272 EXPEDITION TO THE 



him to take his measurements with the greatest accuracy, 

 yet this must be very near the true height; since the 

 island is as elevated as the adjoining bluffs, which are 

 among the highest that are to be seen above the Wisconsan. 



Mr. Schoolcraft has been led into error, in his account 

 of it, when he represents the island, on which it stands, as 

 being four or five miles in circumference. Mr. Scott, who 

 travelled down the Mississippi a week after we ascended 

 it, measured it, and found it to be only about a mile in cir- 

 cumference. Neither can we agree with the same author 

 when he states that it " divides the river into two equal 

 halves, and gives an immense width to the river."* Per- 

 haps the most remarkable feature about this mountain is 

 that " it is the third island of the Mississippi from the 

 Gulf of Mexico to this place that has a rocky foundation 

 similar to that of the neighbouring bluffs, and that rises 

 nearly to the same height as these."t The other islands 

 in this river are merely formed by the alluvion collected 

 by the stream, and are chiefly sandy; many of them are 

 covered with a fine vegetation. 



Early on the 29th, the boat reached Wapasha's village ; 

 the gentlemen landed, and were disappointed on being in- 

 formed that they had failed in seeing Major Long's party by 

 about an hour. Being anxious to become better acquaint- 

 ed with an Indian, who is held in such high esteem among 

 the powerful and extensive nation of the Dacotas, as Wa- 

 pasha is, they gave the old chief an invitation to enter in- 

 to their boat, which he readily accepted, but declined ac- 

 companying them up to Fort St. Anthony, as his band 

 had heard, that morning, of the approach of their enemies, 



• Narrative Journal of Travels, &c. by H. R. Schoolcraft, p. 335. 

 j Major Long's MS. No. 2, folio 5. 



