13S Journey to the Coteau des Prairies, 6^c. 



experiments on the effects of weights acting for an indefinite 

 time on bars of iron. — Mr. Scott Russell made a report on the 

 proceedings of the Committee appointed to inquire into the best 

 form for vessels, and explained the nature of the experiments in 

 progress. — Mr. Cottam described a new railway wheel, made 

 wholly of wrought iron, so welded together, that independent of 

 screws, rivets, or other kind of fastening, they form one piece with 

 the spokes. — Mr. Jeffries read a paper on warming and ventilating, 

 and gave a description of a pneumatic stove. — ^Mr. Gossage com- 

 municated an account of a new rotatory steam engine. — Mr. Player 

 made a communication on the application of anthracite coal to 

 the blast furnace, steam engine boiler and smith's fire, at the 

 Gwendraeth Ironworks near Carmarthen. — Mr. Davies gave a 

 description of a machine for cutting the teeth of bevel wheels. — 

 Mr. Dredge offered some remarks on bridge architecture. — A new 

 secret lock without a key, by Mr. Benge, was then exhibited ; 

 and also a model, sent by Mr. Hamilton of Edinburgh, of a 

 method by which the resistance caused by the pressure of the 

 wind against the valves of the organ can be overcome, thereby 

 permitting the largest pipes to be played by the fingers with fa- 

 cility, and also rendering the movement of the pedal keys and 

 valves more smooth. 



The amount of moneys granted at this meeting for the prose- 

 cution of scientific inquiries was £2789 14s. 7d. 



Art. XY. — Account of a Journey to the Coteau des Prairies, 

 with a description of the Red Pipe Stone quarry and Granite 

 hoivlders found there ; by Mr. George Catlin, in a letter to 

 Dr. Charles T. Jackson. 



Read in the Boston Society of Natural History, Sept. 4, 1839, and communicated 



for this Journal. 



Dear Sir — In the summer of 1835, whilst visiting the tribes of 

 Indians on the Upper Mississippi, I spent some months at and in 

 the vicinity of the Falls of St. Anthony. Whilst there, I resolved 

 to pay a visit to the " Red Pipe Stone quarry," (as it is called,) on 

 the " Coteau des Prairies,^^ the place where the Indians procure 

 the stone for their red pipes ; of which place I had already learned 

 many very curious and interesting traditions from the Upper Mis- 



