SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. S67 



is designated by the name of Cape Puant, because at a 

 time when the Sioux and Winnebagoes, (Puants,) were 

 about to commence hostilities, a party of the latter set out on 

 an expedition to invade the territory of the Sioux and take 

 them b)f* surprise; but these being informed of the de- 

 sign, collected a superior force, and lay in ambush near this 

 place, expecting the arrival of their enemies. As soon 

 as the Winnebagoes had landed, the Sioux sallied from 

 their hiding places, pressed upon them as they lay col- 

 lected in a small recess between the two capes, drove 

 them into the river, and massacred the whole party. Gar- 

 lic cape, just above this, strikes the voyager by the sin- 

 gularity of its appearance. In shape it represents a cone 

 cut by a vertical plane passing through its apex and base ; 

 its height is about four hundred feet. The peculiarity of 

 its appearance has made it a celebrated landmark on the 

 Mississippi. Mr. Seymour, whose pencil was frequently 

 engaged in sketching the beautiful features of the Missis- 

 sippi, took a hasty view of this as the boat passed near it. 

 The valley is, in this part, almost entirely filled by the 

 river which laves the base of the bluffs on both sides. The 

 river spreads in some places to the width of three or four 

 miles ; its channel being very much interrupted by num- 

 berless islands, which render the navigation difficult. The 

 bluffs are generally from four hundred to five hundred feet 

 high, intersected with numerous ravines, and exhibiting 

 signs of being the commencement of a hilly and broken 

 inland country. 



One of the soldiers was this day very sick of mania 

 apotu. At times he was perfectly insane, probably from 

 having suddenly given up the use of strong liquor, in 

 which he had previously indulged himself very freely. 

 He continued sick during the rest of the voyage up 



