lo, Saint Cloud and
Little Falls on our way up the river. Brainerd was reached July
seventh. This enterprising town is situated near the boundary of
the Chippewa Indian Reservation and is the nearest place of
consequence to Lake Itasca. Here I again halted to further inform
myself concerning the topography of the country; to decide upon the
most practicable route to our destination, and to provide such
extra supplies of rations and clothing as might be considered
adequate to the requirements of our undertaking.

"After consulting our maps I concluded that while Schoolcraft and
Nicollet had found Itasca by going up the river through Lakes
Winnibegoshish, Cass and Bemidji, a more direct course would be by
way of Leech Lake and the Kabekanka River.

"A careful study of the route to Leech Lake, with a few valuable
suggestions from Warren Leland, of Brainerd, one of its oldest
pioneers, led us to seek conveyance to the former place over what
is known in Northern Minnesota as the Government Road. This road
stretches for seventy-five miles, through immense pine forests, and
the only habitations to be seen from it are the 'half-way houses'
erected for the accommodation of teamsters who are engaged in
hauling government supplies; and the occasional wigwams of
wandering Indians.

"While at the Leech Lake Agency it was our good fortune to meet the
post-missionary, Rev. Edwin Benedict; Major A. C. Ruffe, the Indian
Agent; Paul Beaulieu, the veteran Government Interpreter;
White-Cloud, chief of the Mississippi Indians; Flat-Mouth, head
chief of the Chippewas, and others well known at the Agency.
Through conversations with these parties I learned that pioneers of
that region were of the opinion that the lake located by
Schoolcraft was the source of the Mississippi, but that the Indians
invariably claimed that the Great River had its origin above and
beyond Itasca, in a beautiful lake known to them as Pokegama,
signifying the 'place where the waters gather.'

"Beaulieu, who is perhaps the best authority in Minnesota, having
lived for more than sixty years within its borders, said that
Chenowagesic, who afterwards became my chief guide, was the most
intelligent Chippewa of his acquaintance, had made his home for
many years in the vicinity of the head