The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-06
MICHIGAN.
From the Detroit Gazette.1
a Journal Of the SciapassG Exploring
Party.
Concluded from our last

That division of our party which crossed
directly from La Grand Traverse to the river
Sagana, report the country they passed over
as rich body of land, well watered, and ca
pable of sustaining a great and hourishing
population. There are in it few pineries,
(though of no great extent,) through which,
as usual, the soil is thin and sandy.
A division of the party which had gone
down the river to the bay, now retumed.-
They state that the banks of the river, the
land adjoining it, and the face of the country,
very nearly resemble those at and near the
clearinghouse of Mr.. Campau.
Wild ducks and geese are innumsrable on
the Sagana river. Many Of them are so fat at
this season of the year, that they cannot fly,
and the Indians kill vast number. of them
with sticks. Fish are also plenty; an Indian
will catch small canoe full in two or three
hours, with hook. Sturgeon of immense
size are taken in the bay, and deer and elk
are abundant in the forests around it.
23d. A detachment of the party proceed
ed up the Titabawassa. There are a great
number of springs of the purest water issuing
from the banks of the Sagana but the water
of the river appears muddy, and has bitter
disagreeable taste.
oath. One detachment of the party pro-
ceeded by land, the other by water, to the
. Traverse on the Cass river, about three miles
from its mouth. Thence two Of the party
proceeded up the Cass about fifteen miles.
and returned. There are two short carving
places in this distance, occasioned by food
wood. The river otherwise would be nayi-
gable for boats. The land is beautifully stu
I'D HinH 0a eof&I 4 = \
and the soil rich.
25th.-The party moved in southerly di-
rection from the Huron of Sagana, or Cass
river, and travelled about eight miles, when
1t struck the Flint, and encamped near Mr.
Wampler's surveying party. The land be-
tween the Cass and Flint is rich bottom.
finely timbcred with ash, maple, birch, beach,
bois blanc, and bois jaime. This land, how
ever, is overlooked for about half mile from
the banks Of the rivers, during high waters in
the Spring the rest of the year It is perfectly
dry The land hears this character for seven
or eight miles above the mouths of the rivers !:
thence it is higher, and never overlooked,
and may bemore appropriately termed upland,
though interspersed with extensive tracts Of
rich alluvion.
The description Mr.. Wampler gives Of the
large body of land he has surveyed on the
Flint, Is highly Aattering. He says that he
never saw tract so extensive, that was
better adapted to receive dense population.
1t has the advantages Of rich soil, well tim
bered, and beautifully wateeed, with facilities
for the erection Of hYdraulick machinery
abundant.
26th--Proceeded up the Flint, on the west
side. The land is good for few miles then
commences pinery, which continues, on one
side Of the river, as far as Nyome's village,
six or seven miles. This pinery, however, ex-
tends but short distance back from the river.
and the land in the rear Of it is of a good
quality, and tinIbeFed with the various forest
trees heretofore noticed.
Encamped on hill, opposite to Nyome's
village. Here is a large bottom, SURROUNDED
by high, though not broken country.
27th.-Du. Thompson this day returned, by
the Grand Traverse and the main Sagana
trail, to the County of Oakland. The quail.
| ty of the land through which the trail runs,
from the Grand Traverse to the settlements in
Oakland, is not known to the writer of this,
Information on this subject may, however,
be expected soon.
The party moved in westerly direction.--
The land, for about three miles, is covered
with growth Of small pines, and the soil il
sandy and poor. After this, the land is excel.
lent, well watered and well tipbered. Cross
ed two considerable creeks, which fall into
the river Sciawassa, and great number Of
small but clear and rapid brooks. The tim.
Der Is maple, ash, hickory, elm, sycamore,
butternut, &c.
Having travelled twenty miles from our last
encampment, we struck tae river Sciawassa
at the Indian settlement Of Sha-Manitou
Getty Of the Great spirit.) This village con-