SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 171 



to venture on the log, determined to return to the land of 

 the living, which purpose he effected, having been seen once 

 more among his friends, two days after his reputed death. 

 He informed them of what he had observed, and further 

 told them that while on the verge of the stream, he had 

 heard the sounds of the drum, at the beat of which the 

 blessed were dancing on the opposite prairie. This story 

 they firmly believe. 



With a view to collect as much information as possible 

 on the subject of Indian antiquities, we inquired of Robin- 

 son whether any traditions, on this subject, were current 

 among the Indians. He observed, that their ancient forti- 

 fications were a frequent subject of conversation ; and es- 

 pecially those in the nature of excavations made in the 

 ground. He had heard of one, made by the Kickapoos 

 and Fox Indians, on the Sangamo river, a stream running 

 into the Illinois. This fortification is distinguished by the 



2 



name of E'tn^dt^a^'k. It is known to have served as an in- 

 trenchment to the Kickapoos and Foxes, who were met 

 there and defeated by the Potavvatomis, the Ottowas, and 

 the Chippewas. No date was assigned to this transaction. 

 We understood that the Etnataek was near the Kickapoo 

 village on the Sangamo. 



The hunting grounds of the Potawatomis appear to be 

 bounded on the north by the St. Joseph, (which on the east 

 side of Lake Michigan separates them from the Ottowas,) 

 and the Milwacke, which, on the west side of the lake, di- 

 vides them from the Menomones. They spread to the south 

 along the Illinois river about two hundredi miles ; to the west 

 their grounds extend as far as Rock river, and the Mequin or 

 Spoon river of the Illinois ; to the east they probably sel- 

 dom pass beyond the Wabash. 



