UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2?S 



over the greater part of the year. Lake de Sable is about twenty- 

 five miles in circumference. It receives a number of streams, one of 

 which alone deserves notice. This is the river Savannah, whose source 

 is less than four miies from that of the river St. Louis, which, as be- 

 fore noticed, falls into lake Superior. It is through this channel that 

 the North-West Company convey all the merchandize destined for 

 the trade of the Upper Mississippi. 



From lake de Sable to the river de Corbean, the bearing of the 

 Mississippi is south-west. It receives several streams, but none of 

 much importance. The shores of the river present a dreary prospect, 

 ot high barren knobs, covered with fallen pines. Back of these the 

 country is still chequered with swamps and clusters of small lakes, 

 bordered with lynn, elm, oak, and ash. The river de Corbean is 

 nearly as large as the main stream of the Mississippi, and is said to 

 be navigable upwards of 200 miles. From their junction, the bear- 

 ing of the Mississippi is south-east, to the falls of St. Anthony. The 

 river now begins to increase in magnitude, and the adjacent coun- 

 try to wear a more hospitable aspect. Its navigation is rendered la- 

 borious by numerous rapids, some of which extend several miles; 

 but the fails of St. Anthony are the principal obstruction to the navi- 

 gation of this river. They are in lat. 45° where the river is about 

 250 yards wide. 



The perpendicular fall is sixteen feet and a half, and the whole 

 descent, including the rapids below, is fifty-eight feet. Viewed at a 

 distance from below they appear much higher than they actually arej 

 which may account for the exaggerations of Hennepin, Carver, and 

 other travellers respecting their altitude. 



Just below the falls, and in the verge of the rapids, is a little 

 island, particularly mentioned by almost all who have travelled this 

 way. It contains about two acres, covered with stately oaks, in whose 

 boughs a multitude of eagles annually build their nests, secure 

 alike from the depredations of man and beast. 



Below the falls the Mississippi still continues a south-east course, 

 receiving in succession the river St. Peters from the west, and from 

 the east, the rivers St. Croix, Chippeway, and numerous inferior 

 streams. Bending its course towards the south, it receives in lat. 

 about 43°, the Ouisconsin, which communicates by a portage of a 

 mile and a half with Fox river, falling into lake Michigan. The bear- 

 ing of the river continues a little east of south, till it intersects the 

 42° of north latitude ; thence south, to the 39th, receiving the Stony 

 river from the east, and the river Moin from the west. Its course 

 now becomes nearly east. Here the Illinois pours its tribute from 

 the north-east, and just below from the west, its great rival, the 

 Missouri enters, in lat. 38° 55" N. and 89° 5 8' W. long. Their confluence 

 is more than 1600 miles from the souree of the Mississippi, and 

 1395 from its estuary at the Gulf of Mexico. From the falls to its 

 junction with the Missouri, a distance of 1030 miles, it inibosoms a 

 great number of small islands, and in many places the navigation is 

 rendered laborious and difficult, in consequence of sand bars, rapids, 

 &c. The surrounding country gradually assumes a more mild and 

 inviting aspect, and exhibits more signs of fertility. The predomi- 

 nant appearance of the surface is that of prairies or savannas. These 

 vast natural meadows, bound upon the banks, in many places, and in 

 others, they are seen at intervals, through the narrow groves of lofty tim- 

 ber, that embroider the margin of the river In some few places there 



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