22G EXPKUITION TO THE 



cipal, and enter it in the order here mentioned, commenc- 

 ing with the uppermost, viz. 



The Pse or Rice river, the Shienne, tlie Buffalo, Elm, 

 Wild-rice, the Plum and Sandhill rivulets. The Goose 

 river, the Red Fork, the Turtle, Big Saline and Park ri- 

 vers, the Swamp brook, the " Two rivers," and Pembina 

 river, all within the territory of the United States. The 

 Reed Grass, Scotchman, Rat, Muddy, Assiniboin, and 

 Death rivers, entering northwardly of the 49th degree of 

 north latitude. The localities of their heads, their con- 

 nexion with other waters, their relative extents and con- 

 sequently their magnitudes, will be more readily understood 

 by a reference to our narrative. 



Red river is navigable for canoes, and even pirogues of 

 two tons burden, from its mouth to its source, as also to 

 the sources of several of its tributaries when swollen by 

 freshets. On such occasions canoes have been known to 

 pass from Lake Travers, its source, into the St. Peter, and 

 back again, without inconvenience. The voyage down the 

 river is now seldom performed, owing to the limited na- 

 ture of the trade in this direction. Formerly the Hudson's 

 Bay company had a trading establishment on Lake Travers, 

 (the same that is now occupied by the Columbia Fur Com- 

 pany,) between which and their establishments lower down 

 the river, considerable intercourse existed. It abounds 

 in rapids, which, together with its numerous and extensive 

 windings, render the passage by water very tedious. 



The aggregate descent from Lake Travers to Lake 

 Winnepeek, or from the source to the debouchure of Red 

 river, a distance of about six hundred miles, following the 

 meanders of that stream, amounts probably to two hun- 

 dred feet. 



Otter-tail river is navigable as above to its source, through 

 which a water communication is continued forming a con- 



