2:22 EXPEDITION TO THE 



ing in the Coteau des Prairies, entering from the west, also 

 the Epervier and Miavvahkan or INIedicinc Bark, from the 

 north-east; the latter of which rises in the vicinity of Otter- 

 tail Lake, to which it is said to be navigable for canoes in a 

 wet season, and is the same that has often been denominated 

 Chippewa river. Of these streams the Blue Earth is the 

 most considerable, its sources interlocking with waters tri- 

 butary to the Missouri, in a district of country, where the 

 Coteau des Prairies is said to have its southerly termina- 

 tion. The others are all of inconsiderable magnitude, as 

 may be readily inferred from the description already given 

 of the principal. 



The country of the St. Peter possesses many features 

 highly interesting both in a geological and agricultural 

 point of view. Its physical character and structure, as 

 also those of the other regions treated of in this paper, 

 have been discussed in the course of the preceding nar- 

 rative. In regard to its soil and aspect, much may be 

 said in its praise. The immediate valley of the river has 

 an average width of about one mile and a half, and is con- 

 nected by bluffs or parallel ranges of hills, which attain 

 an elevation of about one hundred feet. The lower por- 

 tion of the valley, embracing nearly one-half the length of 

 the river, is low and marshy, subject to inundation, and 

 abounding in lakes, swamps, and lagoons. Nevertheless, 

 it sustains in many places a dense and heavy growth of 

 trees, consisting principally of oak, elm, white maple, ash, 

 linden, white-walnut, wild-cherry, &c. together with a 

 luxuriant undergrowth of shrubbery, vines, grasses, and 

 weeds. The neighbouring highlands present numerous 

 copses and groves of considerable magnitude, containing 

 several of the trees before enumerated. Prairies are fre- 

 quent, and some of them spacious, on this part of the river, 



