A1T1 MUX. 2#T 



venes between tlie latter and Lac Courtorielle. The first of the 

 series of carrvmn-placc m is about three miles in length, and ter- 

 minates at the Lake ol the Isles {!>"<■ llfJ Kelt*) J after crossing 

 which, a portage of 750 yarda leads to hoc dm (ins. This lake 



has a navigable outlet into Ottowa Lake, where 1 rejoined the ad- 

 vanced party (including Lieutenant Clary's detachment) on the 

 5th of August. 



Ottowa Lake is a considerable expanse of water, being about 

 twelve miles long, with irregular but elevated shores. A popu- 

 lous Chippewa tillage and a trading-post are located at its outlet, 

 and a numerous Indian population subsists in the vicinity. It is 

 situated in a district of country which abounds in rice lakes, has 

 a proportion of prairie or burnt land, caused by the ravages of 

 fifes ami, in addition to the small fur-bearing animals, has several 

 of the deer species. It occupies, geographically, a central situ- 

 ation, being intermediate, and commanding the communications 

 between the St. Croix and Chippewa Rivers, and between Lake 

 Superior and the Upper Mississippi. It is on the great slope of 

 land descending towards the latter, enjoys a climate of compara- 

 tive mildness, and yields, with fewer and shorter intervals of ex- 

 treme want, the means of subsistence to a population which is 

 still essentially erratic. These remarks apply, with some modi- 

 fications, to the entire range of country (within the latitudes men- 

 tioned) situated west and south of the high lands circumscribing 

 the waters of Lake Superior. The outlet of this Lake (Ottowa) 

 is a fork of Chippewa River, called Ottowa River. 



I had intended to proceed from this lake, either by following 

 down the Ottowa branch to its junction with the main Chippewa* 

 and then ascending the latter into Lac du Flambeau, or by de- 

 scending the Ottowa branch only to its junction with the North- 

 W • M fork, called the Oehasowa River; and, ascending the latter 

 lo a portage of sixty pauses, into the Chippewa River. By the 

 latter route tune and distance would have been saved, and I 

 should, in either way. have been enabled to proceed from Lac du 

 Fla m beau to Green Hay by an easy communication into the Up- 

 per Ouisconsin, and from the latter into the Menomonie River, or 

 by Plover PSflSge into Wolf Riv<i. This was the route I had 

 designed to go on quitting Lake Superior ; but, on consulting my 



