Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-10-14
DAILY EVENING STAR.
ITASCA LAKE.
ny MRS. MARY II. EASTMAN.

ltS mouth, and l, 80 feet higher than the
Gulf of Mexico.
The waters of this lake are clear, cold
and pure, with clean pebbly bottom
Around its shores grow the spruce, cedar,
elm, maple, pine and wild cherry tree.
MIR. Henry a. Schoolcraft discovered
and named the source of the great Mis-
! sissippi. He ascended the river with a
party. fifteen in all, in birch canoes,
starting from Sault ST. Marie, at the foot
of Lake Superior, in 1882 Nicolet visited
ltasca Lake in 1886. In the picture, the
party is landing at the only point where
landing is practicable. The latitude of
this lake is about Il degrees. Chippewa
Indians live in its vicinity
X
1t had long been question, " Where
does the Mississippi rise?' In the year
1882, Mr.. Schoolcraft and a few COM
panions were pushing their way high up
towards the source of the Father of Wa
ters. The scenery around was as
enchanting as it was novel to those who
looked upon it. Hill after hill arose,
with tall pines towering on their sum
mits. Between their broken sides lay
small valleys, with lakes, surrounded
with brlshwood, rcrosing in their bosom.
The guide of the party was Chippewa,
named Yellowhead. For two davs he
had been, from the earliest dawn until
evening, polling the canoes of the party
up the rapids, and through the intricate
lakes, towards the south fork of the river
above the Amidicgowa, or Cross-Water
Lake. Soon after the breaking of the
third day, he informed his comrades that
they must prepare to begin portage
This is mode of travelling very COM
mon in the Indian country. When it is
impossible or unsafe any longer to con-
tinue a journey in canoe, its occupants
land, and carry their canoes and other
effects round to the point in the river,
where they can again enter them and
continue the journey as before The word
OF the Chippewa guile was law to the
travellers; they prepared to obey his di-
rectlons, and thus make a portage over
the heights called flauteur daS Terrcs.--
In this way only could they hope to reach
Itasca Lake.
But, first, Yellowhead led them to a
place where they could rest and breakfast.
1t was the scene of an Indian encamp-
ment, denoted by the ashes that remained
where the lodge-fires once burned, and
by the holes in the ground made by the
thrusting in of the stakes to support the
butfalo-skin tents. Their appetites at
tended to, the guide gave the signal to de-
part. lie took his canoe, twice the length
OF man, and, without any ceremony, or
even word of explanation, disposed it over
his head. His ludicrous appearance was
not without notice from the white men of
the party, to whom such style of head
covering might be new; it gave the idea
of our old Revolutionary cooked hat
stretched to an interminable length. This
was no time to consult appearances. Each
man of the party, by putting his canoe
over his head, was similarly adorned: and
thus the company, fifteen in number,
made their wa over the heights and
through the forests, in costume that
would have occasioned much surprise had
they been in region to command Specta-
tors. Their appearance, though, gave
them but moments thought. Would
they indeed accomplish their object p
Would they rest themselves by The shores
of the fair lake, so often sought, but never
found
They frequently stopped to rest; for it
was melting day in July. 1t was hard
work, scrambling up the craggy hills, or
winding way through the tangled and
shady forests. The party, too, had its
tardy ones; and sometimes they must be
waited for. 1t was indeed hard work:
for at one time they are clambering over
the hills, and then, as they pass through
a lovely valley, they are attracted by the
cool look of the waters, as they ebb and
flow in some little lake that is half hidden
by its surrounding shrubbery. But here
is no place to rest; for the musquitocs
were there before them and they may not
stop long enough to breathe leisurely:-
nay, they hasten to leave the inviting
spot, and gladly resume their toilsome
way.
Their Indian guide alone knew where
they might stay awhile, and reposc with
comfort and the party had the utmost
confidence in his Judgment. They obey
ed instantly his word of command, Pug
i de nun" and instantly the cooked hats
were lifted from their heads, the packs
were thrown to the ground, and each
man seated himself as comfortable as he
could, to stretch and rest his tired limbs.
A number of these rests had been made,
and the adventurous travellers, weli-nigh
worn out with their journey, began slowly
to ascend a high hill. They grasped wha.-
ever came in their way, to assist them as
they went on. Had they been seeking
for gold or precious stones, their courage
might have failed them; they might have
said one to another, :" We will return
from whence We came But they could