New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-01
SUMNER RAMBLES.
siinnetanka-New Chain OF Lakes,

that some one has not been ready 10 observe, Win
an indifferent smile, Oh, knew OF It long ago.
at is an old story" and the ike so strongH
the tendency, in the human nature that lasteth TO
envy to refuse to industry, research and ingenuity
their appropriate reward Of honor. 50, when L
was nosed abroad that new lake, OF surprising
MAGNITUDE, had been found in the vicinity OF ST.
Paul. persons here and there tossed their heads
and ssid thew knew those who had visited the
same spot wears ago; nay, that they hid them
selves often rode "by the place." and thought
nothing strange of the enterprise, and had talked
Of Familiarity with the early settlers. All this
NAV be, and probably is Just so. lt is hardly
credible that so large body OF water could exist
90 near Fort Smelling and be entirely unknown or
unyisited by traders travellers or hunters, partial
larly when they could derive from the ind,ans
what Information they wanted as To the remark
able localities wtsn several days travel. But it
is undenisble that the generality of residents in
the towns and settlements knew nothing OF il tn
within a few months past. The region, belonging
10 the Indian and not available TO the settler was
not visited or explored aud no descriptions Of It's
beauty of scenery had ever stimulated curiosity in
regard 10 il. The honor OF making the first ex
ptoration belongs 10 MIR. Simon Stevens OF st.
Anthony, who, IN company with Mr. &. A. Tut
tie set out early last spring with determination
10 find the my sterious laAe OF which they nau
heard from Indians and traders. Having ascer'
tanned its probable direction, they t"oN s'trif
course by the compass, expecting a mncn longer
Journey than they found themselves oonsed 10
take tor they came upon Il before the day was
over. Their plan had been TO find some suitable
localities for making claims for this section Of
country, embraced In the reservation granted by
last wears treaty tn the 0dlans, of lands extend.
ing along the Minnesota River above Little Rock,
will be brought into market, now that Gov -rnmeut
has refused 70 ratif, that portion OF the treaty
and prOiered mooeys nstesd of this rich domain,
10 the homeless Sioux. Mr.. Stevens selected
site alording fine water. power on the stream
which forms q outlet of these lakes and after
ward conveys the waters OF Lakes Calhoun and
Harriet to the Mississippi. About two miles from
the first lake OF the chain a rude herm.t's lodge
was erected, in which Mr.. Stevens took up his re
sldence.
His brother, Col J. H. Stevens. Mr.. Franklin
steele aud one or two other gentlemen, so ne time
after set out TO see the lake which had now begun
10 be- e uerally talked about, and was, by unwer-
sal consent called hv its in dlan name Of Mime
tdhLa, or the BIG Water" gentleman, well
acquainted with rte Sioux language tells me the
Indians call 1t Ude fdak0-the " Big Lake -
hut the first name has been adopted, and VIII no.
doubt be retained This party Of visitors taking
with them boat, provisions aud all consequences
f,r camping out, proceeded ~ far "a Mr. Steyens's
lodge, where thew were Hospitality entertained for
the night, sud the next morning went on in two
boats and explored AZ far they Judged Il safe to
venture IN then small crafts on waters lashed INTO
high waves by a strong wind They pronounced
the large lake the best hshlng ground and the
In. It sheet of water IA the territory of Minnesota.
Spce that time three other paI ties % gent, men
have been out, not with any view to exploration,
but TO giatIiy their curiosity and amuse them
selvts by fishing and hunting As there was no
road, it was not deemed practicable Tor csrrisges
TO go, and no one uuaccustomed 70 the endurance
OF hardship thought Of such thing, except in
vision Of what might be a year or two hence. The
idea Of ladies' gOiu. hootrd at rs quite out OF
the question. " Ii 10 perfectly impossible :" said
one but be did not explain why, as wagon had
been out, 1t could not 90 again. or WHY woman
could not keep her seat IN Il as well as n man.
This masculine srGshness in approprating the
first sights of fine scenery and the hOnors OF dis
coSery with such oseIbeering eXcusivepess, de-
tennned MS q visit To the far-famed lake.
When one or two resolute spirits are deter
mined upon an undertaking, 1t Is easy to find CO.
operators and so II proved in the present instance.
We drove over 10 st. Anthony and there made
up party-a large wagon load, TO start OH the
row. Three OF our companions were English gen.
tl-men high cultivation and taste, who desired TO
ENJOY TO the utmost the beauty Of the scenery and
novelty OF the adventure. A large double wagon,
substantially built to Withstand the inequalities OF
the toughest journey, was loaded with basket OF
pro'lsions supplied fro the liberal larder Of the
OF Chares House, such light luggage as We
wished to carry, end pile OF comforters blankets
and "butoes, as the skins ara Familiarity called
ia the country, glyif rise TO such amusing mis-
takes rs occurred not long since, when q landlord
asking an English traveller if he should supply him
with two buiialOes, would one answer "-re-
ctIyed the reply" As ! am not used TO driving
them will try one first" We crossed the ferry
and took the road over the prairie TO Lake Cal
noun tuning oil however, before we reached the
trenchmans, 10 the right, and passing by a rough
track around the upper eud of that beautiful sheet
IN which the morning sun was behodiDg his m-
disnt face as in the cleerest of mirrors. The gen.
tie ripple came muscally up from the pebby line
OF beach, and the skrtng OF timber stretched far
away southwark, forming deep contrast to the
far blue Of the waten expaDse, and the sOpIng
prairie that boIdefs is eastern shore.
Leaving the road that bears any sign of travel
We then struck INTO old Indian trail that served
rather to marx the way than to aid our progress.
We sknted brosd spot Of marsh or low prairie,
which had once been covered with water, and
now waved with tall luxuriant grass. About
three quarters of mile westward of Lake Cal
houn. we came upon another small, circular lake
equally clear and beautful, to which the Iniians
long ago gave name signiiying " The Lake of the
itir Vi Red Cedaf-.' Som. OF our party proposed
anOtht name, and Il Was concluded on; but IL
will undoubtedly retain the first, and should do 80.
liereabouts we found the frame Of a neat log
csbn-that IS the logs uRchiAked, standing;
probably built By some claimant who intends to
take possession az Il resident. The country we
passed through was chiefly what is called burr or
scrub oak openings, sprnkled with stun;ed trees,
sLo tbickly covered with underground to the
hight OF two or three feet. This was varied by
patches 0f closer woodland, IN which the birch
and maple, az vel az the OAK, were seen, and
meadows Of marsh grass Of small or grea, extent,
brilliant in thsir light green yesture, and bOrderet
by ranges Of upland. They had evidently once
BEE lakes. The elevated ground rose rather abb
uptly from these bottom lands, and il neces-
saIy 10 follow the ridge, which sometimes became
narLnM acaLcnlA Ia aiinrd ronn flr the oas-