286 EXPEDITION TO THE 



berance or rostrum, which extends from the nose about 

 fourteen inches, and which from its resemblance to the 

 form of a paddle, has obtained for it the common appella- 

 tion of Paddle-fish. The Mississippi unites with the up- 

 per extremity of the lake by three channels, which are 

 separated by islands. Upon one of these we landed, and 

 found the passenger pigeons to be very numerous, so that in 

 a few minutes a number of them were killed. We likewise 

 saw here a rattlesnake, which disproves the assertion of 

 some authors that this animal is not found above Lake 

 Pepin. It is probable, however, that they are scarce above 

 this place, as this was the last one seen by our expedition. 

 Mr. Schoolcraft states, that Governor Cass' expedition like- 

 wise met with it above Lake Pepin, and he even observes 

 that it exists as high on the Mississippi as the Falls of St. 

 Anthony. One of the guides, Joseph Reinville, whom we 

 shall have occasion to mention hereafter, informed Mr. 

 Colhoun that he had killed them on Big Stone Lake, which 

 is near the head of the St. Peter. 



About four miles above the lake is the site of Redwing's 

 village, at the mouth of Cannon river. Immediately below 

 the village there is a singular hill, which, from its form, 

 which is supposed to resemble a barn, has been called the 

 Grange, it is about three quarters of a mile long, and four 

 hundred feet high. Its acclivity on the east or river side 

 is very abrupt, on the west or prairie side it is quite ver- 

 tical ; it stands insulated from the rest of the highlands. 

 Immediately upon the highest point of the Grange, Major 

 Long, who ascended it in 1817, observed an artificial 

 mound, whose elevation above its base was about five feet. 



Having left the Redwing village early in the afternoon 

 of July 1st, the party continued to ascend the river; the 

 current had again become very strong; they proceeded 



