32 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



come very near — having been on the Turtle Portage, with 

 goods. 



7th. Did they bring liquor thus far ? Ans. No. The liquor 

 is kept at Rainy Lake, to induce the Indians to visit that place 

 with their furs. 



8th. Did the disposition made of the liquor, which the Secre- 

 tary of War permitted the principal Factor of the Fond du Lac 

 Department, to take in last year, (1831,) embrace the post of 

 Winnipec ? Ans. It did not. It was kept chiefly at Rainy 

 Lake, and on the lines, to be used in the opposition trade. 



Another trader, inquired of, in the country below, observed 

 that five Chiefs had been invested with medals and flags, by the 

 British trader at Lac le Pluie. 



The party traversed Lake Winnipec on the morning of the 

 10th, and entered and passed up the sand-hill bordered valley 

 of the Mississippi, to Cass Lake, the entrance to which they 

 reached about one o'clock, being eleven days earlier in the sea- 

 son than this lake had been visited by the light canoes of Gov. 

 Cass, twelve years previous. The outlet of this lake, was as- 

 certained to be 172 feet in width, with an estimated depth of 

 eight feet ; being over half the width of the river, immediately 

 below the inlet of the Sandy Lake branch. 



At this point, being the ultima TJiule of previous discovery, our 

 narrative may assume a more personal character. The day was 

 characterised by the striking warmth of the month of July in 

 this latitude. The fore part of it had been spent in a diligent 

 ascent of the Mississippi from Lake Winnipec ; and the party 

 reached the point of entrance, w r ith a feeling of gratification, 

 arising from the accomplishment of one of its objects. W r e 

 halted a few moments, to allow the hindmost canoes to come 

 up, so as to enter the Lake together. Oza Windib, or the Yel- 

 low Head, our Chippewa guide, had preceded the party a little, 

 as he often did, to get the first glance of little bays and inlets, 

 where water fowl are usually found. He had put his canoe 

 ashore behind a small point, where he met a party of the Cass 



