HISTORICAL SKETCH. 55 



1831, Allen.] 



LIEUT. ALLEN AT THE SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI, AND ON THE GROW WING 



RIVER. 



In company with Mr.-Schoolcraft, Lieut. Allen left Cass lake under the 

 guidance of Yellow Head, an Indian of the Cass lake band, for the explora- 

 tion of the Mississippi river to its source. Passing Lac Travers, now lake 

 Pemidji, which he describes as a beautiful lake about ten miles long from 

 north to south and about half as broad, surrounded by pine woods which 

 rise into high hills on the noi'th and northwest, forming a part of the chain 

 dividing the waters of the Mississippi from those of the Red river, he 

 followed a broad channel, 100 yards long, and reached another small lake. 

 Half a mile above this he reached the forks of the river, the branches 

 being nearly of the same width, but the right hand branch having the 

 most water discharge. He ascended the left branch, and in about twelve 

 miles reached lake Rahbahkanna, or Resting lake, which is four miles in 

 diameter and nearly round. Ascending the river still further, a distance 

 estimated by him between fifty and sixty miles, he reached Usaw-way, or 

 Perch, lake, which is about two miles long and half a mile broad. From 

 this lake he set out overland to Lac la Biche, which was supposed to be the 

 source of the larger fork of the Mississippi, making a portage of six miles, 

 and struck the lake near the end of its southeastern bay. The portage 

 passed over a rough country, two or three hundred feet above the lake, 

 with tamarack swamps and Banks' pine, the latter growing in a poor and 

 sandy soil, hung with lichens and without animal life. Mr. Schoolcraft 

 hoisted a flag on a high staff, on the island, and left it flying. Lac la Biche 

 is said to be about seven miles long and from one to three broad, but of 

 irregular shape, conforming to the bases of the pine hills which for a great 

 part of its circumference rise abruptly from its shore. Its shores are 

 formed of boulders of primitive rock but have no rock in place. School- 

 craft island is 150 yards long and 50 yards broad. The Indian who acted 

 as guide declared this lake to be the "true source and fountain of the long- 

 est and largest branch of the Mississippi." He had hunted all round it, and 

 said there was a little creek too small for the smallest canoes to ascend, 

 emptying into the south bay of the lake and having its source "at the base 

 of a chain of high hills, which we could see not two miles off." "To the 



