flow northward into LAKE GLAZIER at its southern extremity on
either side of the indenting promontory. Excelsior Creek, so named
because it represents the very highest water of the Mississippi, is
the longer of these. Deer Creek, to the eastward, and rising a
little nearer the lake, has been so named for the reason that
numbers of deer were seen in its vicinity.

"LAKE GLAZIER is thus supplied by three feeders, Eagle, Excelsior
and Deer Creeks, now named in the order of their importance, and as
uniting these waters in one common reservoir, this lake is
undoubtedly entitled to be regarded as the _veritas caput_--the
true head of the Mississippi.

"Pearce Giles.

"Boston, August 6, 1886."

* * * * *

We insert here an interesting letter from Paul Beaulieu, Interpreter to
the United States Indian Agency, White Earth, Minnesota. Mr. Beaulieu is
a very intelligent half-breed, about sixty years of age, and has lived
nearly all his life in the neighborhood of the headwaters of the
Mississippi. His testimony, therefore, upon a subject with which he must
necessarily be familiar, will have due weight with the inquiring reader:

"U. S. Indian Service,

"_White Earth Agency, Minnesota_,

"May 25, 1884.

"_Dear Sir_:--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the sixteenth instant. In reply, I would respectfully
state that according to the ideas of the people of this section of
country, for a score of years past, in alluding to Lake Itasca,
which is known only as Elk Lake by the original inhabitants of this
country, was never by them considered as the head or source of the
Father of Running Waters, or May-see-see-be, as it is by them
named. I have received a map showing the route of exploration of
Captain Willard Glazier in 1881, and being well acquainted with his
chief guide, Chenowagesic, who has made the section of country
explored by Captain Glazier his home for many years in the past,
and who has proved the truth of his often repeated assertion, when
maps were shown him, that a smaller lake above Lake Itasca would in
time change a feature of those map