53 [ 237 ] 



I was at St. Peter's \vl:en 1 made np my mind to visit the sources of 

 the Mississippi ; and I am indebted to my friends, Major Tulia- 

 St. Peter's, f^^^^^ jyjj. j^g,)ry H. fSibley, and the officers of the tirst regi- 

 ment stationed at Fort Siielling-, and under command of Colonel Daven- 

 port, for the removal of all difficulties that might naturally be expected 

 to present them.>elves to a solitary traveller, accompanied only by a few 

 Indians and liaK-breeds. Several of the officers expressed a desire to go 

 with me, of whose company I would gladly have availed myself, but 

 that, owing to the absence of some of their fellowoflicers, on a court-mar- 

 tial at Prairie du Chien, their own services were indispensably required at 

 the fort. 



When about to leave St. Peter's, a Frenchman named Fronchet, belong- 

 ing to the garrison, and known to his corrirades by the name of />m/e, 

 presented himself to me, with an earnest iTcjuest that he might be per- 

 mitted to accompany me, as well with the object of wailing on me, as to 

 gain an opportunity of trafficking with the Indians whom we might meet. 

 Having received good testimonials of his character, I accepted his offer, 

 and have noihing but praise to bestow on his activity, patience, and the 

 cheerfulness which he manifested even in the midst of some trying circum- 

 stances to which we were exposed. 



On the 26th of July, 1S36, I left St. Peter's, to bivouac at the falls of St. 

 Anthony, to which place I had caused to be transported my bark 

 Anthony canoeS; my baggage, and provisions. In this journey 1 was ac- 

 companied by Lieutenants S. N. Plummer, G. W. Shaw, and the 

 late James McClure, who kindly were desirous of extending to me the final 

 shake-hand before my departure. 



But, once arrived at the ff\lls, I could not help remarking a sudden 

 distress among the Chippeways and half-breeds who were to escort me. 

 It arose from the circumstance that the Sioux, among whom we were, 

 had robbed me of my provisions and canoe. Perhaps this might have 

 been considered as a bad omen thrown over the success of my enter- 

 prise ; but the die was cast. I was determined not to return to St. 

 Peter's; so that Major Taliaferro, to whom 1 wrote, was kind enough to 

 send me another supply of articles similar to those which had been stolen 

 from me. 



On the 29th of July, my flotilla was rapidly ascending the majestic Mis- 

 sissippi, laden with some of the productions from the two extremes of bar- 

 barism and civilization. The bow and arrow associated with the powder 

 flask and rifle ; sticks to notch down the days, and the chronometer to 

 measure time; the man who notices in the heavens only the clouds that 

 occasionally overshadow its brilliancy, and he who, armed with a telescope, 

 can contemplate their most recondite wonders; the savage, fitially, who 

 sees in them nothing but the abode of spirits that rule the hurricanes or 

 dispense vengeance, and the Christian, vi^ho implicitly relies on an all- wise 

 and merciful God. 



The falls of St. Anthony form the limits of steamboat navigation, as 

 well as of the calcareous deposite that cliaracterizes the shores of the 

 Mississippi from the mouth of the Wisconsin. The rocky formations 

 then assume another type, being the several varieties of green stone, and 

 finally passing into talcose slate, which is visible at the falls of the 

 Wabezi, or Swan river, and the Omos/ikos, or Elk river, near their en- 

 trances. 



