164 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



varieties, and the large size of its fresli-water sliells, I procured 

 several species of unio^ wliicb, from their size and character, at- 

 tracted my attention, particularly to the subject of this branch of 

 American conchology. Several of these, from the duplicates of 

 my cabinet, have attracted the attention of conchologists.* Lake 

 Pepin receives a river from the west called the Ocano, or more 

 properly Au Canot ; its mouth having been, in former times, a 

 noted place for concealing canoes during the winter season.f At 

 a point, on the east shore, about half-way down the lake, where a 

 small stream enters, we were informed there existed the remains 

 of an old French fort, or factory ; but we did not land to examine 

 them. 



In passing through this lake the interpreters pointed to a high 

 precipice in the cliffs on the east shore, which Indian tradition 

 assigns as the locality of a tragical love tale, of which a Dacota 

 girl was the heroine. To avoid the dilemma of being compelled 

 to accept a liusband of repulsive character, and to sacrifice her 

 affections for another person, she precipitated herself down this 

 precipice. The tale has been so differently told to travellers visit- 

 ing the region, that nothing but the simple tradition appears worth 

 recording. Olaita and Winona, have been mentioned as the name 

 of the Dacota Sappho. 



At 6 o'clock in the evening we encamped on a gravelly beach 

 on the east shore of the lake, the weather threatening a storm. 

 Eain commenced at 8 o'clock, and continued at intervals, with 

 severe thunder and most vivid flashes of lightning during the 

 night. At 5 o'clock the next morning (4th), the expedition was 

 again in motion. The rain had ceased, but the morning remained 

 cloudy. The scenery on the borders of the lake continued to be 

 impressive. The precipices on the east shore shot up into spiral 

 points ; yet the orbicular elevations are covered with grass and 

 shrubber}^ These high grass-crowned elevations, without forest, 

 terminate near the influx of the Chippewa River in a remarkable 

 isolated elevation, called Mont La Garde^ from the fact that it is, 



* Sillimans Journal of Science, 1823 ; also, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 



I Travellers ttIio are disposed to regard La Hontan's fiction of his purported dis- 

 coveries on Rivier la Longue, as entitled to notice, have suggested this river as the 

 locality intended. Nicollet, otherwise reliable, has gone so far as to call it La Hon- 

 tan River. 



