New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-01
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1852.

Of tall cedars, and having gained hight Of sixty
or seventy feet, gazed upon the scene before uS
with emotions OF wonder and admiration. lt was,
indeed. one of magnl6cence, partaking OF gran
deur i'm no slight degree for the ncsh
breeze which had not fall play on the
other lakes, here lifted the waves INTO blliows
and flung them on the beach at our ieet WIN
surgehke nurmur. Far as the eye could reach
stretched the blue sparkling waters, spri0ked
here and there with islands tnicky wooded and
border,d with deep dark forest, wholly unAKe
the woods on the uplands for the trees were oil
great hight and size. Col. Stevens informed us
he had heTeabouts seen the white OAK me lsuIiuS
sixty feet from the ground to its branches. i ne
timber was chiefly of oak aud elm OF diherehI
kinds. the white OAK sugar maple, hickory, pop
lar cotton wood etc. with a few evergreens.
Long and narrow peninsuas from either snofe,
promontOries of startling abuptness ana hlght,
projected miles into the lake some not more thai
twenty feet wide, forming beautiful Days, III
which, they say, fish are IN marvellous aounuance'
Two small green islands lay just before US, and,
civ miles from the point on which we stood, a
LARGE and beautiful one. The greatest width OF
tins lake is estimated at fifteen miles ITS length
from Cedar Point to the point OF connection with
the fourth lake, twelve miles. 1t has branch
lake stretching nOrthward from the west e1treml-
Nv Of which to Cedar Point it is ten miles. This
branch sheet which is not reckoned in the chain,
il said TO have formed the division. IN former tunes,
between the assembled forces OF the Sioux and
Cbinpewas when thew came tor the purpose 81
deadly strife, and encamped on either sioe: Inc
length Of the fourth lake IL also twelve in1es us
greatest width being about eighteen. IL IS the
name Minnetanka, by which the whole range is
frequently called 1t is said to have the hnest
scenery. and to be walled by rocky, precptous
cliffs towering to great hight but we could not
have indeed of this without sailing soma eighteen
or twenty miles. This fourth lake has also
branch living north ward, which l have named
Fieldstone Lake Lake Minnetanka Is said TO
contain ten islands of considerable size. mar
row stream connects it with fifth and much
smaller lake and westward of this the Others iOl-
| low in succession. Col. Stevens said the number
in the chain was sixteen as he had ascertaIned by
actual exploration, and that the last lake ap'
preached within a very few miles OF Mlnnesota
River. The whole range runs nearly east and
west Mr. =, who accompanied US, informed me
| that in thelbeginning OF this month ne and TREND
! had found canoes in a cove beyond the iuTthest
| point in the third lake, and well-m arked Indian
/ trail leading westward. They followed the trail,
starting at : in the morning, and after a walk OF q
few hours arrived at Little SIX" Sioux village
on the Minnesota. Dining there, they returned
in he afternoon TO the lake. The features of the
country back of the timbered strip OF land were
oak openings and rolling prairics. On this shore
of the lake location has been chosen and claims
set up for a hundred families VINO are TO remove
thither next year. The claim of each person can.
not extend over quarter of a section, one hun
sIed and sixty acres, on the same locality.
The reservation allowed the Indians for their
home by last year, treaty, as already mentioned,
embraced this chain of lakes. They loved this
beautiful land it's clear water and deep forests ;
their ancient hunting ground, and the scene Of
their battles and sacrifices. There is some ason
indeed to suppose that they came yearly to make
offerings to their drties hereabouts. the painted
stone set up on Cedar Point, which has been re.
Gently taken away resembled the one at Red
Rock on the Mississippi to which the Sioux pre-
sent their offerings either altar a divinity.
But the rapacity OF the white man denies them
this beloved retreat, and emigrants alread, press
in to occupy the country OF the recedlDg race.
As vet. and until the Indians have acceded to the
proposition of Government, II is still their own ;
but year two will Danish their canoes from
these waters, and show these majestic headlands
sprnkled with cesTings and germs OF settlements.
Even now preparations are making for the erec-
ton of hotel near Lake Browning, and the con.
s,ructiOn of road to st. Anthony, in anticipation
of the hunting and fishing parties expected next
season from all parts of the United States.
1t was about dusk when we returned to the her
mit's lodge, Omewhat weary, but rejoicing in
spirit 70, the beauty we had seen. Then followed
a supper of the hsh our companions had taken
and the other provisions, daintily cooked by the
ladies', while the gentlemen built "smudges" with
our TO smoke away the msuketoes the table being
set in the open air. BY a strange neglect we had
omitted 70 bring a tent the sole resource, there
fore, of the female part Of the company, was to
take possession OF the hut and mosquito net leey-
Ing the five gentlemen to sleep on buffalo skins
outside. At eady dawn they were of to fish in
the creek, aud returned with two large strings OF
bass one of which served for breakfast. A bath
in the stream on the left, where 1t was closely
curianed with bushes was found to be welcome
refreshment before the morning meal. GA our re-
turn to ST. Anthony, we found that the fame OF
our excursion had spread far and WIDE, ana that
many were already emulous Of the enterprise.
~. :. r.