SOURCE OF ST. PETER's RIVER. 22$ 



V. Of Bed river and the adjacent country. 



This stream is tributary to Lake Winnepeek, whose wa- 

 ters have their estuary in Hudson's Bay- Its immediate 

 source is Lake Travers, situated northwardly, and within 

 three miles of Big Stone Lake, and in flood time, commu- 

 nicating at its upper extremity with the St. Peter's river, 

 which is here a mere brook, and passes the lake at the 

 distance of a few hundred yards only. This lake is about 

 fifteen miles long and between one and two wide, stretch- 

 ing from south-west to north-east. By observations taken 

 at the establishment of the Columbia Fur Company, situ- 

 ated two miles from the head of the lake, its latitude was 

 found to be 45° 39' 52" and its longitude 96° 34' 30." At 

 the north-eastern extremity of Lake Travers, is situated a 

 pool of considerable size called Buffalo Lake, communi- 

 cating with the former. The channel through which these 

 are drained is denominated Riviere des Sioux, or more 

 correctly Swan rivulet, and is about thirty miles long. At 

 the time of our passing it, (Aug. 1823,) it contained no 

 water except in stagnant pools. At the distance above- 

 mentioned it unites with a considerable stream from the 

 north-east, called Grand or Otter-tail river, which has its 

 source in a lake of the same name. The lake is about 

 twenty-four miles long and five broad, and is situated near 

 the head waters of the Mississippi, at the distance of about 

 one hundred and fifty miles north-eastwardly from Lake 

 Travers. These two streams may be regarded as the con- 

 stituents of Red river. The general course of the river is 

 northward, inclining a little to the west ; it is exceedingly 

 tortuous; its length, following its meanders, being more 

 than five hundred miles, while in the direction of its val- 

 ley it does not exceed three hundred and sixty. It receives 

 numerous tributaries, of which the following are the prin- 



