The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-03-25
BY }. w. BOND.
Continued.

the river are low, and extremely soft and muddy
you SINK IN knee deep Immediately On stepping
foot on shore; whero you stick and founder aLou,
considerably before reaching the dry hard prai-
rie ground above.
| Along its whole course both banks, within
the margin o.! the stream are covered with the
thick growth OF drowned out willows, before
spoken of, while further back the prairie, fine
large trees, n.a ecstic oaks and elnls are IN the
same condition; and now and towering a,of like
, high giant skeleton sentines; throwing eu, their
dry and leafless limbs the water, as if to
guard It's passage Zach tree IS marked at the
height of some 80 feet above the water by the
heavy drift ice dnrng the spring iresbc,s; and the
bark OF all The timber to that hee eht is Of dirty
, mud color, which with The dead drowned out
trees presents very dsagreeable aspect. In
some places the timber merely skirts the banks
on both sides, and IA broad oXpanse Of prairie eX-
tends far, either hand; IL Others the timber ex-
lends back further than the eve can penetrate,
and no prairie at all is visible for many miles !;
all being dcsoatc solitude Of dead and diving
skeleton trunks of leafess trees. There are some
trunks IA the river too, forming snags; the water
IS very deep, current sluggish, say about one
mile an hoar generally; aud in some places al
most imperceptible; with more tnan halta mile
OF straight chaDuel at time. for lille lis gener-
al course Is due north II twists and turns IN
very tortuous sefpenine manner. to all points Of
the compass. The river contains no Islands and
tne only rapids are down below Selkirk settle
tnent. A fine steamboat navigation will be found
fron there up to the junction Of the I'ols de Sioux
Ia distance Of nearly 400 miles; and one FAR bet
ter than that of the Mississippi above 81. Anthony
We passed by the mouths of IL number of small
streams, viz: the Red Grass, Marias, GTatieso
&c, which all resemble deep crooked bitches,
and pour out additional quantities OF thick, dark
mad discoiofed water, the washngs OF the rich
and fertile prairies; now blooming with numer-
Gus fiowe1s,t rough which they flow.
This is "A splendid evening, the finest have
had for long time; the is setting beautifully
lnio the bosom of The far of prairc as i, wcre
while all nature is calm, sill, and composed; The
Silence only broken by the dipping of our pad
dies, the occasional c!irping of bird, and the
rapid rising Of the scared wild fowl from out the
smooth calm surface olihe water as approach.
We halted at sun set, about 40 mics distant
from Pernblna, and have good camp III thick
woods, where the only drawback to comfort
is the musqnocs, who usual extremely
annoying 10 The warm to-day unfortu-
naie'y revived them from the torpid state in which
the late cold storm had thrown them. We have
our bar put up tent fashloa, the corners being
fastened TO four stakes and the raised apex,
GENRE, IS secured to bent pole, which keeps
j, upright and tightly stretched. Our be I con-
sI>ls oi iobe and three b,rankeis, with coats
and over coats &c ior pillows. We are upon an
old Camping ground, where $50 cords of wood
has been cut aud piled around for The use of the
settlements below This winter. The night IS
very clear and fine, the face Of heaven IS smiling
amid myrds Of twiHliing stars; the northern hor-
Irizon is Il. up with the rays and dancing beams
iof aurora, while the woods and silent flow ing
river sre Illuminated by our camp fire: our voya-
gers are last asleep upon the ground before us;
and not u sound is heard save that OF the crack
iing, eaplng flames and the low tone of our own
Ivoiees VIC chat mcrri!y. And now as my
companion reads chapter IN french pocket Bible,
and pencil down these SIX e.hes of fact and fan
cy by The ligh, of The burning lasgnts-bot harlI,
we nave company II seeths, and are rot 50 lonely
Is ihopgh.--thui WAS The hoot owls cry: and
sounds like the waijngs ofa friend in misery
that was the cry long drawn out and dismal Of Il
distant wolf-und now they are heard yeipng
and barking iuriously ike pack of hungry curs
And what that? mere unca.thiy thar The
fierce war whoop which almost freezes the
young warm blood and ,urns the stout athletic
frame to stone Was ii Il demon spirit or goblin
damned, or the mere bowling of the Iislng wind
The precursor Of another storm, l see arising in
he distant horizon. lla. | sec Two cleaning
fiery eycbas in the hicic, Of the underbyush;
take that 10 lishl YOU to better quarters-l hurI
a blazing fire br nl towards the r.nnt, who with
another dismal cry leaves Us to qnlelness and TO
Ircpose and sleep.
THURSDAY 18Th. A fine, clear, beautiful
day: cold elrly in A. M. and warm through the
day with pleasant breeze; the storm has blown
over for the present. We were upard away at
daylight; stopping several hours TO dine ard
,brea fast. While cooking our morning meal
some bali dozen hoIsemen came galioping down
The road along the western bank and passed on
down without caliing US; they were half breeds
.raturning from the treaty. There il less wood
land along the ban to day, and we have a fine
open view Of the immense prar'es on either side
Occasionally we pass hay stacks, enclosed by
rude fence; 10 which the settlers drive Their cat
tie in The winter season, ircm tho settlement be-
low
The banks are still very lew and muddy, and
covered with line Of the same young dead viii
low. We camped tonight again. on the top Of
Il high bank, we found, after long search Ill
dark for choice spot 1t covered over with
bushes and heavy timber, and alive with raven
Gus mosquitoes The evening IS damp and cloudy
heavy masses of dark clouds are rising IN the
west, and a storm is coming, sure. We retired
early very much dissatisfied at not reaching the
settlements to-ng glt, which we ought by NIL
Emeans to have done. Our yoyageurs, however,
being paid SO much per day, have no, hurried
themselves and besides our canoe is so leaky
and out Of order that we have frequently 10 land;
empty all our goods upon The muddy bank, and
gum The bottom with melted epinette. We are
consequently about 30 miles above Fl. Carey,
and some 10 miles above the nearest house, at
the upper end Of the IIalf-Brecd Settlement
which extends along both SIDES Of the crooked
river, in the shape Of long scrPetne village,
down far TT. Carey, at the mouth OF ihe
Assiniboln.
FRIDAY, Sept. I9.-1his morning We arose at
daylight, in the midst of dense fog and mist;
wind n. cold and raw and has the appearance
of another regular built north easter. AT S a. m.
we started, anxious TO get down 10 more comfort
able quarters; and al l-2 we came IN sight Of
the first houses; stopped, had breakfast. and
while eating the barge came up with large saiI
hois,ed, moving slowly agains; the current. with
Iout the assistance Of the oars She contained
I60 bushels of barley, and will be ten days upon
the trip some Of the men being sick. detained
them longer than they should lave been. We
then proceeded on Down the river, IN the face Of
"a heavy gale of wind, and huge rolling waves,
nearly all the balance Of The day; although the
distance bytland was but miles 10 Fl Gary.-
As we were much retarded, at length desert