[237] 14 



two small lakes, on the second of which I determined a geographical po- 

 sition. 



In these parts may he more particularly observed the evidences of the 

 erratic deposite, presenting themselves in considerable masses on the slope 

 of the valleys, and consisting of fragments of primitive and transition rocks, 

 accnmnlaled in such large quantities that the irregularities in the surface 

 are to be exclusively ascribed to them. "Wherever a bend, an angle, or 

 some prominent bluff, is more exposed to the fury of the northwest winds, 

 that blow violently a great part of the year, the soil is torn up and scattered 

 before them, leaving exposed to view its internal structure. This is found 

 to consist principally of fragments of granite rocks. 



The Sioux take advantage of these loose materials to erect signals on the 

 most elevated spots, or to designate the place by .some conical structure, 

 where some exhausted hunter has died on the prairies, and desires to be 

 buried in a more prominent situation ; or they amuse themselves in shaping 

 them into fantastic figures. They give names to these localities, which 

 thus serve as landmarks in a country where there are no other geographical 

 beacons. 



The greatest swell in the undulating surface of the Coteau des Prairies — 

 that which forms the dividing ridge between the waters of the Mississippi 

 and those of the Missouri — has a general direction NW. and SK. li is it- 

 self a wave in the trough, of which there are several sloughs, one of which 

 furnishes the water of the rivulet between the two lakes, which I have con- 

 sidered as the source of the " Des Moines." 



On a SE. extension of this principal elevation, there is what the Chippe- 

 ways call a mas/ikeg, and the Sioux whci, or swamp, or elastic prairie, 

 which is the head-spring of a small river that empties into the River of the 

 Rock, one of the tributaries to the Sioux river. It flows at the bottom of a 

 deep ravine, on the banks of which there is a luxuriant growth of shrubbery ; 

 but, as the branches of these do not reach above the heights of the ravine, 

 the Sioux have called it tchan 7ia tambe : which literally means hidden 

 wood — bois cache. The same wiwi, in rainy seasons, furnishes a small 

 stream which finds its way to the " Des Moines." The name by which it 

 is known to the Sioux is Okshidanomwitcha-klepi; meaning the place 

 where the two young men were killed (by the Sakes.) 



Lastly, by way of illustration to what 1 have said above of the usages of 

 the Sioux, I may add, that, on the western side of the aforesaid wiwi, and 

 on the most elevated crest of the Coteau, there is a great accumulation of 

 the materials belonging to the erratic deposite, of which they have availed 

 themselves to construct the effigy of a man ; so that the spot is called tuyan- 

 witchashta-karapi ; in English, the place where has been built up a man of 

 stone. 



We have now arrived in the vicinity of the valley where the Red Pipe- 

 stone Q,uarry is found ; but, before proceeding to describe it, I will, perhaps, 

 be excused for introducing an incident in the journey that led to it. 



On our way, after having reconnoitred distinct marks of a buffalo path, 

 we unexpectedly fell upon a circular breastwork of about 2,000 feet in 

 circumference, and sufficiently elevated to protect the bodies of those who 

 are defending themselves within. The principal entrance is still marked 

 by the places where the chiefs or principal personages of the nation had 



