354 EXPEDITION TO i'HE 



]\lississippi.* Wc feel, however, disposed to consider all 



this section of our country as underlaid with this granite, 

 and we entertain but little doubt of its identity with the 

 sienitic granite, observed at a later period of our journey, 

 and which we first struck near Fort Alexander, at the 

 mouth of Winnepeek river. 



The latitude of our encampment on the banks of the St. 

 Peter, that evening, was determined by observations, to be 

 44° 41' 26" north. The variation of the compass at this 

 place was 12° 21' 20" east. 



From the interesting features which the valley display- 

 ed at this spot, the geologist felt desirous that the party 

 should ascend along the banks of the river, with a view to 

 examine these granitic masses, should they recur ; but this 

 was deemed impracticable, on account of the length of 

 time which would be consumed in following the bends of 

 the river. The reports which we had previously received 

 of the abundance of game, had not been confirmed ; we 

 had, on the contrary, found none at all, and our stores were 

 wasting away too fast to permit any delay. It was then 

 proposed to divide the party, and while the main body 

 proceeded with the necessary expedition towards the trad- 

 ing establishments at the head of the river, to allow the 

 geologist, with one or two companions, to continue his 

 route in the valley. But this Major Long did not deem 

 prudent, for in the present dissatisfied disposition of the 

 Sisitons, the division of the party must necessarily expose 

 it to be cut off by them, should they fall in with it. The 

 regret which tliis occasioned was, however, dissipated, on 

 observing that the primitive rocks did not continue long 

 in the valley ; for having been allowed to travel along the 



♦ Schoolcraft's Narrative, ut supra, p, 288, 



