246 NAREATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER XXiy. 



Descent of the west, or Itascan branch — KakabikoSs Falls — Junction of theChemaun, 

 Peniddiwin, or De Soto, and Allenoga Rivers — Ptcturn to Cass Lake. 



Itasca Lake lies in latitude twenty-five seconds only south of 

 Leech Lake, and five minutes and eleven seconds west of the ul- 

 timate northerly point of the Mississippi, on the Queen Anne 

 summit ; it is a fraction over twelve minutes southwest of Cass 

 Lake. The distance from the latter point, at which discovery 

 rested in 1820, is, agreeably to the observations of Lieutenant 

 Allen, one hundred and sixty-four miles. 



On scrutinizing the shores of the island, on which I had en- 

 camped, innumerable helices, and other small univalves, were 

 found ; among these I observed a new species, which Mr. Cooper 

 has described as planorbis companulatus.* There were bones of 

 certain species of fish, as well as the bucklers of one or two kinds 

 of tortoise, scattered around the sites of old Indian camp fires, 

 denoting so many points of its natural history. Amidst the forest- 

 trees before named, the betula papyracese and spruce were ob- 

 served. Directing one of the latter to be cut down, and prepared 

 as a flagstaff, I caused the United States flag to be hoisted on it. 

 This symbol was left flying at our departure. Ozawindib, who at 

 once comprehended the meaning of this ceremony, with his com- 

 panions fired a salute as it reached its elevation. 



Having made the necessary examinations, I directed my tent to 

 be struck, and the canoes put into the water, and immediately 

 embarked. The outlet lies north of the island. Before reaching 

 it, we had lost sight of the flagstaflj owing to the curvature of the 

 shore. Unexpectedly, the outlet proved quite a brisk brook, with 

 a mean width of ten feet, and one foot in depth. The water is as 



* Appendix. 



