SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 177 



means of the earth collected in its immediate vicinity. 

 We remained ignorant of the causes which may have 

 given rise to their construction, or of the circumstances un- 

 der which they were executed. Of their artificial nature, 

 no doubt could be entertained. They may probably have 

 been ancient dirt lodges, similar to the ruins observed by 

 Mr. Say, during the expedition to the Rocky mountains, 

 and which were known to be the remains of lodges that 

 had existed within the memory of some of the Indians 

 then living. It does not appear that the Indians, who re- 

 side near the Fox river, have any recollection or tradition 

 on this subject. Our guide informed us, that they believed, 

 upon the authority of the missionaries, that these mounds 

 were of antediluvian origin, and probably erected as places 

 of retreat for their families in time of war. 



Proceeding two miles further, through a thinly wooded 

 country, we crossed a brook four yards wide ; and six miles 

 further of fine rolling prairie, interspersed with light 

 woods, brought us to our encampment of the 12th of 

 -Tune. As we stopped upon the encamping ground, a 

 night-hawk flew away and abandoned two eggs, which 

 she appeared to have deposited on the ground, without 

 preparing any kind of nest ; they were of a dull white co- 

 lour, thickly spotted over with dirty brown blotches. A 

 heavy shower, accompanied by thunder and lightning, 

 made the weather very comfortable. But a high wind, 

 which arose during the night, rendered travelling very un- 

 pleasant in the morning. At about twenty-eight miles in 

 a general westerly course from the Pishtako, we came 

 to a beautiful winding stream, called the Kish-w^a-k6, (Cot- 

 tonwood.) It is about twelve yards wide, and is a tributary 

 of Rock river. About one and a half mile below the place 

 where we forded this stream, we saw a small Indian vil- 



VoL. I. 23 



