[ 237 ] 12 



Reconnoissance," <kc., ] need not stop at it. I will only remark, en pas- 

 sa?i(, that the distance from St. Peter's to the Traverse des Sioux, being 

 116 miles, might be opened for steamboat navigation, by removing sundry 

 obstacles that occur at the place called the Little Rapids. 



The position designated as the Traverse des Sioux is destined to be- 

 come, one day, the most important that presents itself on a distance of 400 

 miles along the beautiful and fertile valley of the St. Peter's. Its advanta- 

 ges are manifest : it has a good landing ; the surrounding soil is excellent, 

 ■well wooded, and, from a back ridge of 2U0 feet in elevation, there is a 

 creek affording a great amount of water-power, easily accessible from the 

 liver. From the cotton wood growing on the alluvial bottoms I have sup- 

 plied myself with canoes 32 feet in length. 



One mile from the Traverse des Sioux, and on the bank of the river, 

 are the remains of an Indian camp ; the circular area of which is still in- 

 dicated by the heaps of stones around each lodge. As this indicates the 

 existence of a custom no longer in use among the Ndakotahs, or Sioux, 

 who have occupied the country for a long time back, it is difficult to as- 

 sigt) the true origin of this relic. The Sissitons, the fourth tribe of the 

 Ndakotahs, on whose lands these relics are found, have no tradition of 

 them. 



The Traverse des Sioux, or Sioux crossing-place, is called by the In- 

 dians Oeyuwai^ah. There is some ambiguity in the geographical names 

 of places in this vicinity, as laid down in Mr. Featherstonhaugh's report. 

 I shall add a few words in the hope of removing it. 



Opposite the trading-post at the Sioux crossings, there is a beautiful 

 semilunar bend, to which the name of Crescent has been applied in Major 

 Long's second expedition. At the commencement of this bend, there is 

 a swamp of the character of such as are called by the Sioux wiwi ; the 

 waters of which are drained through a small creek that empties into the 

 St. Peter's. Now, the word wi, in the Sioux language, signifies a celestial 

 body — an equivalent of the French word astre; thus, they say a/npetuwi 

 — the orb of day, the sim ; ran-yetu. loi — the orb of night, or the moon. 

 But, according to the genius of the Ndakotah tongue, the word ici is not 

 considered as the radical of the term loiwi. The creek in this vicinity is 

 called Wiwi-Khanke-Watpadan, viz: creek at the end of the swamp; and 

 yet there is nothing in all this in allusion to the moon. 



Another important position is that of Lac-quiparle, where is the resi- 

 dence of the Messrs. Renville, father and son. This will become a stop- 

 ping place, and one of recruitment for the growing trade between the west 

 and the British establishment on the Red river of the North. 



I may stop awhile to say that the residence of the Uenville family, for 

 a number of years back, has offered the only retreat to travellers to be 

 found between St. Peter's and the British posts, in a distance of 700 

 miles. The liberal and untiring hospitality dispensed by this respectable 

 family, which 1 have experienced myself, and most gratefully acknowl- 

 edge on this occasion ; the great influence exercised by it over the Indian 

 tribes inhabiting this region of country, in the maintenance of peace, and 

 the protection of travellers, would demand, besides our gratitude, some 

 special acknowledgment, not only on the part of the government of the 

 United States, but also from the administrators of the Hudson Bay Com- 

 pany. 



