176 EXPEDITION TO THE 



depend more upon the proper union of tlic three colours, 

 white, red, and blue united, to form symmetric and varied 

 designs. 



The Fox river, which we crossed, must not be mistaken 

 for the same which runs north-eastwardly into Greenbay of 

 Lake Michigan. Its course is in a different direction, 

 being nearly south-west ; it falls into the Illinois about 

 fifteen or twenty miles below the confluence of the Des 

 Plaines and Kankakee. 



The Fox river of the Illinois is called by the Indians 

 Pish-f 4-k6. It is the same which is mentioned by Charle- 

 voix under the name of Pisticoui, and which flows, as he 

 says, through the country of the Mascoutins. At present it 

 is claimed, at least in this part, by the Potawatomis and 

 Kickapoos, who are incorporated together; the Meno- 

 mones are allowed to remain there, on account of their 

 being connected by intermarriages. The river has a fine 

 gravelly bottom, and was very easily forded. On the west 

 side we reached a beautiful but small prairie, situated on a 

 high bank, which approaches within two hundred and fifty 

 yards of the edge of the water ; and upon this prairie we 

 discovered a number of mounds, which appeared to have 

 been arranged with a certain degree of regularity. Of these 

 mounds we counted twenty •rseven ; they vary from one to 

 four feet and a half in height, and from fifteen to twenty -five 

 in length ; their breadth is not proportional to their length, 

 as it seldom exceeds from six to eight feet. They are 

 placed at unequal distances, which average about twenty 

 yards ; they are chiefly upon the brow of the hill, but some 

 of them stand at a greater distance back. Their form ap- 

 pears to have been originally oval ; and the slight depres- 

 sion in the ground, observed sometimes on both sides of 

 a mound, seems to indicate, that it has been raised by 



