2 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



circumstances that the valley of the Missisipjn is yet imper- 

 fectly known, of great importance in the geography of the 

 United States, and that the source of intelligence is recent 

 and respectable. Mr. Darby well said that the knowledge 

 of this region was imperfect ; for we are informed by Mr. 

 Schoolcraft, to whom he refers as a sonrce recent and 

 respectable, that the Rock River Rapids extend six miles up 

 the river. Their length is, in fact, fifteen miles. Another 

 strikincT instance of the errors in regard to this country, is in 

 the statement of Mr. Brackenridge, that the St. Peter's enters 

 the Missisippi forty miles below St. Anthony, and is navi- 

 gable one thousand miles to its source — when, in fact, it is 

 nine miles from the falls, and its whole length is less than 

 five hundred miles. In some maps of this country, still 

 more recent, published Avithin twelve years of the time of 

 writmg this, there also appear similar inaccuracies. It is, 

 in fact, only since the termination of the Black Hawk war, 

 and the settlement of the country consequent thereon, that 

 it has become known to geographers and to the world. 



The country which is here intended to be included in tlie 

 name of the Northwest, or the Upper Missisippi valley, is 

 bounded on the ea^t and southeast by the Lake ^Michigan 

 and the waters connecting it with Lake Superior, and by 

 Illinois River ; on the south, southwest, and west, by the 

 Missouri River ; and on the north by the line separating the 

 territory of the United States from the British Possessions. 

 It comprehends about 10° of latitude, from 39° to 49°, and 

 14° of longitude, from 87° to 101° (10° to 24° from Wash- 

 ington), and contains about 300,000 square miles. A large 

 part of this tract, consisting of the northern portion, is still 

 held by the Indians ; and the Notes, excepting those relating 

 to the geography, history and climate, will, for the most, 

 apply to its remaining or southeastern portion. 



