SOURCE OF ST. PETKr's RIVER. 285 



the scenery of the upper part of the Mississippi, which 

 has never, we think, been accurately represented. We re- 

 gretted that it was not possible to reduce, to the proper 

 size, a fanciful delineation of the tragic event which we 

 have related. Mr. Seymour painted one of this kind, in 

 which the landscape was represented with the most faith- 

 ful accuracy, but which he animated and enlivened by the 

 introduction of a numerous party of Indians, in whom the 

 characteristics of the Dacotas were strikingly delineated. 

 The unfortunate Winona was represented at the time when 

 she was singing her dirge, and the various groups of In- 

 dians below indicated the corresponding effect upon the 

 minds of the spectators. 



The first European that ever reached this lake was Fa- 

 ther Hennepin, who saw it in the month of April, 1680, 

 and who gives the following description of it: "About 

 thirty Leagues above Black river we found the Lake of 

 Tears, which we named so, because the Savages, who took 

 us, as it will be hereafter related, consulted in this place 

 what they should do with their Prisoners ; and those who 

 were for murthering us, cryed all the night upon us, to 

 oblige, by their Tears, their Companions to consent to our 

 Death. This Lake is formed by the Meschasipi, and may 

 be seven Leagues long and five broad. Its Waters are almost 

 standing, the Stream being hardly perceptible in the mid- 

 dle." We have not been able to discover the origin of 

 the name which the lake now bears, it is evidently a French 

 name. While ascending the lake, we observed floating 

 upon the surface, a large fish which had been wounded 

 with a harpoon or lance ; we caught it, and found it to be 

 a Paddle-fish.* This fish is distinguished by a protu- 



• Platirostra Edentula, (Lesueur.) Vide Appendix I. B 



