Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-04
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
FRom sKErcuEs or American LIFE.

PROM SKETCHES AMERICAN LIFE.
thousand miles in birds flight from the Atlantic, and
sixteen bundled from the Pacific Ocean-neary four hundred
from the source Of the Mississippi, and more than two thou
sand from its mouhed entrance into the Gulf OF Mexico
the waters OF that river precpaed over the rocks Of ST.
Anthony.
Iasla Lake is the o1s Ell orgo of the arowing Mssis
sppi; several small running into it, have presented
their claims the kind consideration of geogaphers, to I've
called after this great father of waters the chds not TO
be Anthony for there already of that kin in the family,
but Mississippi Some eight ten explorers have visited this
lake situated in country where the earth is frozen during
nine months Of The year. unculyaed amid savage tribes and
thick forests extensive plains but few inducements are of
ered TO the visits Of strangers the latitude OF the lake
has only been determined within the last few years WIN
ter, rugged and rude, generally abdes its borders,
whens the boundless meadows Of this region and the cold
winds sweeping the seake expanse with the Of
drted snow form atmosphere whose horizon is bounded
within few yards.
Two centuries ago, Hennepin, French priest who had
hoaied down from the Canadian colonies in pous mission
among the Indian tribes the banks Of the river drew his
out upon the beach. nearly mile above these falls
We can imagine the Dquisitve eyes with which this first adj
venturer walked along the shore first trGdden by Of his
whilst his dusky companions bore the fa brchen
boat their shoulders around the falls Nature here has
dergone but little change since that day. The Indian still
carries his around avoid the pers of navigation the
expanse prairie extends westward, and the pro-
life varieties Of animal life people the lakes and streams Of this
wild region. He who first spoke Of the in this land,
baptized these fails by the OF Of the Fathers and
that they still bear Proper associations have been
stirring in the mind of the pious missionary.
The Missssppi in the beginning Of IFS course flows through
high table lands but thny inhabited by wandering tribes OF
Indians, who have not brought of soil under cuva
ton and who live upon the buffalo, deer, elk and other ami
upon its banks the fish within its waters, the wild
rice growing in its tributary lakes and streams. They the
sole inhabitants OF the country from the shore of Lake
Superior the Rocky Mountains if except long
,a the stations of the few fur traders established among
them This high rich, and praireke country, vaegaied
by woodlands, waered by ferlzng streams and possessing
of
by these few tribes of sayages yet this belt of territory has
encroached upon from the north by the colonies of the
Hudson Bay Company, and the south by the American
settlements around the Falls of St. Anthony The Scikrk
settlement numbers 900 souls scattered for thirty miles
along the River Assinbone and Red rive and extending
Lake Wrnpeck this population is composed Of Scotch, En-
gish, the descendants Of the former French inhabnn and
hdbreed descendants of the French and Indian
The settlement under the guidance and protection of the
Hudson Bay Company, who supply the coonss with coffee,
tea clothing, sprts &C. or twice by ships
bound to Fort Severn in the bay from whence there almost
continuous water to the lake. The inhabitants
nearly all in connected with the company they
paid but small sum in money, but regular ration Of
tea spirits c appropriated TO each employed nearly
the only compensation given in the fus of tie
country Of these much the most valuable the urs of the
silver fox and marten; but the beaver BEAR buo, musrat
end wolf have each their value in the market The country
about the coonists also web suited for grazing CATTLE and
many large herds owned by the settlers in this high
latitude (5Oo where The probably
the SEVENTEEN degree in Europe The othese cattle
without shelter during the winter and many Of them support
themselves by feeding the rushes, growing in the
ground, which cannot be approached until is frozen.
West and south OF the Falls of St Anthony, within dis
lance Of forty miles, there probably fifteen hundred souls
with nearly like number Of Indians north and east in the
distance. The Indians draw annuity from the Uni
ted States Government consideration OF the cesson of
| OF their lands.
The Mississippi river through nineteen degrees of la
tude, space extending from the northern part OF Ireland to
the rock Of Gibraltar. At the winters have The
n
of Spain the fir and the birch grow about its northern springs
and the PALM the live oak, and orange al the Baze il is
closed by ice 10 November in Its northern course, which Is
melted early in the spring before has oated many hundreds
Of indies Of its mouth "lone, wandering, but not lo, it
flows for the first four hundred miles through high prairie
like country, until is precpitaed the falls then, hav
ing descended from the high shelf of land has lately
ed, flows for the hundred through of the
most beautiful regions inhabited by Within this
the scenery is totally changed fhe chief features the
hills varying from fifty to two hundred feet in height which
skirt the shores of the river, and wooded covered with
sod thei summs-sometimss stretching forward the
edge OF the water and again retiring Tor miles, giving
place 10 the rich pracs between the river and their sopng
green sides The currents gentle and navigabe through
he whole Of This course, and the of the river until
made urd hy the Missouri, have nearly the transparency Of
the Rhone Geneva The often dotted and thrown
into diverse channels by islands in many places give
the appearance of lake. These islands support occasionally
heavy gfowhs OF timber, il recently formed thick and
almost impervious mass Of underwood
Some hundred miles below the falls the old French
town OF P.are du Chen, settled than n century
and probably containing five hundred souls Whoever
first pitched here had keen eye for the beautiful On
long and prairie extending from miles above the
the mouth OF the Wisconsin for miles below and
bounded mile back by bold hills and in front by the
Mississippi tulted the town. rather the Of houses
here and there Called in the language Of the
try, "The Prairie" The view from the hills the oppo-
side Of the Of great beauty the eye takes in
the whole extent Of the valley. Within stones pitch be-
you bet hundred feet below the Mississp
pi, Of the breadth Of mile and half hut incrsecsd and
blocked by islands that il is difficult find the chan
mel Over from this and bounded by the grde OF green hills
the Struggling hames Of Prsre du Chen. The view is
made up OF woodland islands, clear running water green
meadowke expanses, and the rural abodes Of The
Winnebsgo tribe II Indians still the western banks Of the
river through this region their bunting grounds though it
| is rich in oil the OF natures
East and south Of Prairie du Chen the lead region gives
occupsion and probably wealth. large population What
there is in mining district to impress every thing around
air Of cherries poverty, determine; but in travel
ling through nearly every Stale Of the Unon have certainly
nowhere with apparently wrctched population there
tho SOIL certain Of subsistence abandoned for the
hope OF more speedy gains The chief mart of this trade is
IN the town Of Gaena, built upon small sluggish stream
called, most appropriately, Fever river In travelling through
the upland paes Of this peighborhood you will many hill
locks Of EARTH far The eye reach, huge
animal had been buowng beneath and thrown up the dirt
that but you may by chance three
with bucket, rope, pck-axe and portable wndass,
and the difficulty explained This 'bo language Of the
country is prospecting party, which, being interpreted