SOURCE OF ST. PETER S RIVER. 263 



crossed a short time after leaving the village, is called by the 

 Indians E&mozind^ta, (High rock,) from a white pyramidal 

 rock which rises to a considerable height near this stream, a 

 few miles above the place where they crossed it. Being 

 aware of its existence, and knowing that it would not 

 lengthen the journey much, they were anxious to pass near 

 it; but, whether from superstitious motives or not, Tommo 

 seemed unwilling to guide them in that direction. This 

 man was not one of the pleasantest that the party could have 

 had to accompany them ; although he was selected as one 

 of the best in the vicinity of Prairie du Chien, he was not 

 agreeable. He was a listless, indifferent kind of man ; an 

 incessant smoker ; his pipe, which was connected with his 

 tomahawk, was in constant use ; it was made in the form 

 of a shingling hatchet. The part which corresponded with 

 the hammer was hollowed out for the bowl, and the 

 handle was perforated so as to serve as the stem of the 

 pipe. He adverted to the pipe as the Indian's only so- 

 lace in hunger. This man had a curious specific when un- 

 well ; it was to climb a tree, cut the top so that it would 

 bend, and then let himself drop down from it to the 

 ground. 



The first boulders which had been seen from Rock 

 river, were observed by Mr. Colhoun at about seven 

 miles from Fort St. Anthony ; they consisted of granite. 

 A very great change in the country above Lake Pepin 

 was visible. The bluffs were not so high, they were more 

 frequently interrupted, and gave a neAV character to the 

 scenery of the river. The distance, by land, from Prairie 

 du Chien to the St. Peter, is two hundred and eleven miles ; 

 it was travelled in eight days, hence at an average of 

 twenty-six and a half miles per day. This may be consi- 

 dered as the first section of our journey ; the whole dis- 



