The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-08-01

on board and the lines cast oil. Ihe
Yankee hoatcd across the bridge lead
ing to the Upper Landing, and passed
out INTO the river above, by n new route
through the upper end Of the slough
Touching Mendoza, we took on board
Joseph Laframboise and family, bound
up the Minnesota river to his trading
post at Little Rock. At Fort Smell
ling we were joined by part of the
9TH Regiment band after which, the
Yankee turned her PROV into the quiet
current of the Minnesota, and ran on
until midnight, tying up not far below
the Rapids. AT length the music and
the dancing ceased and all was hushed
IN slumber. AT the earliest dawn OF
day, the Yankee was again in motion,
passing Skies village and all the delight
full lands which we described in the lst
trip Of the Anthony Wayne. Above
the Rapids, we soon came into region
We had not before seen, andlmore beau
tiful, if possible, than that through
which We had passed, being varied
landscape of prairie and woodland, evil
! Va VIZ cNS@
4. TRAVERSE DE SIOUX.
The company all seemed delighted
with each other and with all that they
witnessed. The river continued appar-
emily of the same width, without sand
banks, without islands. without tributa-
ries, but with current increasing in vo-
loci:y as we ascended, and the channel
crooked beyond parallel, and with
many snags and logs in the short bends.
AT length we came in sight of the mis-
sionary station at Traverse de Sioux
(the Sioux crossing) on the north side of
the river, situated upon wide slope of
prairie, which rose gradually from the
banks of the river and extended far, far
back. covered with iuxuriant grass
Three neat white buildings belonging to
the mission, and several Indian huts
and lodges were distant few rods from
the bank, amidst fields of well cultivat-
ed corn, beans, and potatoes, as promls-
ing crops as we ever saw. There was
also small patch of wheat, just reap
ed, which looked very plump and heavy.
On we sped. Upon the south side of
the river, were Indian corn fields, I'M
fenced, upon the river bottom, the corn
planted very thick and looking like a
perfect jungle-alnost solid mass of
dark green vegetation, crowned with
countless spindles. Spreading away a
mile or so, this bottom, which is doubt
less sometimes covered by the flood,
(perhaps annually is enclosed by a
circling amphitheatre of hills, covered
with forest trees; while on the north
side of the river is Traverse de Sioux,
at the neck of large peninsula, made
by bend in the river, which after a
progress of 3 or miles further, brought
us back again within half mile of the
mission. A little above this point we
stopped to wood; passengers, crew, and
all, assisting. Two or three painted
Sioux horsemen came galloping up from
the Traverse and seemed to claim tri-
butte. We made them present of some
corn AT short distance above this
place, we found on the north shore a
quantity of old rails; which, as they
seemed useless to the owner, as they of
iered no protection to his corn-feld, we
took, the Captain paying fair price for
them to a gentleman on board, to give
to the owner.
COTTILLION PRAIRIE.
A sunset as glorious as ever shone
upon Italy, found the Yankee on the I'd
evening, making fast on the south bank
OF the river, at the upper end of an ele-
waited prairie. Here we all went on
shore, and crossing narrow strip Of
bottom land, making a speedy trail
through the long grass, gentlemen and
ladies', old and young, streamed up the
side of the bluff, and from its top sur
veyed a lovely expanse of prairie and
woodland far in the south. The full
moon was up and the music being on
the spot, several cotillion sets were
formed upon the grass and there we
Glanced by the light Of the moon. -
But there was other music also, for
which we had not ha::gg aimed, the band
of mosquitoes, and as tfose who dance
must pay the fiddler, we thought it best
to adjourn before they had presented all
their bills. We went to the boat. In
deed, indeed. that was terrible night
for those, not few, who were not pro-
vlded with musquito bars. But within
the cabin of the Yankee, the poetry of
motion ceased not until after midnight;
and hearts there are that received i'm
pressions as indelible as time, that night,
at Cotilion Prairie, where all "danc-
ed by the light of the moon.'
TURTLE BEND.
BY sunrise on the third morning, the
Yankee was again in motion. Break
fast; and most excellent fare. having
beeisteaks, veal outlets, salmon, new
potatoes, cucumbers, excellent coffee,
and in fact the very choicest fare, ad-
mira5iy cooked, from the beginning to
the end of the excursion. Here we
turn short to the right then to the left
the boat under excellent management.
Now we come to the single which the
Wayne first put up, but of which she