N\KK\TIY] ;,7 



CHAPTER VI. 



Orllr.irs of Itasca J,ake. — Its fernery and productions. — Forest trees, 

 4eer, fish, shells.— Width of its outlet.— Altitude above the ocean. — 

 Length of the Mississippi. — //s- course above Cass Lake. — Its origin 

 south of latitude 47 d< g, ID minutes. — General observations on the 

 Mississippi. — Erect a flag on thr island in Itasca Lake. — Commence 

 *7k? descent of the 'West, or Itascan branch of the Mississippi. — 

 ('hnruclrr of its channel. — Rapids and plateaux. — Falls of Kakabi- 

 koiis. — Portage.— Encamp at Pine Banks. 



Itasca Lake, the Lac la Bichc of the French, is, in every 

 respect, a beautiful sheet of water, seven or eight miles in extent, 

 lying among hills of diluvial formation, surmounted with pines, 

 which fringe the distant horizon, and form an agreeable con- 

 trast with the greener foliage of its immediate shores. Its 

 greatest length, is from south-cast to north-west, with a south- 

 ern prolongation, or bay, which receives a brook. The waters 

 arc transparent and bright, and reflect a foliage produced by 

 the elm, lynn, maple, and cherry, together with other species 

 more abundant in northern latitudes. The lake itself is of ir- 

 regular form, which will be best illustrated by the accompanying 



tch. It has a single island, upon which we landed, after an 

 hour's paddling from the spot of our arrival and embarkation. 

 W« found here, the forest trees above named growing promis- 

 cuously with the betnla and spruce. The bones of fish and of 

 tortoise, found at tl»e locality of former Indian camp fires, indi- 

 cate the existence of these species in the lake. We observed a 

 deer, standing in the margin of the lake. And, here, as well as 

 throughout the lakes of the region, found the duck, teal and 

 loon, in possession of their favorite seclusions. Innumerable 

 shells, (a species of small helix,) were driven up on the head of 



