54-i APPENDIX. 



to the latitude, is plentiful. The prairie country extends itself 

 into the vicinity of Rice Lake; and for more than a day's march 

 before reaching the mouth of the river, the whole face of the 

 country puts on a sylvan character, as beautiful to the eye as it 

 is fertile in soil, and spontaneously productive of the means of 

 subsistence. A country more valuable to a population having 

 the habits of our northwestern Indians could hardly be conceived 

 of; and it is therefore cause of less surprise that its possession 

 should have been so long an object of contention between the 

 Chippewas and Sioux. 



About sixty miles below Rice Lake commences a series of 

 rapids, which extend, with short intervals, 24 miles. The re- 

 mainder of the distance, to the junction of this stream with the 

 Chippewa, consists of deep and strong water. The junction itself 

 is characterized by commanding and elevated grounds, and a 

 noble expanse of waters. And the Chippewa River, from this 

 spot to its entrance into the Mississippi, has a depth and volume, 

 and a prominence of scenery, which mark it to be inferior to 

 none, and superior to most of the larger tributaries of the Upper 

 Mississippi. Before its junction, it is separated into several 

 mouths, from the principal of which the observer can look into 

 Lake Pepin. Steamboats could probably ascend to the falls. 



The whole distance travelled, from the shores of Lake Superior 

 to the mouth of the Chippewa, is, by estimation, 643 miles, of 

 which 138 should be deducted for the trip to Yellow River leav- 

 ing the direct practicable route 505 miles. The length of the 

 Mauvaise to the portage is 104 ; of the Namakagon, from the 

 portage, 161; of the Red Cedar, 170; of the Chippewa, from the 

 entrance of the latter, 40. Our means of estimating distances 

 was by time, corrected by reference to the rapidity of water and 

 strength of wind, compared with our known velocity of travelling 

 in calm weather on the lakes. These estimates were made and 

 put down every evening, and considerable confidence is felt in 

 them. The courses were accurately kept by a canoe compass. 

 I illustrate my report of this part of the route by a map pro- 

 tracted by Dr. Houghton. On this map, our places of encamp- 

 ment, the sites and population of the principal Indian villages, 

 the trading-posts, and the boundary lines between the Sioux and 



