SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 235 



of a rugged and broken character. Rocks are seldom to 

 be found in the immediate valley or bed of the river. The 

 forests are more dense and heavy, and contain several 

 trees not enumerated in the foregoing list, viz. white-oak, 

 ash, hickory, water-maple, white-walnut, linden, elm, &c. 

 The pine and white-birch become more abundant, and at- 

 tain a more stately size. 



From the estimates above given, making some allow- 

 ance for the general descent of the river, it will appear 

 that the surface of Rainy Lake is elevated about sixty feet 

 above that of the Lake of the Woods, or four hundred and 

 seventy feet above that of Lake Winnepeek. 



Pursuing our course upwards we passed through Rainy, 

 Sturgeon, La Croix, Upper Sturgeon, Dore, Cannibal, and 

 Thousand Lakes, besides numerous others of less note and 

 size, and also the channels by which they are connected, 

 which, in the language of the voyagers, are denominated 

 rivers, and known by various names, before we reach the di- 

 viding ridge between the waters of Lakes Winnepeek and 

 Superior. Several routes are practicable through this part 

 of the country, but the one we pursued is said to be the 

 most frequented. The route connected with the Grand 

 Portage, which was the only route frequented till within a 

 few years, is united to the new route by two channels, one 

 branching off at Lac de la Croix, and the other at Upper 

 Sturgeon Lake, both of which unite in Lake Saganaga, and 

 enter Lake Superior at Pigeon river. 



The country along these routes is very similar to that 

 on Winnepeek river, though of an aspect somewhat more 

 inviting. Patches of ground susceptible of cultivation, here 

 and there present themselves. The trees of the forest ex- 

 hibit a greater variety, and attain a larger size; as we ap- 

 proach the dividing ridge between the waters of Lake Su- 



