a4 
PLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1832 TO a. D. 1844. 
will warrant me in saying that it gives a very correct delineation of the country passed over, 
as also the topography of other parts of this territory, perhaps the most accurate on record." 
The Adjutant General, R. Jones, in his letter transmitting this report to Secretary Marcy, says: 
‘Instead of the map of the route accompanying the report, I submit the more perfect map of 
the Upper Mississippi by Nicollet, (from which Captain Allen's sketch no doubt was taken,) 
upon which the route of the troops under his command has been carefully traced in the 
Topographical Bureau. Should it be determined to publish Captain Allen's route, Colonel 
Abert is of opinion it would be best to use the plate prepared for Nicollet's map. This would 
be not only much less expensive, but Miei probably, ee the euer M which is one 
of much value." 
As this last course was not followed, I m to obtain the original from the files of the 
Adjutant General's office, and ascertained that it had been loaned, in 1846, to the commission; 
of which Governor Parras was president, to make a treaty with the Winnebagoes, but that it 
had never been returned. On seeking it in the Indian Bureau, I was again unsuccessful, so that 
it has been probably lost. I was also unable to obtain the map that had been sent to the 
House "á a as it could not be found there. 
: tion und i consisted of J. S. Griffin, assistant surveyor; First 
]houn ; Second Lieutenant P. Noble, 1st dragoons; Second 
Lieutenant -— 1st. eona and 52 soldiers. a Allen was ا‎ “with a small 
imperfect sextant," and no chronometer. à 
The route of the party was from Fort Des Moisi; سد‎ oiinadi یه‎ 
to the Iron Banks, and thence up the east bank to the extreme source in ‘‘the Lake of the 
Oaks." From this point the country was explored north for 37 miles, and thence east to the 
St. Peter's river. Returning to the source of the Des Moines, he marched his command due 
west to the Big Sioux river, and followed down it a distance of 159 miles to its mouth; thence 
he took the nearest practicable route back to Fort Des Moines. 
A portion of this route alongs the Big Sioux has not been reconnoitred since. 
TOPOGRAPHICAL BUREAU MAP OF TEXAS, 1844. 
The title of this is ‘‘Map of Texas and the countries adjacent, نیج تیعبت‎ asthe 
Corps of Topographical Engineers, from the best authorities, for the State Department, under the 
direction of Colonel J. J. Abert, chief of the corps, by.W. H. Emory, 1st lieutenant Topographical 
Engineers, War Department, 1844,” on a scale of about TO miles to an inch. 
This gave most of the information extant, at the date of compilation, respecting the country 
comprised between the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi river on the east to the Pacific ocean 
on the west, between the 22d and 42d parallels of north latitude. No mountains are indicated, 
except those enclosing the Rio Grande valley. A lake, in the approximate position of the 
Great Salt lake, is represented, and another one receiving the waters of Ogden’s or Mary’s 
river. There are no names on the lakes and rivers represented in these interior basins; but 
this compilation shows that the existence of these waits leone We, — admitted 
as an established fact in the Topographical Baron. : uo ۱ 
GREGG'S COMMERCE OF THE PRATRIES, 1844. 
The title page of this book is +t Commerce of the Prairies, or the Journal of a Santa Fe nin, 
during eight expeditions across the Great Western Prairies, and a residence of nearly nine years in 
