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may scarcely be called navigable above the Savannah, which enters 
136 miles from its mouth. The Savannah is 24 miles long, and is 
ascended to its source. The portage to the small river, which empties 
into Sandy lake, is six miles-the river is descended 12. Sandy lake 
is four miles long and two wide. By the outlet of the lake to the 
Mississippi is two miles, but by land it is hardly the half of a mile. 
It is 250 miles from Sandy lake to Vermillion by way of the 
Mississippi and Trout lake ... 
Heavy Timber 
About half way from Sandy lake to Red Cedar lake below, a river 
empties into the Mississippi which rises in Duck lake. A portage of 
six miles is made from the Mississippi, opposite Sandy lake, to this 
river, which is ascended 60 miles. From Duck lake the communica- 
tion with Leech lake is over a country, one-half of which is covered 
with lakes. The land is generally heavily timbered. 
TRADE.-A skin is estimated at $2. A two and a half point 
blanket is sold for four skins; one fathom of stroud,°the same; half

a pint of powder, one skin; thirty balls, the same; five branches of 
wampum, or 250 grans, one skin; a Northwest cased gun, ten skins; 
one beaver trap, four skins; a large scalping knife, half a skin; 
twist tobacco, two skins per fathom, three plugs for a skin, and four 
skins per carot; a mesh, or 40 branches of white beads, one skin; a 
pair of leggins with ribbons and beads to garnish, two skins; one-half 
axe, one skin; one hatchet, one skin. These are the principal articles 
of trade. Divers other things are given as presents. If an Indian 
obtains a credit for his supplies for the season, he must be furnished 
with a flint, a needle, an awl, a gun worm, a little vermillion, rings, 
beads, and three or four inches of tobacco, besides various other 
articles, for which the trader charges nothing. In a credit of six 
hundred skins, if the trader gets 300 in return for his goods, he 
considers himself recompensed. He frequently does not obtain even 
this proportion. The articles received from the Indians are sugar, 
rice, and skins. A mocock of sugar, weighing about 40 pounds, is 
received for four skins; a sack of rice, two skins; a large prime 
beaver, two skins; a large prime otter, two skins; three martens, 
one skin; three minks, one skin; 10 muskrats, one skin; a prime bear, 
two skins; two prime buck skins, one skin; three raccoons, one; two 
lynx, one; two fishers, one. An axe is so essential an article with an 
Indian that he is generally punctual in paying for it; and on return- 
ing from his hunt, he lays out a certain number of skins in payment 
for his axe, and calls the trader to notice it. 
The Southwest company have the chief trade of this country, but 
they sustain a considerable injury from the small traders. They 
sent from Leech lake, last year, 38 packs; from Sandy lake, 25; and 
Fond du Lac, nine. This year, from the first place, 53; the second, 
35; and the third, 15. Last year the whole return was not as much 
as usual, and this year rather more.