HISTOKICAL SKETCH. 89 



1850, Pope.] 



more rapid current than the Red river of the North. Above the mouth 

 of the Sioux Wood river the Red river takes the name of Otter-tail Lake 

 river, and, with a constant depth of water of four feet, becomes much more 

 tortuous in its course. 



GBN. POPE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE PAKK REGION. 



As we approached the western and northwestern slope of the Leaf mountain at the point 

 where the river debouches from it into the level plains to the north, the current becomes sensibly 

 more rapid, and the water clearer, until at about fifteen miles east of the crossing of the land 

 route we found it necessary to use the cordelle. The banks become also much higher, with a tract 

 of level, swampy land three-fourths of a mile in width between them, the river running from side 

 to side through the swamp in the most serpentine manner. Small islands begin to be numerous, 

 and the steep banks are perforated, in a thousand places, with clear cold springs. The woods 

 along the banks also become much larger and more dense, oak being the more common tree. At 

 about thirty miles above the mouth of the Sioux Wood river the rapids commence, and are almost 

 continuous to Otter-tail lake. There are two and a half and three feet of water over them', and in 

 the intervening pools of still water about three and a half feet. The bed of the river is filled with 

 loose boulders of all sizes, and the deep water assumes an exceedingly crooked channel among 

 them. Every hour of our advance toward the east increased the amount of heavy timber on the 

 banks, and we began also to perceive, at various distances on each side, large groves of heavy 

 timber upon the borders of numerous lakes, which I have described as forming so peculiar a fea- 

 ture of the country between the Mississippi and St. Peter's. 



We had thus again entered the second general division of country I have made in a pre- 

 vious part of this report, and as we progressed toward the east the lakes became much more 

 numerous, and the timber much heavier and more abundant. From Otter-tail lake to its entrance 

 into Leaf mountain, the river passes through a number of beautiful lakes surrounded by rolling 

 country, heavily timbered, with a depth of water from nine to twenty feet, and filled with the 

 most luxuriant growth of wild rice. The largest and most beautiful of these is lake Gardiner, 

 which is within eight miles of Otter- tail lake. On the 14th of September we reached the mouth of 

 Little Pelican river, which, at its confluence with Otter-tail river, is about twenty yards wide, and 

 about three feet deep. 



On the morning of the 17th we arrived at Otter-tail lake, and encamped near its northeast- 

 ern extremity, at the remains of several small trading houses. Upon entering this lake from the 

 southwest, the woods to the northeast, although very large, are not visible, and it is by far the 

 largest sheet of water we had yet seen . It is about ten miles in length from southwest to north- 

 east, and four or five miles in width, filled with fish, with clear pure water, with a depth of twenty 

 feet, and no islands. The fish are white, and said to be the same known as the white-fish of the 

 lakes, so celebrated for their flavor. 



To the west, northwest and northeast, the whole country is heavily timbered with oak, elm, 

 ash, maple, birch, bass, &c., &c. Of these the sugar maple is probably the most valuable, and in 

 the vicinity of Otter-tail lake large quantities of maple sugar are manufactured by the Indians. 

 The wild rice, which exists in these lakes in the most lavish profusion, constitutes a most necessary 

 article of food with the Indians, and is gathered in large quantities in the months of September 

 and October. To the east the banks of the lake are fringed with heavy oak and elm timber to 

 the width of one mile. The whole region of country for fifty miles in all directions around this 

 lake, is among the most beautiful and fertile in the world. 



The fine scenery of lakes and open groves of oak timber, of winding streams connecting 

 them, and beautifully rolling country on all sides, renders this portion of Minnesota the garden 

 spot of the Northwest. It is impossible in a report of this character to describe the feelings of 

 admiration and astonishment with which we first beheld the charming country in the vicinity of 

 this lake, and were I to give expression to my own feelings and opinions in reference to it, I fear 

 they would be considered the ravings of a visionary or an enthusiast. * 



