SOURCE OB ST. PETER S RIVER. 56.3 



for about twelve miles. The source of the northern and 

 larger branch is in Polecat Lake, about twice that distance, 

 and bearing from the point at which it leaves the main 

 valley, about west by north. The length of the stream, 

 following all its windings, is about forty or fifty miles. 

 Polecat Lake, whose dimensions are one and a half mile 

 in length by half a mile in breadth, is frequently dry, and 

 the stream often conveys but little water to the Big Stone 

 Lake. 



By the route which we travelled, the distance, from the 

 mouth of the St. Peter to the head of Big Stone Lake, is 

 three hundred and twenty -five miles, of which we ascended 

 one hundred and thirty by water. We entertain no doubt 

 that the distance, in a direct line by land, would fall short of 

 two hundred and thirty miles ; and that the whole length of 

 the river, including all its bends, does not exceed five hun- 

 dred miles. The traders, whose estimates almost always 

 exceed the truth, do not ascribe to it a length of more than 

 six hundred miles. How different these observations are 

 from the opinions formerly entertained of this stream, 

 may be judged from the assertion of Breckenridge, that it 

 is a thousand miles long. Other authors allow it twelve hun- 

 dred miles. Carver states it, on the authority of the Indians, 

 to take its rise in the same neighbourhood as, and within the 

 space of a mile of, the source of the Missouri ; he adds that the 

 northern branch rises from a number of lakes near the Shin- 

 ing Mountains. But we can place no dependance upon the 

 information which he gives from second hand, when we find 

 it blended with such fictions as are contained in the fol- 

 lowing extract. " The river St Pierre, which runs through 

 the territory of the Naudowessies, flows through a most 

 delightful country, abounding with all the necessaries of 



