92 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



plateau, while a vast reedy expanse, probably in ordinary 

 seasons available for grazing purposes, marks the junction 

 of Eainy Eiver with the Lake of the Woods. 



Eainy Eiver flows upon an alluvial bed partly of its own 

 formation, the materials being probably derived in a great 

 measure from the cutting away of the clay and sand 

 which constitute the higher of the two terraces by which 

 its boundary is so well defined. The first or lowest terrace 

 being generally from twelve to fifteen feet above the 

 present water level, frequently terminates on the river in 

 abrupt, low, day bluffs, capped with loam and sand, or 

 rich alluvial deposits ; sometimes both terraces come upon 

 the river together in one bold bluff, often forty feet in 

 altitude, and again the lower terrace is found to occupy 

 the bank without the higher one in the rear being 

 visible from a canoe. 



The separation of these terraces is an important item in 

 the description of the topography and general character- 

 istics of Eainy Eiver. Where the lower terrace is alone 

 visible, the vegetation it sustains is often characteristic of 

 a poor and sandy soil. Eed pines, some of them of fair 

 dimensions, red cedar and small poplars occupy it, and if 

 any passer by were to draw an inference from the pre- 

 vailing timber which, in such situations, meets the eye, he 

 would at once form the* opinion that the land was com- 

 paratively worthless. But let him cross the lower terrace 

 until he reaches, at a distance of 200 yards or per- 

 haps a quarter or half a mile, the higher one, and 

 the magnificent growth of poplar, elm, and basswood 

 would quickly reverse such judgments. As far as I pene- 

 trated in different places back from the river, the soil of 

 the higher terrace was of admirable quality, and supported 

 a heavy growth of timber. The clay upon which it rested 

 was often exposed by the steep banks of numerous slug- 

 gish streams which cut the terrace to nearly the level of 



