[ 237 ] 60 



For the first 25 or 30 miles, the bed of the river contracts or dilates, ac- 

 cording to the character of the shores. Its navigation is greatly impeded 

 by erratic rocks, trunks of fallen and decayed trees, as well as impending 

 branches of living ones, and rapids, which, in proportion to the changes of 

 level in the bed of the river, carried along our frail canoe with the rapidity 

 of an arrow, or left us, when wanting, m perfect repose. I may remark 

 here, that, on this river, like all those of this region of country, where, on 

 the narrowing of the valley, there grows nothing but willows and aquatic 

 plants on the shores, with a fine sand at hottom, its bed is peopled with in- 

 numerable shells, especially iinios and anodontce. So far, I saw not a soli- 

 tary fish. 



We breakfasted at the foot of the rapids, where Lieutenant Allen informs 

 us his canoe was upset and his compass broken ; and having mentioned 

 this incident to Kcgwedzissoir, \\e immediately suspended his meal to go 

 upon an offering of tobacco and maple-sugar lo the spirit of the rapids, by 

 wliom we had been spared from a similar mishap. 



Having by this lime descended from 40 to 50 miles below Itasca lake, 

 and within this distance observed the entrance of four rivers, 



pcma^e"*^^^ Kegwcdzissag pointed out to us a naked bluffon the left bank 

 of the river as the commencement of an important portage, 

 leading to a pretty large lake on the Hauteurs des Torres, situated on one 

 of the forks of Wild Rice river, and whence there is a descent to the Red 

 river of the North. The Indian name of this portage is Ozaweioe-satagati; 

 which means, according to my apprehension, " to carry baggage from one 

 water to another;" and may be significantly rendered in English by "di- 

 viding-ridge portage." Here we met with ten canoes filled with Chippe- 

 ways, coming from lake Wijiibigoshish, who were about undertaking this 

 portage, on their way to the upland lakes to gather wild rice. 1 was much 

 surprised on seeing small nets depending from the prows and sterns ot these 

 canoes ; but we were told that an old man of the tribe pretended to have 

 discovered that there was an evil spirit lurking about the lake, of such a 

 nature as to be caught in a net like a butterfly ; who, however, if not thus 

 caught, was capable of doing a great deal of mischief In consequence of 

 which, all the women of the village busied themselves in making these nets, 

 and those of the canoes were then engaged in the same occupation. Leaving 

 these good people, we saw the valley expanding before us, showing at a 

 distance rmgnificent forests of evergreens, and presenting altogether a most 

 beautiful landscape. 



At this stage of its progress the Mississippi river is wide, winding itself 

 in large folds, as if to take masterly possession of the country ; whilst its 

 waters are enlivened by innumerable flocks of wild fowl. Then comes 

 another contraction of the river, which soon opens again, and extends itself 

 to Pemidji-goT/iag, or Pcmidji lake, sometimes called lake Travers. So 

 far, the Mississippi has received the contribution often rivers; its wide and 

 flattened bed, completely covered by water, presents a lake (or rather pool) 

 from 40 to 50 miles square, clogged up with aquatic plants, with interme- 

 diary spaces of clear water, looking like channels ; but among which it is 

 difficult to discover the true course of the river, for, at certain seasons of the 

 year, the whole is nothing more than a marshy prairie. Thence we pro- 

 ceeded to the river La Place, thence to lake Irving, and lastly into lake 

 Pemidji, where we spent the night. 



