HISTORICAL SKETCH. 73 



1838, Nicollet.] 



the trading-post in this place. At other intermediate localities the sandstone and limestone both 

 appear ; but further on the limestone disappears altogether ; because it goes thinning out as the 

 western limits of the formation are approached. This may be observed near the Waraju, and 

 toward the upper parts of the Mankato, where the limestone, and indeed the sandstone, are 

 replaced by beds of clay or of calcareous marl. 



In the argillaceous deposits last referred to there are red ochre, other ferruginous minerals, 

 and lignites. Between the sandstone and the limestone there is a bed of whitish clay, enclosing 

 nodules of the blue earth ; and sometimes, between the strata of limestone, bands of argillaceous 

 iron ore, intermixed with siliceous and calcareous incrustions. 



The account given above applies equally to the rocky cliffs on the upper part of the La 

 Hontan river, and especially to the interesting locality* at the entrance of its south fork, which is 

 four miles to the east of lake Tt-tanka-tanninan.'f 



LA HONTAN'S KIVIEKE LONGUE. 



Those who have read the travels of Baron La Hontan, in which he mentions his discovery 

 of a certain long river coming from the west, and falling into the Mississippi, may, perhaps, think 

 that, by giving his name to a river upon my map, I meant to clear up the doubt which has existed, 

 for more than 150 years, as regards the veracity of this officer. 



Such was not originally my intention ; but I am forced into it after terminating my explora- 

 tion of the Undine region. Having afterward procured a copy of La Houtan's book, in which 

 there is a roughly made map of his Long river, I was struck with the resemblance of its course, as 

 laid down, with that of Cannon river ; which I had previously sketched in my own field-book. 

 I soon convinced myself that the principal statements of the Baron, in reference to the country, 

 and the few details he gives of the physical character of the river, coincided remarkably with what 

 I had laid down as belonging to the Cannon river. 



Thus the lakes and swamps corresponded ; traces of Indian villages mentioned by him might 

 be found in the growth of a certain grass that propagates itself around all old Indian settlements. 

 Some of the names which he assigns to them may be referred to dialects of the Sioux tongue ; 

 and even his account of the feasting of his men on the large number of the American hare which 

 he found there, is substantiated by the voyageurs. 



His account, too, of the mouth of the river, is particularly accurate. The most scrupulous 

 geographer, describing it at this time, would have but little to alter. As this locality is in the 

 way of travelers going to St. Peter's, I will quote from the text of La Hontan, so that they may 

 judge of the truth of my assertion. " We entered," he says, " the mouth of this long river, which 

 is a sort of large lake filled with canebrakes (joncs); in the midst of which we discovered a narrow 

 channel, which we followed up," &c. 



I do not pretend, however, to justify his gross exaggeration of the length of the river ; of 

 the numerous population on its banks ; and his pretended information respecting the nations 

 inhabiting the more remote regions. This sort of exaggeration seems to have belonged to the 

 period ; but there is apparently a more serious objection to be made to his narrative namely, 

 that it appears, from his text, he traveled during the months of November and December ; at 

 which period of the year the rivers in these parts are mostly frozen over, and the voyage there- 

 fore impracticable. But the received opinion, on the other hand, is, that it is one of the last to 

 freeze, and is the last resort of the wild fowl. The Sioux are said to congregate, in consequence 

 upon its banks in large numbers ; relying on this resource, whilst they are otherwise collecting 

 their peltries, insomuch that the American Pur Department at St. Peter's has always kept up this 

 post for the purpose of securing the advantages of this trade. Besides, this river is fed by a 

 great number of springs ; and the upper portion of its course is in a remarkable manner pro- 

 tected from sudden changes of temperature by high rocky banks and thick forests that cover them. 



Under all these circumstances I have thought proper to notice these facts, that seem to 

 possess sufficient interest in the history of the geography of the west; I have stated what appeared 

 to me the true facts in the case; and I may add, in conclusion, that if La Hontan's claims to dis- 

 coveries are mere fables, he has had the good fortune or the sagacity to have come near the truth. 



* The vicinity of Faribault. 

 t Cannon lake, in Rice county. 



