NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 183 



fork, a piece of clear water of nine miles extent, called Buffalo 

 Lake ; and at the distance of twelve miles lower, another lake of 

 some twelve miles in extent, called Puckaway Lake. Down to 

 this point, the Fox Kiver has scarcely a perceptible current. We 

 found we had not only, in parting from the Wisconsin to the Fox, 

 exchanged an open, swift, and strong flowing current, for a very 

 quiet and still one, winding through areas of wild rice and the 

 whole family of water plants ; but had intruded into a region of 

 water-fowl and birds of every plumage, who, as they rioted upon 

 their cherished zizania aquatica, made the air resound with their 

 screams. The blackbird appeared to be lord of these fields. We 

 had also intruded upon a favorite region of the water-snake, who, 

 coiled up on his bed of plants at every bend of the stream, slid 

 off with spiteful glance into the stream. In passing these places 

 of habitation, which the Chippewas call wauzh, we perceptibly 

 smelt an unpleasant odor arising from it. 



The next day we descended the river seventy miles. There is 

 a perceptible current below Puckaway Lake. The river increases 

 in width and depth, and offers no impediment whatever to its 

 navigation. Fox Eiver runs, indeed, from the portage to Winne- 

 bago Lake on a summit, over which it winds among sylvan hills, 

 covered with grass and prairie-flowers, interspersed with groves 

 of oak, elm, ash, and hickory, and dotted at intervals with lakes 

 of refreshing transparent water. The height of this summit, 

 above the Mississippi and the lakes, must be several hundred 

 feet (stated at 234), which permits the stream to flow with live- 

 liness, insuring, when it comes to be settled,* the erection of 

 hydraulic works ; and it would be difficult to point to a region 

 possessing in its soil, climate, and natural resources, a more favor- 

 able character for an agricultural population. It has a diversified 

 surface, without mountains ; a fine dry atmosphere ; an admirable 



* Wisconsin. This region was separated from Michigan, and formed into a 

 separate territory in 1836; and admitted as a State in 1848. By the census of 

 1850, it has a population of 305,391, divided into 33,517 families, occupying 32,962 

 dwellings, and cultivating 1,045,499 acres of land. There are 43 organized coun- 

 ties, and 334 churches of all denominations, giving one church to every 1,250 inha- 

 bitants. It has three representatives in the popular branch of Congress. It was 

 16 years after my visit, before it had a distinct legal existence — it increased to be- 

 come a State in twelve years; and, according to our ordinary rate of increase, will 

 contain one million of inhabitants in 1890. 



