The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-20


TO say, the country grows more beautiful AT every
step, with the same general characteristics that WE
have noticed in speaking Of former trips. Even
where she turned about, some sixty miles above
the Blue Earth, and seventy or eighty beyoad the
Anthony Wayne, the river was of sufficient size to
induce the belief that she could have easily ascend
ed to Lac-qui. Pal lea distance Ct about four hun
dred miles flom Fort Snefing.
STEAM NAVIGATION AT THE HEAD OF LAKE SU-
rERIoR. -The Lake Superior Journal of the 18th
of July, contains account of the trip of the first
steamboat which has reached the head of Lake
Superior. No vessel has heretofore approached by
steam nearer 10 the head of the lake than La
Ponte, whichis ninety miles distant. The propel-
Ter Manhattan, the pioneer steamer, went twenty
miles up the river ST. Louis, which empes into the
lake at Fond du Lac. We extract the following -
We spent day mt La Pointe, the headquarters
Of the late American Fur Company, and next
morning proceeded up the islands of the Apostles
for the terra iaCOgnita beyond The weather was
thick, and we were hours without beholding
vestige Of land, though we could sometimes hear
the loud voice of the bllow, as il spoke back to
from the shore. The vast lake, blue and be autful
below, he'd become turbid, as with the waters OF
g swollen stream. AT last the clouds dispersed,
the sun appeared, and up stood, on our right, the
high ridges Of Minnesota, on our left the more
level lands OF Wisconsin; in front the rapid waters
of the St Louis dashed upon our Prov. Our ex-
eelent pilot, Captain Ripley had brought us, as by
intuition, 10 the precise point we had desired. The
surprised Chippewas, SOME of them in a state of
absolute nudity, whose lodges covered the shore,
gazed with wonder upon the thing of life that
walked the wild waters before them. Fairly in the
river, we were obliged 10 anchor till morning, on
account of The returning thickness of the weather.
As we had approached the mouth of the river, the
potage had been committed to Joseph Landrie,
haf-breed, who had made himself acquainted with
the river, for conducting us up. He performed his
duty admirably, and kept our keel, up and down,
free from contact with earth. Our cargo consisted
of provisions and supplies for Indian consumption.
We arrived al Fond du Lac, and, while our vessel
did its appropriate business, we looked upon the
wild life which was scattered around The half
naked savage, painted to hideousness, in the midst
Of emblems consecrated TO peace, exhibited the
wild dance and the SONGS of his nation. The
braves dscoursed of their encounters with the foe
the badges they wore disclosed the number Of
scalps they bad won. One hacked in pieces
Sioux--another had encountered three of that ma
ton al a time--two Of them hed--a third he laid
dead at his feet--be then slaughtered mother,
and selling her child and lifting il by its hair he
extenuinated the nest of yipers, young and old,
that infested his path. A gentleman conversant
with the Chippewa gave US a brief translation of
these and other addresses that were made. The
climate and soil of these regions far more con-
genial 10 agriculture than we had supposed vege-
tation possesses a rankness and thrift unknown to
the incident productions of more Southern cline.