NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 129 



into the great watery plateau, to say nothing of the small and 

 unimportant class of reptiles who inhabit the region. 



Forty miles above the falls, the Kiver Vermilion flows in 

 through these savannas on the left hand ; and three miles higher 

 the Deer Eiver is tributary on the right hand. We ascended six 

 miles above the latter, and encamped in a dry prairie, on the 

 same side, at a late hour. The men reported themselves to have 

 travelled sixteen leagues, notwithstanding their detention on the 

 Pakagama Portage. How far we had advanced, in a direct line, 

 is very questionable. At one spot, we estimated ourselves to 

 have passed, by the river's involutions, nine miles, but to have 

 advanced directly but one mile. I noticed, on the meadow at 

 this spot, a small and very delicious species of raspberry, the 

 plant not rising higher than three or four inches. This species, 

 of which I preserved both the roots and fruit, I referred to 

 Dr. J. Torrey, of New York, who pronounced it the Kebus Nut- 

 kanus of Mogino — a species found by this observer in the Oregon 

 regions. It is now known to occur eastwardly, to upper Michigan. 

 As night approached on these elevated prairies, we observed for 

 the first time the fire-fly. 



The next morning (20th) we were again in motion at half-past 

 five o'clock. It had rained during the night, and the morning 

 was cloudy, with a dense fog. At the distance of ten miles, we 

 passed the Leech Lake Eiver. This is a very considerable river, 

 bringing in, apparently, one-third as much water as the main 

 branch. It is, however, but fifty miles in length, and is merely 

 the outlet of the large lake bearing that name. It was thought 

 the current of the Mississippi denoted greater velocity above this 

 point, while the water exhibited greater clearness. We had still 

 the same savanna regions, Avith a serpentine channel to encounter. 

 Through this the men urged their way for a distance of thirty- 

 five miles, when Winnipek Lake displayed itself before us. The 

 waters of this lake have a whitish, slightly turbid aspect, after the 

 prevalence of storms, which appears to reveal its shallowness, 

 with a probably whitish clay bottom. The Chippewa name of 

 Winnebeegogish* is, indeed, derivative from this circumstance. 

 This lake is stated to be ten miles in its greatest length. We 



* From weenud, dirty, heegog, waters, and ish, a derogative inflection of nouns. 



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