AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
171 
fire lit upon the shore — the usual signals, and imports a 
welcome and a good landing, &c. Those of our party w r e 
had sent for the copper rock were there; and hearing the 
yoyageurs in the Governor’s canoe, built the fire, and fired 
the guns. They came over — and late as it was, we learn- 
ed more, in detail, the history of their attempt, and failure, 
to bring away the copper rock. How much I regret this 
failure! Thermometer, sun-down, 68°. 
Thursday , Jiug. 17. T. sun-rise, 58°. — I was anxious 
to know how the morning would appear. The pictured rocks 
were now, at the commencement, not over six miles from 
us; and having procured a sketch of the vase, I was more 
than ever anxious to get also the outlines of those mightier 
formations. The morning was cloudy! The west looked 
black, and a wind from that quarter would have effectually 
destroyed all my hopes of getting the sketches of the rocks. 
We determined, however, to embark, and wait the result 
of this tempest — gathering in the west, on the south side 
of Grand island. Meanwhile, I examined the encamping 
ground. Near our tent I found the frame of a large lodge, 
and just back of it, the kind of frame on which the Indians 
dry their fish. It is built over a square hole in the ground, 
of about six feet by three, where the fire is built. Near 
the lodge was a pole of about thirty feet high. At its 
top hung some badges of the superstition of these people. 
It was an offering for their sick! From those offerings, we 
inferred a child had been the subject of their anxieties. 
Near the top of the pole is a small cap, suspended by a small 
string — to which is attached, also, a strip of fur. Below 
these is a little child’s covering, not more than ten inches 
by twelve, with no sleeves, with a feather from the wing 
of a hawk suspended from near the shoulder-straps. Be- 
low, there is a piece of red and white ribband, and ten feet 
below all, hangs a small hoop, tied round with wattap, 
which confines to it a parcel of white feathers. 
Now, all this is said to have been devised by their Jossa- 
keed, or conjurer — or their Maakudayioeckoouyga, or 
priest; and such offerings are generally the result of some 
dream, or of some more systematized plan of imposing 
upon the credulity of these unenlightened and helpless 
people. 
At six o’clock in the morning, we were opposite the first 
formation of the line of the rocky and pictured scenery. I 
have had some views taken that I think will be interest- 
ing. The first is an urn and a monument, with a stream of 
water running into the lake from between them. This 
stream is nearly equi-distant, between the two, but some- 
thing nearer the monument. The urn is about sixty feet 
in circumference, and of the most exact proportions as to 
height and figure. Its pedestal, or base, rests upon yellow 
sand-stone, and not more than ten feet from the water’s 
edge, and nearly on a line with it. The pitch of the stream 
is about twenty feet, and in width, it is about six feet. The 
monument stands about thirty feet back of a line drawn 
from the urn and along the margin of the lake. It is par- 
tially hid with trees. It rises out of a grove, and looks 
like a sacred place, and just such as we would fancy a mo- 
nument would appear in. The urn and monument are dis- 
tant from each other about one hundred yards. 
It will not do for me to indulge in any reflections on this 
singular sepulchral arrangement; or to question nature as 
to these designs. Here is the urn, the naiad, and the mo- 
nument; and art might profit by a view of their construc- 
tion and arrangement. The views taken of them are in 
all respects correct. 
I noticed in a general way the appearance of the Pic- 
tured rocks, on coming up. I shall now only refer to 
those parts of them which I have had sketched. 
The next point which struck my observation with most 
force, was what I have called Castle rock. ‘ After Mr. 
Lewis had sketched this wonderful mass of singular and 
fortification-like arrangement, which is about three hun- 
dred feet high, and one hundred and fifty wide, which he 
did from some hundred yards in the lake, we approached 
it. We had got within about fifty feet of its base, when, 
on looking up, we found ourselves under the drip from its 
edges above — proceeding further in. I saw my men look- 
ing up, and apparently shrinking from its projecting sides. 
They inquired where I wished to go ? I told them, into 
that largest opening. “ Mon Dieu!” they exclaimed, and 
Mr. L. begged that we might go back. I wished to look 
into this opening, and did so. I confess I felt something 
horror struck, for in addition to the projecting walls, which 
are of sand-stone, and crumble at the touch, the sounds that 
came out of these apertures were most unearthly! One of 
the men got out of the canoe, and sat in a recess just in 
front of the opening. 
This opening is about forty feet wide, and ten deep. On 
the right, a circular passage way winds into the body of 
the rock, with a roof of thirty feet, supported on pillars, 
averaging about twelve inches in circumference, but the 
length of the canoe prevented my winding my way into 
this inner world. After surveying this recess for half an 
hour, numerous fish swimming beneath us, and becoming 
familiarized to the danger, we came out and continued 
down the coast of similar formations, but all varying, for 
about five miles, when w.e came to that which I call 
Cave rock. This we approached also, and found the tops 
to overhang in all the threatening postures of the first. 
Near this, and connected with it, and on the right, is a 
pile of ruins, which are the remains of one of these im- 
mense formations, that having been undermined by the ac- 
