Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-09-15

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On the 10th Of July, there arrived at the
village fist. Paul, near St. Peters and the
Falls Of st. Anthony, on the Upper Mis-
sissippi, the most novel and original look
ing caravan that has ever appeared since
Noah 8 Ark was evacuated. Our readers
are aware that there is an isolated settle
meht of several thousand inhabitants in a
high latitude Of British North America,
known as the "Selkirk Settlement" Cut
off from the commerce Of the new world,
they rely entirely upon their own resour-
ces, their farms, their flocks, and fishing,
for support--beng community, so to
speak, Of Robinson Crusoes. Their crops
having failed the two last seasons, they
have been forced to break out of the wilds
again and seek food in the market Of the
great bra~ling world. Formerly their
chief point of contact with commerce, was
at Toronto; but now, owing to the increase
Of supplies on the Upper Mississippi, and
the abundance of game and forage on that
route, they trade at St. Paul, the head of
steamboat navigation on the Mississippi
river. into St. Paul they came, on the
10Th of July, caravan of one hundred
and twenty carts, in single file, YEARLY
moving along by moonlight. Long after
the head of the caravan had reached the
village, the heightened train of followers
conld be seen moving over the undulating
prairie, partly hidden. between the billowy
ridges Of the extended plain, crawling on
ward like some huge serpent, the extreme
rear sill invisible and partly hidden in the
dimness of distance. They had Travelled
southwark over the prairie six hundred
miles, having been nineteen days on their
way, througha region abounding in 5uffa-
Ices encamping at night in a tent, around
which the carts were arranged in circle,
to fence in the cattle. "
They were hindered considerably in
crossing some ofthe streams in many
places found scarcity Of fuel. and ofeven
the dry excrement of the buffalo, which
they use for fuel. They often suffered
for want Of water. as many Of the smaller
streams were so strongly impregnated
with the excrement Of the buffalo as to be
unwholesome. They brought along large
elk, a bear, and some other animals, which
they had captured on their way-and ma.
ny packages Of furs. They had a very
choice lot of buffalo robes, we'll dressed,
which they sold at St. Paul, by the lot,
at SD so each. They had with them also
an abundance Of specie, and waited few
days at St. Paul for the arrival of steam.
boat load OF flour and groceries. The
caravan was made up of men and boys of
all ages, kindreds, tongues and complex
ions, including large proportion of Gum
bos. Their dresses were as various as
could be imagined; being uniform in only
single article of apparel-all wore mecca
sins. The carts were made wholly of
wood and hides, the hubs being covered
with bandages Of green hide, drawn on
while soft, and there shrinking until they
became nearly as tight as bands of iron.
Seine Of these odd two wheeled vehicles
were drawn by little horses, and others by
oxen, each animal, horse or OK, being
geared in a harness ofgreen hide. They
are now ag.in on their way back TO the
frozen wilds Of the north, many of them
probably never again to commune with the
great world Wisconsin (Grant Co..
Herald. a