The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-30

the same name. The Indians have here con-
siderable improvements Their corn-6eids
look well, and are Of very rich soil. They al
SO cultivate potatoes, beans, &c.
Lake Nepissing is about two miles long, and
three-fourths Of mile wide. The soil around
it may be pronounced liTst rate the timber is
principally maple, ash, iron-wood, oak, walnut,
bass, and bOis blanc. This description of land
extends seven or eight miles, after which there
is a continued pinery for about six miles, inter
mixed with few scattering maple, beach,
elm, sc. soil light and poor, with very few ex-
ceptions- Passed two lakes, and encamped on
the border of one of them. Travelled ten
miles this day. Course northwest.
I5th.-Left our encampment at lake Chan
denaire, and arrived at lake Ned, II miles
from the former. Both these ponds are low
marshes covered with water, and are of an en-
tirely different character from the other lakes
we saw on the route. The land on one side
is, for nearly mile, swampy, covered with
growth of black ash, sc. Pursuing the trail,
we assembled a very steep hill, about forty feet
m height, and found a continued pinery for
about mile. Then descending hill, we
struck branch of the Flint, fine stream, cur
rent rapid. Assembled hill and found the
land good; timber, ash, maple, iron-wood,
cherry, bots blanc, oak, &c.
At four o'clock in the afternoon we struck
the Flint riYer, thirty miles above the Grand
Traverse, as we were informed by the Indians.
The land on this river is excellent, the soil
sandy loan. The timber is maple, hickory,
bass, sycamore, &c. &c.
The Flint, at this point, Is considerable
body of water, running little south of east,
about 100 feet wide and deep. The water
is transparent, and banks bold and handsome.
The river runs about one hundred miles from
this place before it receives the Sciawassa,
Titabawassa, and Cass, which three rivers fall
into It in marsh, within about four miles of
each other. The united water of these four
branches then take the name of Sagana river,
which, below the junction, is 1900 feet wide,
and increases in width as it approaches the
Bay Of Sagana.
At the place where we struck the Flint,
there is a considerable Indian improvement,
where corn, beans, potatoes, squashes, &c. are
raised in great perfection. Encamped on the
north branch of the river. Travelled this day
five miles: course west.
16th.-Party divided two of the party pro-
ceeded down the river in a canoe with a part of
the baggage two proceeded up the river by land.
The party who examined the country on the
river above the place where we struck it, re-
port that, for nearly forty miles, (the extent of
their tour,) the land is excellent. There are
frequently tracts of several miles in extent,
imbered entirely with maple, where the In
dians make annually large quantities of sugar
Game is abundant throughout the country
such as deer and other quadrupeds, geese,
ducks, pbeasants, growse, &c. sc.
f7th.-Proceeded down the south side of
the Flint. The land is good, lies handsomely,
and is well watered.. Occasionally on the
ridges there are clusters of pines of immense
height, and suitable for numbering.
Encamped after travelling about six miles.
I8th.-Proceeded down the river. The
land continues Of the same description as that
we passed over yesterday. Crossed Thread
/, Creek, a considerable stream which eapties
into the Flint, and arrived at the Grand Tray
erse. Here we were joined by the party who
came down the river. They describe the riy-
er as bearing the same character, in regard to
lis banks, the land adjoining it, and current,
as the spot on which we first struck it. There
are two carrying places between that place
and the Grand Traverse. Here the party
again divided. Three went down the river in
the canoe, for the purpose of exl .orng it to its
mouth.
During this days journey we found the river
rocky, and it was with difficulty that loaded
canoe could proceed. The Indians, however,
IN great numbers, passed up and down in their
light canoes with apparent ease. Good situa-
tons for water machinery are frequent, and
the land lies handsomely, and appears rich, as
far as it could be seen from the river.
19th.-The river now becomes still more
rocky, and the banks in some places higher.
The land bears close resemblance to that
above. Praries and rnll-sites frequent.
20th.-Rapids become frequent, and the
river continues rocky. The land is of the
same description as that near the Grand
Traverse, with the exception of some extern
sive rich bottoms, on some of which the Indians
have made small improvements.
2lst.-The river becomes deeper, and the
current more gentle. Three carrying places
lie within few miles of each other, one near
ly half a mile long. These distractions to the
navigation of the river might be easily remov-
ed during high water. They are formed by
the wood which floats down, perhaps 1876
miles, when the river rises. They appear to
have maintained their positions for many
years and there is no doubt that, if once
cleared, very little expense would keep the
river nasigable through the season, for some
distance from its mouth.
The land now assumed another character.
and may be termed bottom. of the richest de-
scription, and, until few miles above the
mouth of the Sciawassa, il is never overflow
| ed, and is finely timbered. 1t bears very
close resemblance to the best intervaes Of the
Mohawk, in the State Of New FORK, except
that the soil is more free, having a greater
| proportion of sand.
we this day passed the mouths of the Scia-