110 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 



Proceed up the St. Louis River, and around its falls and rapids to Sandy Lake in 

 the valley of the Upper Mississippi — Grand Portage — Portage aux Coteaux — A 

 sub-exploring party — Cross the great morass of Akeek Scepi to Sandy Lake — 

 Indian mode of pictographic writing — Site of an Indian jonglery — Post of Sandy 

 Lake. 



We had now reached above nine hundred and fifty miles from 

 our starting-point at Detroit, and had been more than forty days 

 in traversing the shores of Lakes Huron and Superior. July had 

 already commenced, and no time was to be lost in reaching our 

 extreme point of destination. Every exertion was therefore made 

 to push ahead. By ten o'clock of the morning after our arrival 

 at the Fond du Lac post, we embarked, and after going two miles 

 reached the foot of the first rapids of the St. Louis. This spot is 

 called the commencement of the Grand Portage — over this path 

 all the goods, provisions, and canoes are to be carried by hand 

 nine miles. During this distance, the St, Louis Eiver, a stream 

 of prime magnitude, bursts through the high trap range of Avhat 

 Bouchette calls the Cabotian Mountains, being a continuation of 

 the upheavals of the north shore of Lake Superior, the river 

 leaping and foaming, from crag to crag, in a manner which creates 

 some of the most grand and picturesque views. We sometimes 

 stood gazing at their precipices and falls, with admiration, and 

 often heard their roar on our path, when we were miles away 

 from them. Capt. Douglass estimated the river to fall one hun- 

 dred and eight feet during the first nine miles ; and from esti- 

 mates furnished me by Dr. Wolcott, the aggregate fall from 

 the mouth of the Savanne, to that point, is two hundred and 

 twelve feet. We found the first part of the ascent of its banks 

 very precipitous and difficult, particularly for the men who bore 

 burdens, and what rendered the labor almost insupportable was 



