NaRRativi;, i 113 



The forest of this fork of the .Mississippi, abounds in almost 

 every variety of the pine family. Wo observed the sugar ma- 

 ple less frequently <>n our whole route, than would be inferred 

 from the knowledge, that this tree is spread over the sources 

 of the Mississippi, and flourishes, even in its most northern lat- 

 itudes : and that the sugar made from it. i< relied on by the 



Indians, as one oflhe regular of the minor means of their sub- 

 sistence. This may be accounted for, perhaps satisfactorily, from 

 knowing that river alluvions, and low grounds generally, are 



unfavorable to its growth. Its true position is the uplands, to 

 which the Indians arc known to resort, in the season of sugar 

 making. Other species of the maple, frequently exhibited their 

 soft foliage, over the stream, together with the elm, and the ash, 

 and some varieties of the oak. Pine is, however, by far tho 

 most abundant and valuable timber tree, disclosed along the 

 immediate banks of this river, and it affords a repository of this 

 species, which will be much resorted to, when the agricultural 

 plains above the falls of St. Anthony, shall team with their des- 

 tined population. 



The mere exhibition of woods and waters, however inspiring 

 in their effects, is not sufficient to keep the attention from flag- 

 ging, if there be no striking succession of variety in their char- 

 acter. It seems not less a physical, than a moral truth, that 

 *• uniformity w ill tire, though it be uniformity of excellence." 

 The eye is perpetually searching for something new, and how- 

 ever it may have been with other explorers, I think we may 

 venture to say, that with us, novelty has been a far more con- 

 stant or immediate passion, than utility. The " lightning splin- 

 tered " pine, which raises its dead arms, amid the living foliage, 

 i- suited to call forth a remark. The waterfowl with a tuft, or 

 the shell with a deep cicatrice or a pearly interior, gives occa- 

 sion for interrupting the silence, that plainer species would have 

 left unbroken. And it is this search for something distinctive 

 or peculiar, that gives an edge to the zeal of discover}. 



On the third day of our voyage down this river, towards noon 



IS 



