Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-08-26
THE pIAsA.
AN INDIAN TRADITION Of f,J.

AN INDIAN TRADITION OF ILLINOIS.
Nopart Of the United States can vie, in vii,
and romantic scenery, with the bluffs OF Hi
nois. On one side Of the river, often at tn.
waters edge, perpendicular wall Of rock ri
ses to the height of some hundred feet. &c
nerally on the opposite shore, is level bottom
or prairie, of several miles width. extending
to a similar bluff that rises with the river. One
of these ranges commences at Alton, and ex.
tends, with few intervals, for many miles a.
long the left bank of the Mississippi and lii
nois rivers. In descending the river to Alton,
the traveller will observe, between that town
and the mouth ofthe Illinois, narrow ravine,
through which small stream discharges its
waters into the Mississippi. That stream is
; the Piasa, its name is Indian, and signi6ed, in
the language of the Illinois, '.The bird that de-
YOURS men," Near the mouth of that stream,
on the smooth and perpendicular face of the
bluff, at an elevation which no human art can
reach, is cut the figure of an enormous bird,
with its wings extended. The bird which this
figure represents, was called by the Indians,
I"The Piasa, "---and from this is derived the
name Of the stream. The tradition of the Pr
asa is still current among all the tribes of the
upper Mississippi, and those who have inhabi,-
cd the valley. of the Illinois, land isbriefly ,hs
Many thousand moons before the arrivals of
the pale faces, when the great hlagalonix and
Mastodon. whose bones are now dug up, were
still living in theland Of the green prairies, there
existed bird of such dimensions that he could
easily carry of in his talons, a full grown
deer. Having obtained taste Of human flesh,
from that time he would prey upon nothing
else.---He was as artful as he was powerful
would dart suddenly and unexpectedly upon
an Indian, bear him off to one of the caves in
the bluff and devour him. Hundreds of war
riors attempted for years to destroy him, but
without success. Whole villages were near
| ly depopulated, and CONSERVATION spread thro'
all the tribes of the Illinois. At length, Owa-
toga, Chief whose fame extended as war
rior, even beyond the great lake, separating
himself from the rest of his tribe, tasted in So
litude for the space of whole moon, and pray
ed to the great spirit, the master of life. that
he would protect his children from the Piasa.
On the last night of his fast the great spirit APP
peared to him in dream, and directed him to
select twenty OIL his warriors, each armed with
a bow and pointed arrows, and conceal them
in designated spot. Near the place Of their
concealment another warrior was TO stand in
open view, as victim for the Piasa, which
they must shoot the instant that he pounced
upon his prey. When the chief awoke in the
morning, he thanked the Great Spirit, return.
ed to his tribe, and told them his dream.--The
warriors were quickly selected, and placed in
ambush as directed. Owatoga offered himself
as the victim. He was willing TO die for his
tribe. Placing himself in open view Of the
bluff, he soon saw the Piasa pcrchcd on the
cliff cycling his prey. Owatoga drew up his
manly form to its utmost height, and placing
his feet firmly upon the earth, began TO chaunt
the death song Of the warrior. A moment af-
ter, the Piasa rose into the air, and, swift as
the thunderbolt, darted down upon the chief.
Scarcely had he reached his victim, when ev-
cry bow was sprung and every arrow sent TO the
feather into his body. The Piasa uttered a
wild. fearful scream, that resounded far over
the opposite side of the river and expired. Owa-
ioga was safe; not an arrow, not even the ia
Ions of the bird had touched him. The Mas
ter of life, in admiration of the noble deed Of
Owatoga, had held over him admissible shield.
In memory of this event, this image of the Pr
asa was engraved ia the face ofthe bluff. Such
is the Indian tradition; of course do not vouch
for its truth. This much however, is certain,
the figure OF large bird, cut into the solid rock,
is still there, and at height that is perfectly
inaccessible. How, and for what purpose it
was made, leave it for others TO determine.
Even at this day, an Indian never passes that
spot in his canoe without firing his CUR at tho
figure of the bird. The marks of balls on the
rocks almost innumerabe.-- great while
since l was induced to visit the bluffs below
the mouth of the Illinois river, and above that
of the Piasa. My curiosity was principally
directed to the examination ofthe cave connect-
ed with the above tradition, as one Of those to
which the bird had carried its human victims.
Preceded by an intelligent guide who carried
a spade, set out on my excursion. he cave
was extremely difficult of access, and at one
point of our progress, stood at an elevation
of more than $50 feet on the face Of the bluff,
with barely room to sustain one foot, the un-
broken wall lowered above me, while below
was the river. After long and perilous clam.
bering we reached the cave, which was about
so feet above the surface Of the river. by the
aid Of long pole, placed on tho projecting
rock, and tho upper end touching the mouth OF
the cave, we succeeded in entering It. Notli-
ing could be more impressive than the view
from the entrance Of the cavern.---'The Missls-
sippi was rolling in silent grandeur beneath us
thigh over our heads, a single cedar hung ITS
branches over the CLIFTON the blasted top OF
which, was seated bald Eagle. No other
sound or sign Of life was near us--.a Sabbath
stiffness rested upon the scene---not cloud IN
the heayens---not breath of air was stirring
1.-The broad Mississippi lay before us, calm.
and smooth as lake. The landscape present.
ed the same wild aspect as 1t did before it had
yet met the eye of the white man
The roof Of the cavern was vaulted, the top
of which was hardly less than twenty-five feet
in height--the shape Of the cave was Irregular,
but as far as could judge, the bottom would
average 90 by 80 feet. The floor Of the cave
through its whole extent was mass Of human
bone; skulls and other bones were mingled to-
gether in the uttermost confusion. 10 what
depth they extend, ! am unable 70 declde.--but
we dug to the depth Of three or four feet IN ev,
ery quarter Of the cavern, and still we found