2-i4 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



The line of discovery of the Mississippi, explored above Cass 

 Lake, taking the east fork from the primary junction, as shown 

 by Mr. Allen's topographical notes, is one hundred and twenty- 

 three miles.* This is the shortest and most direct branch. The 

 line by the Itascan or main branch of it is, probably, some twenty 

 or twenty-five miles longer. It is evident, as before intimated, 

 that the river descends from its summit in plateaux. From the 

 pseudo-alpine level of the parent lake, there is a principal and 

 minor rapids, for the former of which the Indians have the appro- 

 priate name of KaJcabikons, which is a descriptive term for a cascade 

 over rocks or stones. Then the river again deploys itself in a lake 

 and a series of minor lakes on the same level, and this process is 

 repeated, until it finally plunges over the horizontal rocks at St. 

 Anthony's Falls, and displays itself, for the last time, in Lake 

 Pepin. Commencing with the latter lake, it may be observed 

 for the purposes of generalization, and to give definite notions 

 rather of its hydrography than geology, that there are nine pla- 

 teaux, of which Governor Cass, in 1820, explored six. The other 

 three, beginning at his terminal point, have now been indicated. 

 The heights of these are given, barometrically. The distances 

 travelled are given from time. The annexed diagram of these 

 plateaux, extending to the Pakagama summit, will impress these 

 deductions on the eye. 



Within a beauteous basin, fair outspread 

 Hesperian woodlands of the western sky, 

 / As if, in Indian myths, a truth there could be read, 

 ' And these were tears, indeed, by fair Itasca shed. 



II. 



To bear the sword, on prancing steed arrayed ; 



To lift the voice admiring Senates own ; 

 To tune the lyre, enraptured muses played ; 



Or pierce the starry heavens — the blue \inknown — 

 These were the aims of many sons of fame. 



Who shook the world with glory's golden song. 

 I sought a moral meed of less acclaim. 



In treading lands remote, and mazes long ; 

 And while around aerial voices ring, 

 I quaff the limpid cup at Mississippi's spring. H. K. s. 



* Mr. Nicollet, who ascended the same fork in 1836, makes the distance twelve 

 miles more. Vide Ex., Doc. No. 237. 



