58 EXPEDITION TO THE 



The bed of Plum rivulet was five yards wide, that of 

 Sand-hill ten, but both were dry. 



The Red Fork, which, by the Indians, is considered as 

 the main branch, takes its name from the Red Lake, in 

 which it rises. Both are said to be translations of the 

 term bloody, used by the Indians, and which is doubt- 

 less derived from some slaughter committed in that vi- 

 cinity ; not, as is the case with many other rivers which 

 have the same appellation, from the colour of their bed. 



In times of flood the Red Fork is navigable for barges 

 throughout its length to Red Lake, a distance of one hun- 

 dred and twenty miles ; in ordinary stages of water, canoes 

 can ascend it to its source. This is the most important tri- 

 butary of Red river, containing probably an equal quantity 

 of water with the main stream itself. Mr. Jeffries inform- 

 ed us that Red Lake had the form of a crescent, with its 

 back to the south-west, that its dimensions were sixty 

 miles by twenty -four. Carver says, p. 72, that " Red Lake 

 is a comparatively small lake, at the head of a branch of 

 the Bourbon river, which is called by some Red river. Its 

 form is nearly round, and about sixty miles in circumfer- 

 ence." Carver had not visited the lake. The general course 

 of the Red fork from this lake is north-west; it receives a 

 few small tributaries, the most important of which are 

 Clear river, entering about thirty miles from its mouth on 

 the south-west side, and Thief river, entering it from the 

 north-cast. The woods along Red Fork are very thick, 

 and extend to about half a mile on either side. Hazlenuts 

 were very abundant, and nearly ripe at that time. Below 

 the junction of Red Fork with the main stream, Red river 

 was observed to be about forty yards wide, and its current 

 was about one knot per hour. The bed of Swamp river 

 was dry. At the place where we crossed the "Two rivers,*' 



