MacDonell, John. Some Account of the Red River, ca. 1797 [Contemporary copy]. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0035

This place as well as the rivière aux Morts are a favourite Indian Encampment. On these plains we generally find some straggling Sauteux or Pilleux from Lake Rouge, who generally have provisions to barter for liquor en passant.

Here we leave the Red and enter the Assiniboil river; the smaller branch of the two, which is very shoal and full of sand banks – and one of the most crooked that fancy can conceive; A man on foot that marches straight through the plains in three hours time can go as far as the canoes can go in a day.

The Red river properly so called takes its water near the head of the Mississipi, and by it the Southern Traders from La Prairie du Chien enter the Assiniboine; but is a long way about and very precarious, as they are forced to come through the Territories of the Sioux the most savages and barbarous nation of the plain Indians. This road is called (passer par l'aile du Corbeau) after a portage of that

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L E G E N D :
 in red , modifications made by the editor(s).
 in lavender , modifications made by the assumed author(s).

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