The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-10-18
THURSDAY MORNING, OCT. 1e, 1855,
KandiyOhi.

KandiyOhi.
A writer in the st. Anthony Express gives
the following account of the first expedition
to this famous lake alluded to in the nara
ton of our late tour:
'Kandiyohi! Where and what is Kandi-
yohi? Is it in Minnesota or Central Africa
Such may be the EXPLANATIONS and interro-
cations uttered by the reader of this article
1t is singular name, and We should like to
know something about it, Well, friends.
since you manifest so laudable and proper a
curiosity, will try to enlighten your dark
ness, and afford you some information which
trust will be both instructive and amusing.
Kandiyohi, then, is the Indian name of a
large lake about one hundred miles west of
Minneapolis, connected by means of rivers
and small lakes with a group of seven or
| eight others, many of them of considerable
size, and all more or less remarkable for
their beauty; thus forming probably the
largest and most extraordinary series of
lakes to be found in the territory. and sur
rounded by land Of the richest description
and whose fertility will never be believed in
until it is seen. Here in truth is unoues-
tionably the Garden of Minnesota; and few
will be the circling years ere these regions
will TEEN with the richest gifts of Ceres, and
be filed with thriving population, while
their dwellings will adorn the hill sides. and
peep forth from the groves of Kandiyoh
whose sparkling waters will reflect them to
the entranced beholder, as he gazes on the
fairy scene outspread before him, while
steamers and pleasure boats will be gliding
EDWARDS threading the may channels or
sweeping round the richly wooded islands,
so many of which gem the bosom of Kandi-
yohi; and then will he confess in his inmost
soul that lovelier country never passed be-
fore his eyes. ..4
About the middle of August last consid-
cradle party under the leadership of Col. j.
II. Stevens, started from Minneapolis with
the intention of exploring portions of the
Territory lying west of Glencoe They
reached Harms city on Mcleod Lake, about
10 miles from Glencoe; and here owing to
various reasons, the greater portion of the
party were compelled to return. Three,
however, Messrs. NJ. G. Baker, Jno. Mcleod
and E. Whitefeld resolved to proceed. and
carry out the original intentions of the COM
pany. They did SO, and after trayersing an
exceedingly fertile prairie, interspersed with
several pretty lakes and groves, struck the
South Fork of Grow River, which they de-
termined to follow up to its source; in this
they succeeded, and found that it issued
from large and beautiful lake which they
named Gillian" This lake is abou, four
miles in length and nearly three in width,
with water of great purity and sweetness,
and abundantly stocked with fish, while
ducks and geese in almost fabulous numbers
| frequent its shores, and the majestic wild
swan, and lordly pelican are frequently seen
floating on it's surface. Numerous and large
groves of timber surround its borders, and
unduiating priaries stretch away to the bound
less west.
Grow River where it issues from Lake
Lillian, is clear and rapid stream of three
or four feet in depth, and about fifty feet
across. The country through which it flows
is for some miles of fiat and unnteresting
character, but of exceeding fertility, and
will eventually become the lichest grazing
country of the west. Here at a IN derate
computation from three to six tons of excel
lent hay can be cut to the acre; while on
the ridges of drer land, where the soil is a
deep black loan, immense crops of grain can
be raised. 1t is true that some tracts are
wetter than may be desirable, but even these
can be drained easily, and thus be made the
finest meadow land anywhere to be found
But to return.-After thoroughly explor-
ing Lake Lillian on foot (for our horses ran
away and could not C found) our party pro-
ceeded to the north, towards what We sup
posed would turn out to be large lake, and
about mile and half from Lake Lillian,
we stepped on the shores of Kandiyohi
Here we found much larges body of water
than the one we had left and walked along
beach several miles in length, the counter
part of which it is firmly believed cannot
be matched for its regularity and beauty. In
fact nothing can he imagined more charm
ing of it's kind, whether the hardness, white
ness or Ermness of the sand be considered
its uniform width or the beauty of its sur
rounding banks adorned with noble trees,
some of whose branches hung over, and al
most kissed the waves that sparkled at their
feet. Farther explorations of this lake were
prohibited from want of boat, and the
party were compelled to return to their camp
on Lake Lillian. This by the bye was of
very primitive character; as, having no tent,
we were obliged to manufacture the best we
could out of poles and willow branches.
This we found not to be inpervlous to the
rain which came down one night and the
greater portion of the next day SO abundant
! ~ IudC Jul WSIc DIS thoroughly
soaked as though they had been lying at the
bottom of the lake. However, by means of
large fire we made ourselves pretty com
Portable; and in the evening the sun, hav-
ing scattered the lowering clouds, shone out
in splendor and promised fairer day on the
morrow. AS our hut lay on the beach with
in few feet of the waters edge, what can
be imagined more charming than to be there
in the early hours of night watching the
moon and stars, whose images were reflected
on the tranquil bosom of the lake, with
nothing to break the stiffness that reigned
around, save the gentle ripping of the waves
at our feet, or the far-of cry of the lonely
loon2 There is an inexpressible charm in
this wild savage sort of life which can be
imagined only by those who have roved over
the boundless prairies, and slept under the
forest branches by the side of some glorious
lake, with the knowledge that they were far
away from the white mans haunts, and all
the trouble and turmoil of civilized life.
GLOW beautiful this night the bamiest sigh
| Which vernal zephyrs breathe i'm evenings ear,
| Were dscord to the speaking quietude
That wraps this moveless scene. Heavens ebon vault
| Studded with stars nnumerably bright,
| Through which the moons unciouded grandeur rolls
| Seems like canopy which love has spread -.
Above sleeping world"
The next morning. finding there was no
chance of getting back our horses, as the
driver had been two days seeking them with
out success, we determined to put back for
the settlements, and accordingly started on