The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-10-16
The Sioux Country.

Mr.. EDIroR:-You expressed a wish to hear
sometimes, f. IN your old, occasional correspon-
dent. seod you here few hurried camp notes
The traveller as he wends his yet solitary way
along the picturesque valley OF the Minnesota,
follows the old IndLtn trail, which, avoiliag the
continual nesnlerings Of this winding stream,
keeps nearly parallel to it on its south side from
MENDOZA 10 Traverse DIES Sioux, distance OF 20
miles This route passes through oak openings,
proiries Of small extent, near groves OF poplar,
willows, and other trees, with here and there
CLASSY lake etnbosomed in pleasant grove; and
until you reach whit the voyageurs Characters
ticaIy call the 'Bois Frame" when the entire as
pect Of the country and scene is changed.
Crossing little gurgliog stream called the ''Ri-
Were DIES Bois Frame" you enter Immediately IN
to heavy timber, very high, beautifully tapering.
and mostly sugar maple.
| Farther onward, vistas Of lakes Of clear wafer,
some Of them many miles in circumference, and
marshes covered with the most luxuri.int grapes,
open TO the view, in the very centre o. this great
bit of timber For ten miles, the road runs
through a high country, six to eight miles distant
from the inarshy bottoms Of the river. ii first
approaches the stream at the "GTand Cote'' or
big hill, where the traveller emerges suddenly
from the forest and beholds far below him the
Minnesota winding its rapid length along; and one
of the yrandcst scenes in all Minnesota or the
Northwest.
Over the tops Of the highest trees of great
forest Of many square miles IN extent, the eye
ranges, and embraces with distiDctness, the dis
tant outline of the beautiful prairie a la FeChe,
thirty miles in circumference, and surrounded by
timber. On the opposite side of the river, the
terraced prairie Of Traverse des Sioux is also
clearly visible; while in the far distance, to the
horizons verge, the: eye catches gi,Bpses OF the
groves and prai!ies near the mouth Of The Blue
Earth, thirty five miles distant, showing to the
minds eye, the truth and beauty of the poet
line,
Ills distance lends enchan,ment 10 The VIEW
From the "Grand Cote" to Arrow Prairie, the
usual track is through the bottoms; but the Min
nesota this season having received an Overlooking
share Of the floods, we were compelled 70 take to
the hills, and swim the small streams, difficult
and almost impracticable route. Once on Prairie
a la Fleche, however, we soon made cur way
over its beautiful road to The Traverse, where a
singular incident happened to US. The river was
rapidly rising, and had already overflown the bot
tom near the usual crossing place. While here
busy engaged In swimming over our ANIMALS, a
great cotton wood tree caved 10 from the bank
upon which stood, and fell into the river within
few yards of the canoe in which were two OF
my companions de voyage. Twenty minutes
sooner, all the animals would have been killed or
them. Two minutes later, the tree would have
fallen ON the canOe-asl it was, it, (the canoe, moi
the tree,) came near being swamped by the surge.
While at the now solitary Traverse DIES Sioux,
am reminded Of the stirring times we had here
during the treaty in July. Since then how Chang
ed the scene. The caves Of the Council House
which afforded Us such pleasant and cool shade
and of the arbors placed over the tents-''place:
Of nesting green, moi for poets made" have
been blown to the four winds. The rude pillar.
! have been cut down fox fuel. Even the spring
discovered our encampment has dried up
: because it had no such thirsty souls, as whilon
, il was wont to cool--to supply.
2 From Traverse des Sioux TO LEAGUE Parle, tht
, route is by the traders old beaten road, which il
! ordinarily good enough for any vehicle, from
Red River Buggy-ie, wooden cart with buf
i, faio skin hub tires, to four horse coach Blu
this season---ail the months Of which, the Rec
Republicans would call Pluvial-,he road is al
most impossible. We had to swim the small
l streams in some places, and in many others OF
the prairie, the water came into our Wagons an'
: carts. We were twelve days pIoughing our wa,
through mud and mire, l25 miles.
G This road Is mostly across praries, Of which
y will give YOU an mixing, by aert eTpreSs from til
Lake of Echoes.
, You will recoecl that quite Il number Of th
Sissetoans living the lands crdea, We're abseI
i from the treaty, at great distance On butfal
hunt. Well, it may be satisfactory to those In
ierested in the treaties and friendly to the Indians
y to know that these people since their return, hav
expressed their satisfaction with what has bee
- done for them, and entise confidence in the Go,
eminent, and the Commissioners who effected til
8 treaties; with firm faith that all their s,ipul;
a tons will be fulfilled puactualiy.
B These upper bands will, however, have or
more winter of suffering to endure. Their cor
o crops have failed to much greater extent tina
a was at first apprehended, and the upper Sisse
toans have had as usual, to bear the burden
= feeding horde Of erratic and vagabond YanC
- toans, who came in among them soon as the
~ corn eatable, and devoured the lions shar
They have since wandered westward IN pursu
! Of their usual prey, the buffalo. These ANNA
are at this time said to be at great distance
high up on the Cheyenne-ard from present ind
cations, we are apprehensve tina, there will
Is but few, if any in this neighborhocd this season
"a The Ianctoans are now to the number OF al lea
"A three hundred lodges between our Indians ar
IA present buffalo range, and driving these ANNA
"A westward, What will be the result, the CO
Is weather Of January will show. AT this time Il
IA propect is gloomy enough
II M. NJ
"A I.acqui Parle, Sept. 1851.