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Show 66 JOUH.~AL OF A VUYAUh by g1· v1· ng h'm ,.... a dram (una' sked) and his wife a little salt, I received fr01n them directions for my route. Passed the lake or morass, and opened on tneadows, (throu~h which the Mississippi winds its course) of nearly 1 .S m1lcs long. Took a straight course through them, to the head; when I found we had missed the river ; made a tur~ of about two miles, and regained it. Passed a fork whtch I supposed to be Lake Winipie, making the course N. W. the branch we took was on Leech Lake branch, course S. W. and W. Passed a very large meadow or prairie, course west; the Mississippi only fifteen yards wide. Encamped about one mile below the traverse of the tneadow. Saw a very large animal, which, from its leaps, I supposed to have been a panther ; but if so, it was twice as large as those on the lower Mississippi. l-Ie evinced some disposition to approach. I lay down (Miller being in the rear) in order to entice him to come ncar, but he would not. The night remarkably cold. S01ne spirits, which I had in a small keg, congealed to the consistency of honey. 1st February, Saturday.-Left our camp pretty early. Passed a continued train of prairie, and arrived at Lake La Sang Sue, at half past two o'clock. I will not attempt to describe my feelings, on the accomplish1n nt of my voyage, for this is the main source of the Mississippi. The Lake Winipie branch is navigable, fron1 thence to Red Cedar lake, for the distance of five l·agues, which is the extremity of the navigation. Crossed the Jake 12 miles to the establishment of theN. W. cornpany; where we arrived, about 3 o'clock; found all the gates locked, but upon knocking were admitted, and n~ceiv<'d with marked attention and hospitality by Mr. llugh M'Gillis. I-Iad a good dish of cofle~, biscuit, butter, and cheese fot supper. 2d FebrumJ', Stmdny.·-Remained all day within doors. In the evening sent an invitation tn Nlr. Ander· TO THE SOUHCES OF TilE MISSISSIPPI. G7 son, who was an agcn t of Dickson, and also for some young Indians, at his house, to cotne over and breakfast in the morning. 3d February, Monday.-Spent the day in r eading Volney's Egypt; proposing son1e queries to Mr. Anderson, and preparing n1y young man to return, with a sup-ply of provisions, to tny party. . . 4tb February, Tuesday.-Miller departed this nlornmg. Mr. Anderson returned to his quarters. My legs and andes were so much swelled, that I was not able to wear my own clothes and was obliged to borrow son1e from l\1r. M'Gillis. 5tb February, rVednesday.-One of Mr. M'Gillis's clerks had .been sent to sorne Indian lodges, and expected to return m four days, but had now been absent nine. Mr. Grant was despatched, in order to find out what had become of him. Gt~ February, Tbursdoy.-My men arrived at the fort ab?~t.four o'~lock~ . Mr. ~'Gillis asked, if I had any obJeCtiOns to hzs hmstmg their flag, in compliment to ours. I made ?one, as I had not yet explained to him tny ideas. In .making a traverse of the lake, some of nly tnen had thcu· e·u·s 1 • ' ' some t leir noses, and others their chins fyozen. . 7 tb February, Friday.-Renla.ined within doors IllY limbs bem' g Sti'1 1 very nluch swe1led. Addressed a l' etter to lYir M'G·Jr : • I IS on the subject of the N. W. company trade m thzs quarter . .if. . 8th February, Saturday.-'foo•k the latitude and founcl lt to be 4·7° 16' I S11 • Shot with our rifles. 'd 9th. .F ebrua ry, S un d.a y.-M r. M'G1.l h.s and tnyself P;I I a VISit to l\1r. Anderson, an agent of Mr. Dickson to! tl~ekLower Mississippi, who resided at the west end of' 1~ a e Fo d 1 . l . · un lun e egtbly situated as to trade, but ·•· See ap pend 's ~ to part I. (No. S•] page 14• |