BORDERING ON CASS LAKE. 3238 
tained in Mr. Beltrami’s “ Pilgrimage” through this region, relating principally to 
the manners and customs of the Indians, the map sketched by him of his route is a 
tolerably correct one, and appears to have been the source from which Mr. Nicollet 
derived his information with regard to the route between Cass and Red Lakes. 
The waters of Lake Winibigoshish differ from those of most of the lakes in this 
region in not being clear and pure. The Indian name for it signifies “dirty water,” 
and it merits the appellation. This unusual quality of the water is probably owing 
to some peculiarity of its bed, which, however, was not ascertained. It is about 
twelve miles in diameter, and destitute of islands, and is shallow for a long dis- 
tance out from its shores. On the southwest, the shores are lined with tamerack 
swamps, and on the northeast by gentle elevations, bearing oak, maple, and other 
hard woods. On the western shore, two long points, made of boulders derived from 
granitic and metamorphic rocks, extend into the lake. I saw no trap boulders 
among them, but a number of large limestone fragments. The soil of the higher 
lands is good, and corn and potatoes can be cultivated to advantage. 
Where the Mississippi enters this lake, it is obstructed by sandbars, overgrown 
with rushes. Within the mouth, the stream is about forty yards wide, and from 
two to six feet deep, with a sandy bottom, and bordered by low meadows. The 
bed of the river, after ascending a short distance, is covered with the shells of 
various species of Unio, and fragments of limestone, which are met with all the 
way to Cass Lake. At one locality, on the shore, we observed fragments con- 
taining several Silurian fossils belonging to the genera Orthis, a Terebratula, a 
Cyathophyllum, and a Huomphatlus. 
After leaving the lake, the river is skirted by low meadows, which extend to 
the foot of slopes which rise to the height of from twenty to twenty-five feet, which 
latter consist of clay-beds overlaid by a stratum of sand and soil, bearing oak and 
pine, and occasionally ash and cypress. Where the river washes the high banks, 
frequent slides occur. 
Cass Lake has been well and minutely described by Mr. Schoolcraft. The only 
portion of it we saw, however, was between its outlet and Turtle River. Its waters — 
are clear, and it contains several islands, bearing red cedar, a tree seldom met with 
in this section of country. Along the shore which fell under our observation, the 
hills rise to the height of twenty and thirty feet above the lake, and are covered 
with oak, ash, aspen, pine, and some small birch, while the lower grounds bear a 
good growth of elm. 
A Mission was established at this place in 1844, and has done much towards 
improving the condition of the Indians. The Fur Company also has a trading- 
house. The Mission House is beautifully situated, on a hill, forty-five or fifty feet 
above the lake level, and overlooks the site of the Indian village, which lies 
between it and the lake, on both sides of the mouth of Turtle River. In addition 
to the usual bark lodges which compose the Chippewa villages, the Indians here 
have some good log cabins, which they have erected under the advice and superin- 
tendence of the missionaries. Their gardens of corn and potatoes are also more 
extensive than at most other places visited by us. 
The soil at this place is derived principally from the clay-beds, which are found 
