See also his history, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes, Part ii, p. 72.

To the Pictured Rocks of sandstone.

The reader will find a long description of the Pictured Rocks in Foster and Whitney’s Report on the Geology of the Lake Superior Land District, Part ii. p. 124.  From this I make the following extract:—­

“The Pictured Rocks may be described, in general terms, as a series of sandstone bluffs extending along the shore of Lake Superior for about five miles, and rising, in most places, vertically from the water, without any beach at the base, to a height varying from fifty to nearly two hundred feet.  Were they simply a line of cliffs, they might not, so far as relates to height or extent, be worthy of a rank among great natural curiosities, although such an assemblage of rocky strata, washed by the waves of the great lake, would not, under any circumstances, be destitute of grandeur.  To the voyager, coasting along their base in his frail canoe, they would, at all times, be an object of dread; the recoil of the surf, the rock-bound coast, affording, for miles, no place of refuge,—­the lowering sky, the rising wind,—­all these would excite his apprehension, and induce him to ply a vigorous oar until the dreaded wall was passed.  But in the Pictured Rocks there are two features which communicate to the scenery a wonderful and almost unique character.  These are, first, the curious manner in which the cliffs have been excavated and worn away by the action of the lake, which, for centuries, has dashed an ocean-like surf against their base; and, second, the equally curious manner in which large portions of the surface have been colored by bands of brilliant hues.

“It is from the latter circumstance that the name, by which these cliffs are known to the American traveller, is derived; while that applied to them by the French voyageurs (’Les Portails’) is derived from the former, and by far the most striking peculiarity.

“The term Pictured Rocks has been in use for a great length of time; but when it was first applied, we have been unable to discover.  It would seem that the first travellers were more impressed with the novel and striking distribution of colors on the surface than with the astonishing variety of form into which the cliffs themselves have been worn. . . .

“Our voyageurs had many legends to relate of the pranks of the Menni-bojou in these caverns, and, in answer to our inquiries, seemed disposed to fabricate stories, without end, of the achievements of this Indian deity.”

Toward the Sun his hands were lifted.

In this manner, and with such salutations, was Father Marquette received by the Illinois.  See his Voyages et Decouvertes, Section V.

END HIAWATHA NOTES

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THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH

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