NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 95 



our departure, in liigh spirits, for tlie copper regions. A broad 

 river "with a deep and gentle current, with a serpentine channel, 

 and heavily wooded banks with their dark-green foliage over- 

 hanging the water, rendered the first few miles of the trip de- 

 lightful. At the distance of four miles, we reached a sturgeon- 

 fishery, formed by extending a weir across the river. This weir con- 

 sists of upright and horizontal stakes and poles, along the latter of 

 which the Indians move and balance themselves, having in their 

 hands an iron hook on a pole, with which the fish are caught. 

 We stopped a few moments to look at the process, received some 

 of the fish drawn up during our stay, which are evidently the 

 Acipenser oxyrinclius^ and went on a couple of miles higher, where 

 we encamped on a sandbar. Here we were welcomed, during 

 the sombre hours of the night, with a pertinacity we could have 

 well dispensed with, by the mosquitos. 



We resumed the ascent at four o'clock in the morning. The 

 tiver is still characterized for some miles by rich alluvial banks, 

 bearing a dense forest of elm, maple, and walnut, with a luxu- 

 riant growth of underbrush. But it was soon perceived that the 

 highlands close in upon it and narrow its channel, whi(Ji mur- 

 murs over dangerous beds of rocks and stones. Almost imper- 

 ceptibly, we found ourselves in an alpine region of a very rugged 

 character. The first rapid water encountered had been at the 

 Indian wier, on the 27th. These rapids, though presenting 

 slight obstacles, became more frequent at higher points. We 

 had been in our canoes about three hours, the river having be- 

 come narrower and more rapid, when the guides informed the 

 party that we had ascended as far into the mountainous district 

 as was practicable ; that there was a series of bad rapids above ; 

 and that, by landing at this spot, the party could proceed, with 

 guides, to the locality of the copper rock. Accordingly, arrange- 

 ments were made to divide the party ; Governor Cass placed at 

 my service the number of men necessary to explore the country 

 on foot, and carry the implements. Dr. Wolcott and Captain 

 Douglass joined me. I took my departure with eight persons, 

 including two Indian guides, in quest of the mineral region, over 

 the highlands on the west bank of the river; while the Governor, 

 Major Forsyth, and the other guides, remained with the canoes. 



