142 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



short channel of the Sandy Lake Eiver, and, by two o'clock in 

 the afternoon, we rejoined our camp at the Fur Company's Fort, 

 having been three days in descending a distance which had con- 

 sumed four and a half in the ascent. 



We were received with joy and acclamation by the Sandy 

 Lake party, and felicitated ourselves on the accomplishment of 

 what had all along appeared as the most arduous part of our 

 route. Nor had we indeed, overrated its difficulties ; the inces- 

 sant motion of travelling depriving us of mature opportunities of 

 observation, and also rest at night, the stings of the mosquitos 

 whenever we attempted to land, and the cravings of an often un- 

 satisfied appetite, had made this visit one of peculiar privation 

 and fatigue. "Without such an effort, however, it is doubtful 

 whether the principal objects of the expedition could have been 

 accomplished. Nothing untoward had happened at the camp, 

 no difficulty had occurred with the Indians, and all the party 

 were in good health. Having left my thermometer with Mr. 

 Doty, during my absence, the observations made by him are 

 denoted in the appendix. 



The following day was fixed on for our departure for the Falls 

 of St. Anthony. The distance to these falls is generally put by 

 the traders at from five to six hundred miles. These estimates 

 denote, however, rather the difficulties and time employed by days' 

 journeys in the trade than any other measurements.* Pike states 

 the latitude some thirteen minutes too far north. It is found to 

 be 46° 47' 10". It appears from Lieut. Pike {Expt. p. 60), that 

 the stockade at this place was erected in 1794. Its elevation 

 above the Gulf of Mexico is 1,253 feet. The soil of the environs 

 yields excellent potatoes, and such culinary vegetables as have 

 been tried. The mean temperature of July is denoted to be 73°. 

 The post is one of importance in the fur trade. It yields the 

 deer, moose, bear, beaver, otter, martin, muskrat, and some other 

 species, whose skins or pelts are valuable. 



It was twelve o'clock on the morning of the 25th, before we 

 were ready to embark. Our flotilla now consisted of three canoes, 

 of the kind called Canoe-allege in the trade, and a barge occupied 



* Nicollet, in his report to tlie Top. Bureau, in 1836, states the direct distance 

 from St. Peter's to Sandy Lake, at but 334 miles. 



