EXPLORATION 



OF THE 

 ST. CROIX AND BURNTWOOD RIVERS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Interval of the batiks of the Mississippi, between the months of the 

 Riier Dc Corbcau and St. Croix, adverted to. — Plains above St. 

 Anthony's Falls, agricultural. — Fact respecting the recession of the 

 bison. — Geological change in the character of thr Mississippi, in 

 crossing l"> deg. parrallcl. — Fort Shutting, — Council — Reach the 

 mouth of the St. Croi.v. — Picturesque character of St. Croix Lake. 

 Traits of its natural history. — Encamp near a diminutive kind of 

 barrows. — "Standing Cedar*." — Am I dian trader.— -tirecn-stone 

 rock. — Falls of the St. Croix. — Traditionary account of an ancient 

 Indian baltlt , fought at these falls by the Chiprcwas, iSaucs, J 

 and Sioux, Wahb Ojecg. 



That portion of the Upper Mississippi, lying between the 

 junction of the De Corbeau and St. Anthony's Falls, presents 

 to the eve a succession of prairie ami finest land, which has the 

 characteristics of a valuable agricultural country. It is difficult 

 in p;i<-i[iL r it. to resist the idea, that it will, at some future day, 

 tain a dense population. It is so elevated above the bed of 

 the Mississippi, as to be out of the reach of its periodical floods. 

 The ban!.- are )•' n<!' red permanent by resting upon a basis of 



li\ (1 rock-, (the primitive.) which appear in the channel of the 

 river. The soil i- arable upland, apparently light, hut of that 

 urinous character, which has turned out so durable and fer- 

 tile in Michigan. Like the prairies of the latter, the plough 



