270 EXPEDITION TO THK 



that was gliding; down the river, with two discharged sol- 

 diers from Fort St. Anthony. The country which l)orders 

 upon the river ahounds in rattlesnakes, the party killed 

 several during their journey to Lake Pepin, ahove which 

 it has been said that they are never seen. In examining 

 the head of this serpent, Mr. Say's thumb was punctured by 

 several of the small acute teeth, while it pressed upon the 

 roof of the mouth ; and on laying open the vesicle of poi- 

 son, a portion of the fluid flowed under the thumb and 

 found its way into one of the punctures, and although the 

 quantity must have been very small, it gave rise to much 

 pain and numbness in the part ; it however soon subsided, 

 producing but little swelling. 



The travelling on the 27th was not very rapid owing to 

 a head wind, but no time having been spent on shore, the 

 party reached the Prairie de la Crosse in time to encamp 

 there ; this has been incorrectly called the Cross, (crux,) 

 prairie. The name of this spot is derived from a game 

 very much in favour among the Indians ; it is played with 

 a ball, and is probably not very unlike some of the games 

 of white men. This prairie being very level and fine, is 

 admirably well calculated for this purpose ; and was for- 

 merly much frequented by the Indians. There were a 

 few remains of Indian encampments upon it, of one of 

 which the party took possession, for the purpose of shel- 

 tering themselves during the night. Within a few yards 

 of their encampment they discovered several graves, over 

 which flags were hanging, indicating that the deceased had 

 been men of some consequence. The party proceeded, 

 early the next morning, and passed the mouth of Black 

 river, one of the most important tributaries of the Missis- 

 sippi ; it is much resorted to for the purpose of obtaining 

 timber, as the forests, which grow upon its banks, are 



