76 NARRATIVE, &c. 



light here left us. We pursued our way by moonlight for a 

 time. The sky was overcast before we effected our first tra- 

 verse. Sometime previous to landing it became quite dark. 

 Even with the knowledge of an Indian guide, it was necessary 

 to fire guns, to ascertain the position of the principal village. 

 It was ten o'clock, on our landing, and it was an hour later be- 

 fore the military canoes came up. Salutes were separately 

 fired by the Indians through the top openings of their lodges. 

 In the morning, (17th,) a more formal salute was given. Fresh 

 fish and wortle-berries were brought in : and an invitation to 

 breakfast sent from the presiding chief. 



Leech Lake is one of the most irregular shaped bodies of wa- 

 ter that can be conceived of. It is neither characteristically 

 long, spherical, or broad, but rather a combination of curves, 

 in the shape of points, peninsulas, and bays, of which nothing 

 short of a map can convey an accurate idea. The Indians, 

 whom I requested to draw a sketch of it, began by tracing an 

 oblong as large as half a sheet of foolscap would admit of. 

 They filled it up by projecting points inwardly, or extended it 

 by tracing bays outwardly. Ten islands were drawn in differ- 

 ent parts of it, and seven rivers and creeks made to enter it. 

 Its outlet is called by them the great river, and is towards the 

 northeast. The lake cannot be less than twenty miles across 

 the extreme points of the waters. Its principal peninsula re- 

 sembles in shape the letter T. Ottertail Point is a part of its 

 northern shore. Its waters are deep and clear in all its central 

 parts, and yield the whitefish and other species. Its numerous 

 and extensive bays abound in wild rice, and attract in the pro- 

 per season, a great variety of w r ater fowl. The pelican, swan, 

 brant, and cormorant, are the largest of the species that annu- 

 ally visit it. Its shores yield the deer and bear. Beavers were 

 formerly abundant, but they have, in a great measure, disap- 

 peared. The muskrat and marten are now the principal items 

 of its fine furs. The subjoined sketch is from the notes of 

 Lieut. Allen. 



