142 THE LIFE 01?

CHAPTER XVII.

A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE OJEBVVA, OR CHIPPEWAY, NATION.

As the Ojebwa Nation are within the bounds of the two Governments—the American and the British—I will give a separate account of each. The number of our nation, according to Drake, in 1842, was thirty thou- sand; and this is not far from the truth. The best work upon the Indians, however, is that deservedly popular book, by Col. McKinney, of New York; the undoubted friend of the red man.

I will now speak of that part of the nation who oc- cupy places within the bounds of the United States. They inhabit all the northern part of Michigan, or the south shore of Lake Huron; the whole northern part of Wisconsin Territory ; all the south shore of Lake Supe- rior, for eight hundred miles; the upper part of the Mis- sissippi, and Sandy, Leach, and Red Lakes.

That part of our nation who live in the British posses- sions, occupy from Gononaque, below Kingston, through- out all western Canada ; the north of Lake Huron ; the north of Lake Superior; the north of Lake Winepig; the north of Red River Lake, about one hundred miles. The whole extent, therefore, occupied is over one thousand nine hundred miles east and west, and from two to three hundred miles north and south.

There are over five thousand living under the British Government, and less than twenty-five thousand under