation; he spoke notof his adventures in the land of the great white medicine-man. But atlength the tribe grew discontented; they had expected to hear the recitalof the wonders seen by their chief, and lo! he had come-back to them assilent as though his wanderings had ended on the Coteau of the Missouri,or by the borders of the Kitchi-Gami. Their discontent found vent inwords.
"Our father, Karkakonias, has come back to us," they said; "why does henot tell his children of the medicine of the white man? Is our fatherdumb that he does not speak to us of these things?"
Then the old chief took his calumet from his lips, and replied, "'IfKarkakonias told his children of the medicines of the white man--of hiswar-canoes moving by fire, and making thunder as they move, of hiswarriors more numerous than the buffalo in the days of our fathers, ofall the wonderful things he has looked upon-his children would point andsay, Behold! Karkakonias has become in his old age a maker of lies! No,my children, Karkakonias has seen many wonderful things, and his tongueis still able to speak; but, until your eyes have travelled as far as hashis tongue, he will sit silent and smoke the calumet, thinking only ofwhat he has looked upon."
Perhaps I too should have followed the example of the old Chippewaychief, not because of any wonders I have looked upon; but rather becauseof that well-known prejudice against travellers tales, and of thatterribly terse adjuration-".O that mine enemy might write a book!" Bethat as it may, the book has been written; and it only remains to say afew words about its title and its theories.