KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 23 



The dimensions of the mound and basin are as follows, from actual meas- 

 urement: height of mound, 42 feet; diameter at base, 300 feet; diameter 

 at top, 150 feet. The basin, shaped like a funnel — or better, like an in- 

 verted cone — is 35 feet deep at the center; its diameter at top, from "water's 

 edge to water's edge," is, N. to S., 52 feet 4 inches; E. to W., 56 feet 8 inches. 

 These figures show the surface of the pool to be very nearly circular. The 

 limestone stratum inclosing it like a ring, of almost uniform width, makes a 

 fine drive-way for carriages, which find an easy ascent at one especially fa- 

 vorable point. 



The reverence with which the Indians have always regarded the"Wa- 

 conda" spring, is worthy of notice, as exhibiting in a marked degree some 

 mental traits of a race destined soon to pass away. Upon this subject my 

 knowledge is all at second hand, but I am fortunate in having the following 

 statement from one of the earliest settlers of Mitchell county, .now a resi- 

 dent of Cawker City, a man whose character vouches for the truth of his 

 words. In response to a request from me, he writes: "In answer will say, 

 that through Indian interpreters I have the statement from various tribes 

 visiting our spring, that Waconda, the daughter of a great Indian chief, at 

 one time became infatuated with the sou of another. The two tribes met at 

 the spring, and being hostile to each other, the intimacy was strongly op- 

 posed by the parents, and a conflict ensued. The lover of Waconda, being 

 wounded and weak from loss of blood, fell or was hurled into the pool, 

 whereupon Waconda plunged in after him, and both were drowned. Ever 

 since the spring has been called 'Waconda,' or the 'Great Spirit' spring, 

 and the Indians believe that the spirit of Waconda still dwells in the mound, 

 and sometimes becomes oflTended at bad Indians, and throws up vast volumes 

 of water, drowning them. The Pottawatomies, who have often been through 

 here on their hunts since this country was settled, could never be prevailed 

 upon to pass the spring without stopping to have a regular pow-wow, and 

 dip their arrows into its waters. They believed this would give them great 

 success in their hunts and wars with other tribes. Every tribe that has ever 

 visited this country since its earliest settlement, has shown the greatest rever- 

 ence for the spring, never failing to visit it, and always going through a cer- 

 emony over its waters. On one occasion we invited 300 Indians, who were 

 on a buffalo hunt, and were encamped near the spring, to come up to Cawker 

 City and give us a war dance. They accepted, but on no condition would 

 they come until they had been to the spring and daubed their faces and po- 

 nies with the gray mud from its banks, and when they came, their appear- 

 ance in the light of the bonfires built for the occasion was frightful in the 

 extreme." 



From the same gentleman, as well as from others, I learn that many relics 

 have been "fished" from the pool, including bows and arrows, a bent rifle or 

 two, arrow-heads, colored stones, medals and beads, (one medal bearing the 

 stamp, "The Fur Company of 1844," and the figures of a white man and an 



