12 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



of smaller insects, who are on the wing, in this secluded val- 

 ley, during the greater part of the twenty-four hours. This 

 stream was ascended one hundred and four miles, to the portage. 

 The goods and canoes were then carried S-f miles, 'across high- 

 lands, to a lake called Koginogumoc, or the Longwater ; and 

 thence by four separate portages, and three intervening lakes, 

 to the Namakagon river. The latter was descended one hun- 

 dred and sixty-one miles, to its junction with the St. Croix, of 

 which it is the right fork, and the channel of the latter pursued 

 to Yellow River. From this point, where a public council was 

 convened, the expedition re-ascended the Namakagon to the 

 portage into lac Courtonelle, or Ottawa Lake. This portage 

 consists of a carrying place of three miles and a lake, then 

 another carrying place of 750 yards and a lake, from ihe latter 

 of which there is a navigable outlet into the Ottawa for canoes. 



Ottawa Lake is a sheet of water about twelve miles long, 

 having an outlet into the Chippewa river of the Upper Missis- 

 sippi. In order, hovvever r lo visit certain hostile bands, a portage 

 was made from this outlet (after following it down about half 

 a day's journey,) of 3J miles, into lac Chetac, the principal 

 source of Red Cedar river. The latter w r as then pursued, 

 through four principal expansions, called Wigwas, Warpool, 

 Red Cedar and Rice Lakes, to its falls. A short portage over 

 horizontal sand-rock, interrupts the navigation, after which there 

 is a series of rapids, extending about 24 miles. Deep and strong 

 w T ater was then found to its junction with the Chippewa river, 

 which it enters at the estimated distance of 40 miles from the 

 confluence of the latter with the Mississippi, (on its eastern 

 bank.) 



The entire line of country travelled by this interior route was 

 643 miles. The Mushkigo, the St. Croix, and the Chippewa, 

 were the rivers, which by their common origin and interlocking 

 on the summit lands, afforded this communication. Many bands 

 of Indians were visited in their fastnesses, where they had hith- 

 erto supposed themselves out of the reach of observation. 



