PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 35 



She had conceived an attachment for a young hunter, which 

 was reciprocated, and they had frequently met, and agreed 

 upon an union. Her family favored the advances of a warrior 

 of distinction, and repelled those of her chosen lover. Her 

 expostulations were unheeded. Her friends drove away the 

 hunter, fixed a day for the nuptials with the warrior, and 

 commanded her to comply. Winona had, in an uncommon 

 degree, the affection of her brothers, and they besought for 

 persuasive rather than compulsory means toward her. A 

 party was formed to Lake Pepin, to obtain the blue pigment 

 used by the Indians. At this time the warrior, who was 

 present, encouraged by her friends, again urged his addresses, 

 and was again repelled. Vexed by her obstinacy, her parents 

 threatened her, to compel obedience. " Well," said Winona, 

 " you will drive me to despair. I have told you that I cannot 

 love him, and that I wish to live a maiden. You say that you 

 love me, and yet you have driven away the man of my choice. 

 Well ! let it be so. But soon you will not have a daughter 

 and sister to torment with your false professions of affection." 

 She withdrew from the company, and while they were pre- 

 paring the feast, wended her way slowly to the top of the 

 bluff. When at the summit, she called to her friends, up- 

 braided them for their cruelty, and began to sing her death- 

 song. Her friends rushed toward the base of the bluff, en- 

 treating her to desist, while others madly ran up the hill to 

 prevent her fatal design. But she was resolved, and as she 

 finished her song, threw herself from the precipice, and fell, 

 a corpse, at the feet of her distressed friends. 



The Upper Rapids of the river (in speaking of that portion 

 of it below St. Anthony's), commonly called Rock River 

 Rapids, extend in length about fifteen miles, upward from the 

 foot of Rock Island, which is four miles above the mouth of 

 Rock River. The whole fall in this distance is about twenty- 



