The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-08-04

we might save half the distance. ] hear many com
planning Of this, and wishing that the river wal
straight, in order that we nj sht proceed faster bu
II seems TO me that Nature, in her wisdom, has de-
signed these TO break tho force OF the
for it not 30, would be SO strong that boat.
could not head against it. Sometimes go along
for miles without seeing human beng, and again
great crowds Of Indians pass in their canoes, nd
their and answering halloes will come cheeril,
over the waters. At two o'clock reach
PARRIBAuLr's LASDiSo.
This landing is situate on our left, and is the be-
ginning of beautiful prairie, nine miles 10
width and very many in length, which is bortered
away of in the distance by rising bluff. seeming y
covered with dense growth Of trees. The river
bends with wide and beautiful sweep around the
landing; and the opposite shore, which LITTLE way
below nothing but rolling said hills, is now
green with trees and foliage. Shakopee being only
three or four miles distant, and the river forming
wide curve, that the boat would have 10 perform
nearly double that distance to reach il, determined
, to take cut across by land. An hom's brisk walk
brought in sight of the village, Of the
Indian. towns, perhaps, in Minnesota. The hand
located at this place, Of which Shakopee, [or Little
Six,) is chief, Numbers between six and seven hun
drcd. The Indians here, in MANY parts Of the
Territory, do not bury their dead as we do but place
them on trees upon platforms erected for the pur
pose. What is the Of this | am unable to
learn; perhaps there is superstition connected
with il, perhaps they think it is easier to leave
their relatives so-under the open skythan to con-
fine them in the damp cold ground. The hode.,
(evidenty IN bent postre) placed in boxes and
the boxes wrapped round with blankets, If 10 shut
out the storms. As passed among the tepees,
crowds of little Indians, half naked rushing
after me, crying show Dye do,' show dye do"
which words. by the way, comprise their whole stock
Of English. Ny soon saluted with another
CRY, viz "kosh-popy-lnac h osh -popy-ina oou"
which means, "Give me a dime, give me a dlnie. "
threw them several, bu, finding they only cried the
faster, took running leave, aud WAS soon at
HoLMI's LANDING.
Il is laid out in town-Lts, and the propretors Of
course, have great faith in its being ga place. We
leave one of our barges here and, lghtene Of many
pound, "speed on our way rejoicing" Evening IS
gradually stealing On, and the moon forth IN
| By early dawn were off again, and at half past
seven reached
BEvAN's LANDING.
Leaving the boat, ran up the blaif, and took
hasty view. The country back Of me- as f,r as
could see, (and am told it continues the same for
several miles is broken and rugged There is a
wide valley which stretches to the right and leii ,
through which the river winds its serpentne way,
dotted over with many a miniature lake. The sun
which is but few hours high in the east. casts
rich and mellow light upon the river and lakes, and
upou the groves that cover the opposite bluff, A Il
things coHspire TO form beautiful panorama As
any country boast.
As we proceed, notice at the angles of the river
large fields covered with strange kinds of grass
rIShes. Cattle subst upon this during the whole of
he winter, and like it equally as well as hay.
Soon we reach "Walker's," and stopping few
moments TO wood, again proceed, and enter the
Big Woods, large and remarkable forest, many
miles in length. At half-rast four reach the
"Cty Of Henderson" This place is owned by
Joseph Il. Brown.
LIE sUEUR.
Ii is nearly FIVE when we reach IeSueur and here
are kept several hours unloading freight. This
gave time 10 go ashore and take iitc look
| around. The ground ascends gradually and slopes
the left, still rising, until it meets the bluff
six miles away. 1t is bordered on the edge
by strips of timber and groves, and ciunps Of trees
are scattered through II in beautiful profision III
agree thai il is OF the handsolest upon the
river. Ii formerly called Prairie la FieCh, but
The name has been changed that Of LIE Sueur,"
after an early French voyageur. There many
honses in progress of erection AT ths place and
would be built If lumber could be obtained. There
are four boats running in the trade, yet they fail to
supply the demand. The freight per thousand feet
Is seven dollars and lumber will sell there ior twenty
dollars. We stop at L. Sueur all night, anI by
da, light are Of again. Nothing OF interest presents
itself until about ten, when we arrive in sight OF
TRAVERSE DEs SIOUX.
! But the sky, which has been unusually clear all the
morning, mas become suddenly overcast, and great
threatening wind-clouds hover u>, dark aud
/ black The air, which had been So ccara Iitte While
before, suddenly ireshels and soon blows INTO
feet gale. Our good steamboat, with a IN ghty effort
! endpavors to reach the town, bat the Wind beats
against her with terrible force; she is driven towards
the opposite shore, and grounds heavily upon "A sand
tar. We lie here tur several hDu.s, but, the wind
abating, manage 10 get OF, and reach the leyee. |
confess that this place s;passes all my cXpec,a
/ tions. Although the treaty has been ratified bat a
few months, more than thirty houses have been
erected or are being erected The ground is covered
with timber and frames, which Will lie pu, into
houses as soon As nmber fpr siding, &c, can he ob
tained. The ground ascends into four regular
benches and then slopes away into smooth priai le
| country. The stories winch have hoard ~ its
praise, not in the least g5erdted, bat tail Tar
short Of The ,eallty. IL is some seventy miles from
St Pau by land, and hundred and fifty bv
/ ter. The river forms a wide bend here, the bend
being over mile wide at the narIowest lace, 50
that a canal cut across wau!d make good landin-
the Whole length of the town. There Is slough
along the Of the proposed canal, said TO have
been the original bed OF the river, and by pio'.sing
this slough deep at the upper end, thc river be
diverted to its old channel with very hG;e expense
Independent Of the advantages of rs situation, ii
has country back 10 support It. Ii wal always
c umiIand the Indian trade, and that OF Lac qu
Pale as ii has done tor the last twenty-five years
II is the haed of navigation, except m the veil h,gh
est stages Of water More interested ~ this
lace than ~ an, other upon the river, and most oil
them are men Of means and responsibility.
Leaving Traverse. We pass round by circuitous
route to
BABCoCK's LANDING,
Some four or FIVE miles from the above place but on
the opposite SIDE Of the river. During the last vim
ter A large sawm has been erected here, and is
now in active operation. There being large guam
tty Of freight be unloaded at this place for the
Massachusetts colony who have settled at kasota,
few miles above, leave the steamboat, and ascending
through a narrow gorge, hasten over the bluff and
through belt of that skirt its summit, and
rolling prairie, which extends far TO the right and
left is before me.
In short time pass Kasota, where. as said
before the colony from Massachusettsn have take up
their residence This is certainly handsome site
for town, bu, there is landing, and way Of
reaching il from the river except by narrow dra-
COON path; 50 pass on and are soon at
NANKATO.
The nam. Of this place means, in English, "Blus
Earth )" and is situated the junction OF the river of
the same name with the Minnesota. The site is by