58 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



heap of disintegrated sandstone, thirty-six feet high, four 

 miles north of the river. Anot'acr. on the Verniilhon, called 

 the castle, twelve miles north of the latter, on the Iowa side 

 of the river. In Wisconsin they are more frequent. 



The points most particularly interesting on account of 

 scenery, in this country, are the Rock River Rapids on the 

 Missisippi, Lake Pepin, St. Peter's Station, the Falls of St. 

 Anthony, and the point of the peninsula between Lakes Su- 

 perior and Michigan. It is scarcely possible, says Charle- 

 voix, speaking of this last, to see a more beautiful country 

 than this tongue of land. It is terminated by a handsome 

 river, Manistic, which is full of fish of all kinds. 



This description of the physical geography of the country, 

 will not present a clear and vivid picture to one who has not 

 seen a similar, but who has been confined to a forest or a 

 mountain scenery. The mighty rivers of this region must 

 be measured by travel, the prairies must be crossed, and the 

 lakes be mirrored to the eye, before the mind comprehends 

 the terms of the description. 



" To look at a prairie up or down," says Nicollet, " to 

 ascend one of its undulations ; to reach a small plateau (or, 

 as the voyageurs call it, a prairie planch t), moving from w^ave 

 to wave over alternate swells and depressions ; and, finally, 

 to reach the vast interminable low prairie that extends itself 

 in front, — be it for hours, days, or weeks, one never tires ; 

 pleasurable and exhilarating sensations are all the time felt ; 

 ennui is never experienced. Doubtless there are moments 

 when excessive heat, a want of fresh water, and other priva- 

 tions, remind one that life is toil ; but these drawbacks are 

 of short duration. There is almost always a breeze over 

 them. The security one feels in knowing that there are no 

 concealed dangers ; so vast is the extent which the eye takes 

 in ; no difficulties of road ; a far spreading verdure, reheved 



