Volume 1

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150 END OF THIS EXCURSUS.
from the N. E. After this junction it bears the name of the
latter river, and then becomes more navigable ; it runs a S.
E. course of about 15 leagues to the Mississippi, which
here comes in from the N. E. Having received its principal
waters from Leech lake, Petit Lac Winipec [Winnibigoshish
lake], [Upper] Red Cedar [Cass] lake, and a number
of smaller lakes and rivers, from a great bend toward
the S. and S. E., where it receives the discharge of Sandy
lake [Lac de Sable], the Mississippi then turns to a S. W.
course until it receives Riviere a L'Aile du Corbeau, when
it takes a more southern direction, receiving innumerable
small rivers in its course.
But to return to my journey. We passed an uncomfortable
night ; the air was cold, and we made no fire for
fear of being discovered. Every wolf or other animal that
came near us we supposed was the enemy, and were in a
state of alarm the whole night.
Nov. nth. We took a farewell view of the country
southward from the top of a large oak. The mirage was
fine as the sun rose, and the prospect delightful. Goose
river, on the right, wound over the
plains to the W. until it
divided into several branches, which, soon after reaching the
Hair hills, appeared like blue, serpentine stripes across the
barren ground until lost to view. On the left, Red river
stretched southward through a level country as far as the
eye could reach. On the E. side appeared the level plain,
through which Folle Avoine river ran, until the wood grew
blue and was lost to sight, while its many sudden bends
added to the beauty of the prospect.
About a mile below, on the E., I observed the small
Riviere aux Marais^" [Marsh river], which retained its wood
only four or five miles out in the plain, and was then seen
no more. I also had a glimpse of the woods on the Schian
river, to the S. W. In every direction animals were seen
^0
This is the third tributary of Red r. of such name. But this Marsh r. is
not an independent river—merely one of the two channels into which Wild
Rice r. divides in the vicinity of Ada, Norman Co., Minn.