15 O 11 D E It I N G ON C A S S LA K E. 



tained in Mr. Beltrami's " Pilgrimage'' through this region, relating principally to 

 the manners and customs of the Indians, the map sketched by him of his route is a 

 tolerably correct one, and appears to have been the source from which Mr. Nicollet 

 derived his information with regard to the route between Cass and Red Lakes. 



The waters of Lake Winibigoshish differ from those of most of the lakes in this 

 region in not being clear and pure. The Indian name for it signifies " dirty water," 

 and it merits the appellation. This unusual quality of the water is probably owing 

 to some peculiarity of its bed, which, however, was not ascertained. It is about 

 twelve miles in diameter, and destitute of islands, and is shallow for a long dis- 

 tance out from its shores. On the southwest, the shores are lined with tamerack 

 swamps, and on the northeast by gentle elevations, bearing oak, maple, and other 

 hard woods. On the western shore, two long points, made of boulders derived from 

 granitic and metamorphic rocks, extend into the lake. I saw no trap boulders 

 among them, but a number of large limestone fragments. The soil of the higher 

 lands is good, and corn and potatoes can be cultivated to advantage. 



Where the Mississippi enters this lake, it is obstructed by sandbars, overgrown 

 with rushes. Within the mouth, the stream is about forty yards wide, and from 

 two to six feet deep, with a sandy bottom, and bordered by low meadows. The 

 bed of the river, after ascending a short distance, is covered with the shells of 

 various species of Unio, and fragments of limestone, which are met with all the 

 way to Cass Lake. At one locality, on the shore, we observed fragments con- 

 taining several Silurian fossils belonging to the genera Ortliis, a Terehratula, a 

 Cyathophyllum, and a Euomphalus. 



After leaving the lake, the river is skirted by low meadows, which extend to 

 the foot of slopes which rise to the height of from twenty to twenty-five feet, which 

 latter consist of clay-beds overlaid by a stratum of sand and soil, bearing oak and 

 pine, and occasionally ash and cypress. Where the river washes the high banks, 

 frequent slides occur. 



Cass Lake has been well and minutely described by Mr. Schoolcraft. The only 

 portion of it we saw, however, was between its outlet and Turtle River. Its waters 

 are clear, and it contains several islands, bearing red cedar, a tree seldom met with 

 in this section of country. Along the shore which fell under our observation, the 

 hills rise to the height of twenty and thirty feet above the lake, and are covered 

 with oak, ash, aspen, pine, and some small birch, while the lower grounds bear a 

 good growth of elm. 



A Mission was established at this place in 1844, and has done much towards 

 improving the condition of the Indians. The Fur Company also has a trading- 

 house. The Mission House is beautifully situated, on a hill, forty-five or fifty feet 

 above the lake level, and overlooks the site of the Indian village, which lies 

 between it and the lake, on both sides of the mouth of Turtle River. In addition 

 to the usual bark lodges which compose the Chippewa villages, the Indians here 

 have some good log cabins, which they have erected under the advice and superin- 

 tendence of the missionaries. Their gardens of corn and potatoes are also more 

 extensive than at most other places visited by us. 



The soil at this place is derived principally from the clay-beds, which are found 



