NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 135 



this point, in boulders. The permanent strata are but barely 

 concealed at several rapids below the Pakagama, but appear 

 plainly below the influx of the De Corbeau, at Elk Eiver, Little 

 Falls, and near Sac Eiver. And this system of rock is succeeded, 

 before reaching the Falls of St. Anthony, by the horizonal white 

 sand rock and its superior limestone series of the carboniferous 

 formation. 



Vegetation is developed as the river descends towards the south. 

 A forest of maples, elm, oak, ash, and birch, is interspersed with 

 spruce, birch, poplar, and pine above the Pakagama, and continues, 

 in favorable positions, throughout this division. The black walnut 

 is first seen below Sandy Lake, and the sycamore below the Eiver 

 De Corbeau. The river in this division has numerous well- 

 wooded islands ; its velocity is a striking feature ; it abounds 

 with rapids, none of which, however, oppose serious obstacles 

 to its navigation. Agreeably to memoranda kept,* it has fifty- 

 six distinct rapids, including the Little and Big Falls, in all of 

 which the river has an aggregate estimated descent of two hun- 

 dred and twenty -four feet, within a distance of fourteen thousand 

 six hundred and forty yards, or about eight miles. The mean 

 fall of the current, exclusive of these rapids, may be computed at 

 nearly six inches per mile. 



The course of the rivej, below the Falls of Pakagama, is still 

 serpentine, but strikingly less so than above, and its bends are 

 not so short and abrupt. The general course of this river, till it 

 reaches the rock formation of Pakagama, is from the west. 

 Thence, to Sandy Lake inlet, it flows generally southeast ; from 

 this point to the inlet of the De Corbeau or Crow Wing, it is 

 deflected to the southwest ; thence almost due south, to the mouth 

 of the Watab Eiver ; and thence again southeast to the Falls of 

 St. Anthony. A geographical line dropped from the inlet of 

 Sandy Lake, where the channel is first deflected to the southwest, 

 •to St. Anthony's Falls, or the mouth of the St. Peter's,t forms a 

 vast bow-shaped area of prairie and forest lands of high agricul- 

 tural capabilities, whose future products must be carried to a 

 market through the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior. These 



* Vide Appendix. 



i Now called Minnesota River. 



