272 CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY 
western terminus above this place; the barrier being at the junction of the meta- 
morphic and sandstone series, several miles up the river; and following the line of 
bluffs about a mile and a half south of Landry’s house, in a southeasterly direction, 
crossed below the Falls of Black River, and continued along the base of the trap 
ridges to the present Lake shore, at some point far to the east. This would include 
& great portion of the Left-hand River country, as well as a portion of the Amine- 
kan and Poplar River lands. 
At the time I visited this place, the chiefs of the Chippewa Indians, from all 
parts of the territory, were assembled for the purpose of hearing proposals for the 
purchase of their unceded lands east of the Mississippi. In consequence of the 
country through which I had to pass being almost totally unknown, except to the 
Indians, I availed myself of the opportunity offered by so great an assemblage, to 
acquire from them as much geographical knowledge as possible. 
In order to obtain a general idea of the geological structure of the region upon 
which I was about to enter, as well as of the bearing of the great ranges which tra- 
verse it, it became necessary for me to leave the District, and proceed a short dis- 
tance into the Indian country. Accordingly, with two Indians for guides and 
voyageurs, I ascended the St. Louis River as far as the Upper Falls, partly by water 
and partly across the country. After making the desired observations, I returned 
to the Trading-House, following the bed of the river the whole distance, and was 
thus enabled to procure measurements at every desirable point between the Upper 
Falls and Lake Superior. A number of observations, made at the Fur Company’s 
establishment, also afforded me a mean by which to test the probable accuracy of 
those to be made between that point and the Mississippi River, and referred to the 
level of Lake Superior as a base. 
After remaining six days on St. Louis River, I started on foot, with two half. 
breeds, Joe Cadotte and Pierre Le Meur, for packmen, to cross the country lying 
between St. Louis River and the head of Lake St. Croix. Neither of these men 
had ever been in that section, or knew anything of the route, and our sole reliance 
was on the Indian map and my compass to lead us to our destination. From the 
best information which could be obtained, it was expected that the journey would 
not occupy more than five days, allowing ample time for making all the observa- 
tions necessary in such a reconnoissance. In addition, therefore, to the specimens 
collected on St. Louis River, and the necessary Camp equipage, provisions for that 
length of time were added to the packs;* and on the morning of the 5th of August 
we crossed the river and started on our journey. 
Nearly two miles south of the river, we ascended the high range of hills which 
bear off towards the south shore of Lake Superior, and entered on what we sup- 
posed to be the trail to Lake Pokegoma. Owing to the heavy rains which had re. 
cently fallen, the swamps were rendered almost impassable ; this, together with the 
weight of the packs, made our progress necessarily slow. 
The bluffs south of the Trading-Post are composed of red sandstone, which crosses 
* IT must here acknowledge the many favours received of Mr. H. M. Rice, who, on this occasion, fur- 
nished me with all the provisions for my journey. I am also indebted to General Verplanck for various 
kindnesses. 
