1-10 EXPEDITION TO THE 



six days empty their waters into Lake MicTiigan. The 

 country to the west of Fort Wayne is much more promis- 

 ing than that which lies east of it Though wet, and in some 

 places swampy, it is much less so than that through which 

 we had previously travelled. The soil is thin, but of 

 good quality; prairies are occasionally met with; the fo- 

 rests consist of white oak, shellbark, aspen, &c. The 

 weather, which was cloudy in the morning and showery 

 in the afternoon, cleared off towards sunset, and our first 

 night's exposure was attended with no evil consequences. 

 The meadow on which we halted, was covered with a 

 fine tame grass, which afibrded us a soft couch, while it 

 secured to our horses plentiful and palatable food. The 

 streams we crossed this day were inconsiderable ; the first 

 known by the name of Eel river, is one of the head branches 

 of the Wabash : it was considerably swollen at that time ; 

 we forded it with some difficulty, and met on the west bank 

 a party of traders, who had been encamped there some- 

 time with a large quantity of furs, which they dared not 

 trust across the stream in its present state of elevation. 

 They were nearly destitute of provisions, and we supplied 

 them with one day's rations. A ride of thirty miles took 

 us the next day to a fine river called the Elkheart, which 

 it had been our intention to have forded before night ; 

 upon reaching its banks we found it so much swollen as to 

 preclude the possibility of crossing it, unless a raft could be 

 made ; but as this would have detained us too long, we prefer- 

 ed attempting to make our way down the left bank of the 

 stream. We were led to take this course from the cir- 

 cumstance, that the usual path crosses back to the left or 

 southern bank, about twenty miles below the first cros- 

 sing. The country travelled over this day, consisted of low 

 flat ridges, the summits of which presented extensive levels 



