SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 339 



Crescent, a shallow stream six yards wide enters from the 

 left bank. 



In our description of the observations recorded by the 

 party in the canoes, we have included those made upon 

 the nature of the river, &c. by the land party, and it may 

 suffice to mention that the difficulties which they experi- 

 enced were very great, owing to the nature of the country 

 over which they travelled. At times it was so marshy, that 

 they could not proceed without much danger to themselves 

 and their horses ; and in one or two instances, the ground 

 was so soft, that they were obliged to construct causeways 

 or bridges, to enable their horses to pass over it. The fo- 

 rests which they traversed, consisted chiefly of maple, 

 white walnut, hickory, oak, elm, ash, linden, (Tilia Ameri- 

 cana,) interspersed with grape-vines, &c. The absence of 

 the black walnut on the St. Peter, and near Fort St. An- 

 thony, was particularly observed. The rosin plant was not 

 seen after leaving Prairie du Chien. The yellow raspberry 

 was abundant in many places and ripe at the time the 

 party passed through the forests. The course of the party 

 was generally in the valley of the St. Peter, not far from, 

 and frequently in sight of, the river, which offered them 

 some fine water scenery, presenting, however, a great de- 

 gree of sameness ; its principal defect is the want of ob- 

 jects^to animate the scenes ; no buffalo ranging across the 

 prairie, no deer starting through the forests, no birds in- 

 terrupting the solemn stillness which uniformly reigns 

 over the country ; the St. Peter rolls in silence its waters 

 to the Mississippi ; where game is scarce, the Indian of 

 course finds no inducement to hunt, and hence the party 

 frequently travelled for whole days, without seeing a liv- 

 ing object of any kind. This appeared, however, to be the 

 track of Indians going out on their hunts, and accordingly 



