The confluent rivers of the Mississippi, advancing from its source along its right bank, arc, Leech Lake river, Vermillion, Pine river, Riviere de Corbeau, Elk, Sac, and Crow rivers : these enter above the falls of St. Anthony ; below that point arc, St. Peter's, Upper Jowa, Turkey, Little Maquauquetois, Galena, Great Maquauquetois, Lower Jowa, Lemoine, and a few other streams of little note between the mouth of Letnoine and that of Missouri. From the left the Mississippi receives, advancing from its source, Thomberry river, Round Lake river, Turtle Portage river, Chevreuil, Prairie, Trout, Sandy Lake river, St. Francis, and Rum rivers. These streams enter above the Falls of St. Anthony. Below that point arc, St. Croix, Chippeway, Black, Prairie la Crosse, Ouisconsin, Sissinawa, Riviere au Fevre, Rock, Henderson's, and the Illinois. These streams are given, in most part, from the authority of Mr. Schoolcraft. and are also more minutely detailed, from the circumstances that the valley of the Mississippi proper is yet imper fectly known, of great importance in the geography of the United States, and that the source of intelligence is recent and respectable.
Mr. Schooleraft estimates the elevation of the sources of the Mississippi at 1330 feet above the Atlantic.` From comparison with our own calculations respecting the of the 0!Aio, a very remarkable coincidence appears. though founded upon totally independent data.
The vafley of the Mississppi, though contiguous to that of Ohio, exhibits an aspect essentially different. The sources of the latter we have found issuing from an elevated, mountainous, hilly, and broken country ; those of the former, on the contrary, flow from an immense marshy plain, in great part devoid of timber. The humble elevation of the region from which the sources of the Mississippi arc drawn, accounts for the adjacent country remaining in its primitive state, and fully corro borates the correctness of the theory assumed respecting the valley of Ohio.
One of the first observations which strikes the mind on a survey of this extensive tract, is, its general mono tony. No chains of mountains of note, or even lofty hills rise to vary the perspective. Some elevations there are towards the sources of the largest confluents, and a few solitary hills, dignified, for want of contrast, by the title of mountains. The Mississippi is traversed by several falls, such.as those of Pccagama, about midway be tween Sandy and \Vinnepec lakes, at N. Lat. 47° 30'; the Little Falls, at N. Lat. 45° ; the Big Falls, below the mouth of the Sac river ; and those of St. Anthony, at N. Lat. 44", immediately above the mouth of St. Peter's river. The view of extensive prairies, when first seen, have an awful and imposing effect on the mind, but that impression is soon lost, and a dreary void obtrudes in its place. Many parts of the Mississippi banks are high,
broken, and precipitous ; but taken as a whole, this great valley presents few objects upon which those can dwell with interest who pass from the rich ever varying scenery of Ohio; particularly that of its banks and south-eastern slope.
Had the head waters of the Mississippi descended from a mountainous, or even a very high table land, similar to that from which flows the Ohio, with a slope of sufficient inclination, the general face of the country, drained by the former river, would have now assumed an aspect similar to that from which flow the head waters of the latter. But in reality, though on a much larger scale, the Mississippi resembles those of the north-west slope of Ohio valley, in the circumstance of flowing from a flat table land, and in gaining ascent and depth of channel in their progress towards their respective recipients. It is a feature peculiar perhaps to the Mis sissippi, that the country adjacent to its source and that near its final discharge, are in so great a degree similar in their general physiognomy. A difference of latitude of nineteen degrees precludes much resemblance in vegetable or stationary animal production. But accord ing to Mr. Schoolcraft, who visited its sources in the month of July, the migratory water fowl found there at that time of the year are very nearly specifically the same found at its mouth in the months of December, January, February, and March. " It is also deserving of remark," says that writer, " that its sources lie in a of almost continual winter, while it enters the ocean under the latitude of perpetual verdure." Climate, Soil, and Production.—Extending through nine degrees of latitude, the change of climate in the valley of the Mississippi proper, is greater than found in any other valley in the basin of which it forms a part, except the more northern parts of that of Missouri. So (itlective is our information respecting the larger tributaries which enter the Mississippi above Mis souri, that little more need be added respecting the Mississippi valley in general. Suffice to say, that in point of soil, vegetable and mineral productions, (lead excepted,) this valley is in every respect inferior to that of Ohio. The ordinary timber in similar latitudes are nearly the same in both valleys; but towards the sources of the :Mississippi, pine, spruce, cedar, maple, and white birch are the prevalent timber trees. In fact, the far greater part of the upper, and much of the lower part of the valley, is composed of prairie, low swamp, or lakes. Much good alluvial land, particularly on the Illinois, borders the streams, but in no moderate pro portion to what is found in the valley of Ohio.