New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-25

CROP as also OF oats, corn and the common escuient
roots large crops OF which yielded for the psai-
ing by the beautiful and fertile prairie upon which
they are located. The farms Of the mission aries
on the right bank of the river and the cJrn patches
OF The Indians the left, give evidence OF the III
tie disposition OF the Indians 70 adopt the modes
and customs OF the whites With the regulsrcorn
rows and increased crops OF IGer instructors under
their Observable from year to year their own sys
tenn OF cultivation seems to nave differed in nothing
from that observed by Capt. Smith among the fol-
lowers OF Powhasan. They usually plant With
hoe il las commonly happens in the vicinity OF
the whsesl they have, one making the hills very
near together, and IL regular order-con-
seQuently the " corn patch is very irregular
9 shape, the stocks grow thin and slender,
rarely higher than the surrounding prairie grEss
and tho ears are small. Most of their Cora id
gathered when it is yet soft and fit for roasting
ears'' or " 6uccotash; what they do not uge imme-
diately is dipped into hot water and dried IN the
sun for winter use. We stopped to wood some
miles above Traveres de Sioux, and taking advans-
see Of the hsls, wsded through the grass OF the
river bottom, which was il many places higher
than my head, half q mile to the bluff, up e steep
AID high point of which ciambersd and obtained
a view of she country for miles up and down the
river which fully repaid the fatigue Of ascending
and the annoyance of the milIiona OF mGssetos
which at this SESSION of the year swarm in myriads
every where
Twelve miles further and We came to the high.
eat point attained by the Wayne, where she bad
nailed her shingle 20 tree, advising passers by
that steamboats, did not commonly above that
point and it did, indeed look improbable that any
boat ahOuld get above the raft Of timber aHd sand
bars which presented themselves oview. While
the captain stopped TO recoDnoiter and find chan
mel, the passengerg amused Themselves as best
they could on the sand bar. Attracted by some
semi-transpsrent shells resembling il form aud
color, pearl shells, | became interested in the
conchology Of the river, and while collecting spec
mena Of the different varieties OF shei, fortunately
dug into part of the sand bank containing broken
bits of q black mineral which seemed to me very
like the Camel coal of the Missouri. + Shiblting
my prize on board and remarking that the discov-
cry Of good coal mine would be OF much greater
Importance 70 the inhabitants of Minnesota than
CALIFORNIA; richest gold mlne, trader informed
me that ne had discovered vein of coal upon the
Mankato or Blue earth, and that when We arrived
at the mouth, where bis cabin vas situated he
would give me piece which he had taken from
the mine himself. He waa As good his word
ara nov have in my posseaaon piece OF what
appears 10 be brown coal which evidently has
been taken from the surface WHARF II has been
exposed for years to the action of the atmosphere
and water, and consequently is not fair specimen
of hat the mine will yield when worked If IL
ahoUd prove to be the excellent Camel coal found
in such abundance immed aiely south Of the Man
kRto in Missouri, the treasure will be invaluable
70 the population which in few years Will be
swarmipg yer the rich lands of the Sioux.
At the close Of the second day We run our boat
into ao EDDY that seemed made purposely for
steamboat berth and tied up i1at as the sun vas
bidolng this side of the world good night from be-
hind the western horizon, while The moon with her
great round honest face came up in the east from
the green sea Of prairie grass flooding the heu1ls'
phere with her silver radiance " To the Prairie
A. 49,
and to the prairie we went, and tread as merry
measure as ever Robin Hood and bis merry men
in Lincoln Green.
At the close of the dance, Amerioan.li1e, a vote
was taken and the prairie was thus appropriately
named COtiion Prairie; and so will PROBABLY ever
be called in memory OF our dance on lta green
pet. The third day OF our voyage was excessively
warm. The thermometer was, at noon, at Traveres
de Sioux as we sfterward learned at l042 while
on board the snkee it must have been several de-
greeR higher, az We were hemmed in by tall foreats
on each eide OF the river, which ahut out every
bre ath OF air. and in addition to the heat of the
above US, We had the necessary fire TO make steaG
beneath US. have never experienced but
such day in any climate and hope never may
see another In tho meantime, the crook sdnoss OF
the river Increased, and We found it difficult TO
make the turns owing to the length aud construc
ton of the boat, but neither the volume OF water
nor the breadth were diminished from the entrance
of the Mankato TO the hghes. point we attained,
which as more than 200 meBfrOm For! Smelling
We were told by hi. LIE franchise, who ia We'll
acquainted with the river that some ten miles fur
Their the channel staghtened ous, and for 70 miles
was but little else than lake, having scarcely
perceptible current Buff the heat OF the day did
not prove sufficient to check the spirit of adventure
and discovery, the night that followed, with its
hosta of ravenous musketos, certainly had that e-
feet and in the morning the public voice clamored
loudly for return Taking leave of Prairie La
Belle View-where we spent the night OF the 18th
of July, ever memorable az night of torture by
musketos--we turned our Prov down stream at 25
minutes past o'clock, A H. and fastened home
ward dined at the mouth OF the Mankato; laid
up for the night at Treveres de Sioux, and at
o'clock, P. Nj. July 27, gaddened our eyes with the
sight of the stripes and stars waving above Fort
Smelling. We were gone five days upon our trip,
without at all solving ehe problem we had attempt
ed viz How far ia the Minnesota navigable .
but all agreeing that for beauty of sconery, ferti
ty of soil and facilities for successful agriculture,
they never had beheld anything like the Valley OF
the Minnesota. From information Rave obtained
have no doubt that about the head waters the
Nankato will be found mines OF lead and coal and
iron. thus making this contemplated addition to the
territory extremely valuable and attractive to en-
igrants. Yours truly, BUCKEYE.