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Show 20 !OURNAL OF A YOYAGE fore noted) of the Sacs and Reynards, returning from their expedition against the Sauteurs. I directed my in.· terpreter to ask how many scalps they had taken, they re~ plied" none;" he added they were all squaws, for which I reprimanded him. Passed the mountain which stands in the river, or as the French term it, which soaks in the river. Came on to the Prairie Le Aisle, on the west. Mr. Frazer, Bradley, Sparks, and m; self, went out to hunt; we crossed first a dry flat prairie; when we arrived at the hills, we ascended them, from which we had a most sublime and beautiful prospect. On the right, we saw the mountains, which we passed in the morning, and the prairie in their rear ; and like distant clouds the mountains at the Prairie Le Cross ; on our left and under our feet, the valley between the two barren hills, through which the Mississippi wound itself by numerous channels, form~ ing many beautiful isbnds, as far as the eye could embrace the scene. Our four boats under full sail, their flags streaming before the wind, was altogether a prospect so variegated and romantic, that a man may scarcely expect to enjoy such a one but twice or thrice in the course of his life. I proposed k eeping the hills until they led to the river, encamping and waiting the next day for our boats; but Mr. Frazer's anxiety to get to the boats, ir ... due, d me to yield ; and after crossing a very thick bot~ tom, fording and swimming three branches of the river, and eros ing several morass( s, we at 12 o'clock arrived, opposite our boats, which were encamped on the east side. \"! e were brought over. Saw great sign of elk, but had not the good fortune to come across any of them. My men saw three on the shore. Distance 2l miles. 15th Sept. Sunday-Embarked early; passed the riviere Embarrass, and Lean Clare, on the W. which is navigable 1 SS miles. Encamped opposite to the river Le B<l!uf on the W. shore. At the head of this river, the TO THE SOURCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Chipeways inhabit, and it is navigable for peroques 40 or 50 leagues. Rained in the afternoon. Mr. Frazer broke one of his canoes. Came on about 3 miles farther than him. Distance 25 miles. 16th Sept. Monday-Embarked late, as I wished Mr. Frazer to overtake me, but came on very well. His canoes overtook us at dinner, at the grand encampment below Lake Pepin. We made the sandy peninsula, on the east at the entrance of Lake Pepin, by dusk ; passed the Sauteaux river on the east, at the entrance of the lake. After supper, the wind being fair, we put ofi~ with the intention to sail across. My interpreter (Rosscau) telling me, that he had passed the lake twenty times, but never once in the day; giving as a reason, that the wind frequently rose and detained them by day in the lake-But I believe the traders true reason, generally is, their fears of the Sauteurs, as they have made several strokes of war, at the mouth of this river, never distinguishing between the Siou~ and their traders-IIowever, the wind serving, I was Induced to go on ; and accordingly we sailed. My b?at bringing up the rear, for I had put the sail of 1ny b1g boat on my batteaux, and a mast of 22 feet. Mr. Frazer embarked on tny boat. At first the breeze was very gentle, and we sailed with our violins and other music. playing; but the sky afterwards beca1ne cloudy and ~mte a gale arose. My boat ploughed the swells, sometimes alrnost bow under. When we can1e to the Tra~ erse, which is opposite to Point De Sable, we thought It most advisable, the lake being very much di turbed and the gale increasing, to take harbor in a bay on the cast. One of the canoes, and my boat, came in very well, and t?gether; but having made a fire on the point to give notice to our boats in the rear, they both ran on the bar before they doubled it, and were nt:ar foundering ; but by |
