118 NAREATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Keunion of the expedition on the Savanna Portage — Elevation of this summit — 

 Descent to Sandy Lake — Council with the Chippewa tribe — Who are they? — 

 Traits of their history, language, and customs — Enter the Mississippi, with a 

 sub-exploring party, and proceed in search of its source — Physical characteristics 

 of the stream at this place — Character of the Canadian voyageur ! 



On rising on the next morning (14tli July), our minds were 

 firmly set, at the earliest moment, to rejoin the main expedition, 

 which had been toiling its way up the St. Louis River to the 

 Savanna Portage. And as soon as we had dispatched our break- 

 fast at the Post, we set out, accompanied by one of the trading 

 clerks, for that noted carrying place between the waters of the 

 St. Louis and Sandy Lake. We reached its northwestern termi- 

 nus at about twelve o'clock, and were surprised to find Gov. Cass, 

 with some of his party, and a part of the baggage, already there ; 

 and by five o'clock in the afternoon the last of the latter, together 

 with the canoes, arrived. And it was then, in the exhausted state 

 of the men, and at so late an hour, concluded to encamp, and 

 await the morning to commence the descent of the west Savanne 

 to the lake. 



The expedition had, after we left them at the Portage aux 

 Coteaux on the 10th, and being thus relieved of our weight, 

 urged its way up the river, with labor, about fifty -six miles, to 

 the inlet of the east Savann^, having surmounted, in this distance, 

 rapids of the aggregate estimated height of two hundred and 

 twelve feet, which occupied two days. They then ascended the 

 Savann^ twenty-four miles, rising eighteen feet. The portage> 

 from water to water, is six miles. It commences in a tamarak 

 swamp, from which the bog, in a dry season, has been burnt off, 

 leaving the path a miass of mire. Trees and sticks have, from 

 time to time, been laid in this to walk on, which it requires the 



