142 NARRATIVE^ fee. 



tho head of (tho Upper) lake SL Croix. It lies over an elevated 

 sandy pine ridge, which divides the two streams. The distance 

 which the canoes and packages require to be carried, is 3,350 

 yards, or nearly two miles. On the left hand, in carrying from 

 the St. Croix, there is a deep tamerac valley, which is said to 

 afford the head springs of both streams. On the right, is seen, 

 at some distance, a small lake, which is stated to yield the black 

 bass, and to have no outlet. Its existence in a sand formation, 

 indicates perhaps, coral rag, hardpan, or some firmer material 

 below. This sand is apparently of marine deposition, and 

 agrees, in this respect, with the extensive formations at the 

 sources of the Mississippi. 



The goods after being carried this distance, are put down, on 

 the banks of a sandy bottomed brook of very clear cold water, 

 overhung with alders. Any other person, but one who had be- 

 come familiar with northwest portages, would be apt to say, on 

 being ushered to this secluded spot, " well, this is certainly an 

 eligible spot to quench one's thirst at, but as for embarking on 

 this rill, with a canoe and baggage, the thing seems to be pre- 

 posterous." And so it certainly appeared, on our arrival. — 

 There was not an average depth of water of more than two to 

 four inches. But by going some distance below, and damming 

 the stream, it rose in a short time, high enough to float a canoe, 

 with a part of its lading. The men walking in the stream, then 

 led tho canoes, cutting away the brush to veer them, and car- 

 rying such parts of the lading as could not, from time to time, 

 be embarked. We did not begin the descent, till six o'clock, 

 in the evening, and went about a mile during the first hour and 

 a half. It then became so dark, that it was necessary to encamp. 

 And to encamp in such a place, seemed impossible. We could 

 not, however, hesitate. Thcro was no alternative, we could 

 neither advance nor recede, and we were surrounded with a 

 shaking bog. We slept on a kind of bog, which the men, call 

 tctes desfemmes. Some rain fell during the night, but we were 

 happily relieved from the fear of : ~undation, by the showers 



