NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 223 



CHAPTEB XXI. 



The search for the veritable source of the Mississippi is resumed. —Ascent to Cass 

 Lake, the prior point of Oisco very -"Pursue the river westerly, through the An- 

 drusian Lakes and up the Metuswa Rapids, forty-five miles — Queen Anne's Lake. 



Twelve years elapse between the closing of the prior, and the 

 opening of the present narrative. In the month of August, 1830, 

 instructions \vere received by Mr. Schoolcraft to proceed into the 

 Upper Mississippi valley, to endeavor to terminate the renewed 

 hostilities existing between the Chippewa and Sioux tribes. 

 These directions did not come to hand at the remote post of 

 Sault de Ste. Marie, at the outlet of Lake Superior, in season to 

 permit the object to be executed that year. On reporting the 

 fact that the tribes would be dispersed to their hunting-grounds 

 before the scene could be reached, and that severe weather would 

 close the streams with ice before the expedition could possibly 

 return, the plan was deferred till the next year. Renewed in- 

 structions w^ere issued in the month of April, 1831, and an expe- 

 dition organized at St. Mary's to carry them into immediate effect. 



These instructions did not require the broad table-lands on 

 which the river originates to be visited, though the journey 

 connected itself with preliminary questions ; nor was it found 

 practicable to extend the geographical examinations, in the 

 Mississippi Valley, beyond about latitude 44°. 



The force designed for this expedition consisted of twenty- 

 seven men, including a botanist and geologist, and a small mili- 

 tary party under Lieut. Robert E. Clary, U. S. A. Entering 

 Lake Superior, in the month of June, with a bright pure atmo- 

 sphere and serene weather, the party enjoyed a succession of 

 those clear transporting vistas of rock and water scenerj^, which 

 render this picturesque basin by far the most magnificent, varied, 

 and afiluent in its prospect in America. It is in this basin only, 



