642 Incised Boulders in the Upper Minnesota Valley, [July 
until they are perfectly smooth. The face of the boulder upon : 
which these occur is about two feet long and one and a half feet 7 
in width. l 
DIAGRAM NES 
P R 2 % Inches 
o see zo 30 Ao Cantimectryes 
There is a Dakota tradition relating to these incised boulders r 
about as follows: ` : 
In olden times there used to be an object that marked the © 
boulders at night. It could be seen, but its exact shape was in- 
_ distinct. It would work, making sounds like hammering, and 
occasionally emit a light similar to that of a fire-fly. After 
nishing its work it would give one hearty laugh, like a woman 
laughing, and then disappear. The next morning the Indians 
would find another pictured boulder in the vicinity where the 
object had been seen the night previous. 2 
a The above is only given to show how the Indians account for. 
_ these incised boulders, s 
St. PAUL, MINN., April 6, 1887. 
Fe: 
