NAKRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 159 



a language which prevails over an immense area, which is now 

 occupied by the prairie tribes towards the west and southwest, 

 from whence, it is inferred, they came. They appear, at a former 

 time, to have reached and dwelt at the sources of the Mississippi, 

 and to have approached, if not reached, the west end of Lake Su- 

 perior ; for it is from these positions that the oldest traditions 

 represent them to have been driven by the Chippewas. Lieut. 

 Pike thinks they are, undeniably, descendants of Tartars, If so, 

 I feel inclined to think that they must have made the circuit of the 

 Mexican provinces before reaching the Mississippi Valley, for the 

 track of their migration is traced towards the south certainly as 

 far as the country of the Kansas and Osages ; while they preserve 

 some striking traits and characteristics which appear to be re- 

 ferable to those intertropical regions. 



Having passed the better part of three days in the vicinity of 

 St, Peter's, adding to our collections and portfolios, we left it on 

 the second of August, and proceeded down the river to the village 

 of La Petite Corbeau, or the Little Eaven, situated on the east 

 bank not far above the mouth of the St, Croix. The river, in this 

 distance flows between lofty cliffs of the white sandstone and 

 neutral-colored limestones, which are first conspicuously dis- 

 played at the Falls of St. Anthony. Springs of water, not in- 

 frequently, issue from these cliffs. We landed at one of these, 

 flowing in through a gorge at the distance of four miles below 

 St. Peter's, on the east bank, for the purpose of visiting a re- 

 markable cave, from the mouth of which a small stream issues. 

 The cave is seated wholly within the beautiful white crumbling 

 sandstone rock. It is, in ftict, the loose character of the rock 

 which permits the superincumbent waters of the plains above to 

 permeate through it, that has originated the cave. The stream 

 consisted of the purest filtrated water, which is daily carrying 

 away the loosened grains of sand into the Mississippi, and thus 

 enlarging the boundaries of the cavern.* We had been errone- 

 ously informed that this was Carver's Cave, and looked in vain 

 for this traveller's name on its walls.f The atmosphere in this 



* St. Paul's, the present capital of JNIinnesota (1854), is situated on the high 

 grounds, a few miles below this cave. 



•j- Carver's Cave is four miles lower down, on the same side of the river, agreeably 

 to subsequent observation. It is now obstructed by fallen rock and debris. 



