SOURCE OF ST. PETER'S RIVER. 331 



compared with that of the Mississippi, increased as we ad- 

 vanced. The cause of this is, that the great volume of wa- 

 ter, which the Mississippi rolls down, backs up the waters 

 of most of its tributary streams, and produces a real pond 

 at their mouth. This is no doubt the cause of the lake 

 formed by the St. Croix, &c. 



Our flotilla assisted the land party in crossing the river, 

 after which we again separated ; and the boat, having as- 

 cended a few miles, came to rapids formed by two bars of 

 sandstone, which extend across the river, producing a fall 

 of about four feet within twenty yards. The water in the 

 river, at the time we ascended, was of an average height, 

 remarkable neither for its abundance nor scarcity ; and at 

 this stage we found at the falls just water enough to float 

 our boats and canoes, with the baggage and stores in them, 

 the crew and passengers walking alongside and dragging 

 them up the rapid. A shoal below, had likewise required that 

 our canoes should be lightened. Another rapid about half 

 a mile above, proved more diflicult to pass. There being 

 a sufficient depth of water, we ascended in the boat and 

 canoes ; one of the latter missed the channel, which is nar- 

 row, and in which there is a rapid current; the canoe drift- 

 ed down against the rock, and fears were entertained that 

 it would be lost ; but with considerable labour, and after 

 about half an hour's detention, it was at last brought up 

 safe. The aggregate fall of the two rapids is seven feet. 

 At a short distance above this we stopped for an hour j 

 this gave us an opportunity of observing the nature of the 

 country. The stream is there incased by a vertical bank, 

 about ten or twelve feet high, the base of which is washed 

 by the river. Ascending this bank we find a level Valley, 

 which is about a quarter of a mile wide ; this is limited by 

 a steep and rugged bank, of about twenty feet in height. 



