KARKATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 141 



The winds were high and. adverse, which caused the canoemen 



to toil two hours in crossing. After reaching the river again, 



we passed its sedgy borders, to, and through Rush Lake, or the 



Little Winnipek; then by the inlet of Leech Lake Eiver, .and 



through the contortions of its channel, to within a few miles of 



the spot of our encampment at Deer River, on the 20th. 



The great savannas, through which the Mississippi winds itself 



above the Pakagama, are called collectively, the Gatchi Betobeeg, 



Great Morasses, or bog meadows. 



"While descending the river, we encountered nine canoes filled 

 • . . . 



with Chippewa Indians and their families. They were freighted 



with heavy rolls of birch-bark, such as their canoes are made 



from; too;ether with bundles of rushes designed for mats. The 



7 O O 



annoyance suffered from mosquitos on this great plateau, was 

 almost past endurance. We embarked again at a quarter past 

 four, and reached the Falls of Pakagama at five o'clock. Just 

 forty minutes were spent in making the portage. The rock at 

 this spot is quartzite. The day was cloudy, with some rain. 

 As night approached an animal, judged to be the wolverine, was 

 seen swiming across the stream. The efforts of the men to over- 

 take it were unavailing; it nimbly eluded pursuit, and dashed 

 away into the thickets. In some queries sent to me by the 

 New York Lyceum, this animal is alluded to as a species of the 

 glutton. The Indians said there was no animal in their country 

 deserving this name; the only animal they knew deserving 

 of it, was the horse; which was eating all the time. We en- 

 camped on an abrupt sandy bank, where, however, sleep was 

 impossible. Between the humidity of the atmosphere and the 

 denseness of the foliage arourfd us, the insect world seemed 

 to have been wakened into unusual activity. Besides, we en- 

 camped so late, and were so jaded by a long day's travel, that 

 the mosquito-nets were neglected. To get up and stand be- 

 fore a camp-fire at midnight and switch 'off the mosquitos, re- 

 quires as much philosophy as to write a book; and at any rate, 

 ours completely failed. We were again in our canoes (2-4th), 

 at an early hour. Daylight apprised us of the clearing up of the 

 atmosphere, and brought us one of the most delightful days. 

 Animated by these circumstances, we descended the stream 

 with rapidity. Soon after midday, we entered and ascended the 



