28 THE GEOLOGY OF MINNESOTA. 



[Pike, ilo6. 



fur-hunting grounds for some hundreds of miles, and has been long a scene of rencounters 

 between the hunting parties of the Sioux and Sauteaux. The last winter a number of the Fols 

 Avoins and Sioux, and some Sauteaux, wintered in that quarter. From Rum river to Leaf river, 

 (called by Father Hennepin and Carver the river St. Francis, and was the extent of their travels) 

 the prairies continue with a few interruptions. The timber, scrub oak, with now and then a 

 lonely pine. Previous to your arrival at Leaf river you pass Crow river on the west, about 30 

 yards wide, which bears from the Mississippi S. W. Leaf river is only a small stream of not 

 more than 15 yards over and bears N". by W. 



The elk begin to be very plentiful ; some buffalo, quantities of deer, raccoons, and on the 

 prairie a few of the animals called by the French brelaws. 



From thence to Sac river [Sank river] a little above the Grand rapids, both sides of the 

 river are generally prairie, with skirts of scrub oak. The navigation still obstructed with ripples, 

 but with some intermissions of a few miles. 



At the Grand rapids the river expands itself to about 3-4 mile in width (its general width 

 being not over 3-5 mile) and tumbles over an unequal bed of rocks for about two miles, through 

 which there cannot be said to be any channel ; for notwithstanding the rapidity of the current, one 

 of my invalids who was on the W. shore waded to the E. (where we were encamped.) The east 

 bank of the rapids is a very high prairie, the west scrubby woodland. The Sac river is a consid- 

 erable stream which comes in on the west, and bears S. W., and is 200 yards wide at its mouth. 



The quantity of game still increasing from the Sac river to Pine creek, (the place where 

 I built my stockade and left part of my party) the borders are prairie, with groves of pine on the 

 edge of the bank ; but there are some exceptions, where you meet with small bottoms of oak, 

 ash, maple and lynn. In this distance there is an intermission of rapids for about 40 miles when 

 they commence again and are full as difficult as ever. There are three small creeks emptying in 

 on the west scarcely worthy of notice, and on the east are two small rivers, called Lake and Clear 

 rivers.* The former quite a small one bears N. W. and is about 15 yards wide at its mouth ; and 

 about three miles from its entrance is a beautiful small lake, around which resort immense herds 

 of elk and buffalo. Clear river is a beautiful little stream of about 80 yards in width, and heads 

 in some swamps and small lakes on which the Sauteaux of Lower Bed Cedar lake, and Sandy lake, 

 frquently came to hunt. The soil of the prairies from above the falls is sandy, but would raise 

 small grain in abundance ; the bottoms rich and fit for corn or hemp. Pine creekf is a small 

 stream which comes in on the west shore and bears nearly west. It is bounded by large groves of 

 white and red pine. From Pine creek to the Isle De Corbeau, (or river of that name) two small 

 rivers come in on the west shore. The first is of little consequence ; but the second, called Elk 

 river is entitled to more consideration from its communication with the river St. Peters. They 

 first ascend it to a small lake, cross it, then ascend a small stream, [Long Prairie river] to a 

 large lake, [Carlos lake] from which they make a portage of four miles west and fall into the 

 Sauteaux river, [Little Chippewa] which they descend into the river St. Peters. On the east side 

 is one small stream, (Nunkesebe river) which heads toward Lower Red Cedar lake, and is bounded 

 by hills. The whole of this distance is remarkably difficult to navigate, being one continued 

 succession of rapid shoals and falls; but there is one deserves to be more particularly noticed, 

 viz : the place called by the French Le shute de la Roclie Peinture, which is certainly the third 

 obstacle in point of navigation which I met with in my whole route. The shore where there is 

 not prairie is a continued succession of pine ridges. The entrance of the river De Corbeau is partly 

 hid by the island of that name, and discharges its waters into the Mississippi above and below it ; 

 the lowest channel bearing from the Mississippi N. 65 W. This (in my opinion) should be termed 

 the forks of the Mississippi, it being nearly of equal magnitude and heading not far from the same 

 source ; although taking a much more direct course to their junction. It may be observed on the 

 chart, that from St. Louis to this place, the course of the river had been generally N. to the W. 

 and that from here it bore N. E. This river affords the best and most approved communication with 

 the Red river, and the navigation is as follows. You ascend the river De Corbeau 180J miles to the 

 entrance of the river Des Feuilles, which comes from the N. W. This you ascend 180 miles also. 



Lake river is now called Little Rock creek, and Clear river is the Platte. 



tNow called Swan river. 



{Pike's distances are generally too great. 



