The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-03-05
FOR THE ILLINOIS FREE TRADER.
Sketches by 4 Rambler
Indian I.egends--.Painted Rocks on the
NItssjssiDDi River.


FoR the lovers of fiction and legendary lore
wide field is yetuntraverscd. In the existing re-
mains of the supcrstitions and traditions Of the
aborgnes Of this country are to be found many
items which arc worthy of more polished narrat-
tor than myself; and to me 1t has been a matter
of some surprise, that, ere this time, none of our
writers who deal in articles of this kind have
amused the public with the subject am about to
sketch, and others of like nature.
Some years ago, when the tide of emigration
was pushing up the lllini' and Ell Dorado of
the North West, which was sort of witclling
ground to those who, either through ambition or
enterprise, left their native hearths for home in
tho land of promise, l, among the number, found
myself on board keel boat, bound for some port
on the Illinois River. This was before those re-
fined models of destruction, yclept steam boats,
had broken in upon the silence and then soli-
tudes Of the upper Illinois. When dragging our
way against the mighty current of the Mississippi,
took an occasional survey of the motley group
of passengers to whose company, for the time be-
ing, happened to belong; and venture to assert,
that, even now, in these refined days, 1t would be
utter impracticability to get together such an
other set of mortals. am one Of those who love
to view the enterprizing character and daredevil
sort Of perseverance, which, to a certain extent,
pervades our countrymen, and, in particular, those
hardy pioneers Of the West, to whose efforts and
moral courage we owe so much and, at this mo-
mcnt, when recurring back to my soi-disGnt roy
ageurs, can sec just such group as would have
delighted our Cooper Irving, whose graphic
sketches of men, matters and things in the
West will always be read with delight.
Ono individual, in particular, in our party, at
tracted my attention, and with him was bent on
having some converse upon matters and things
with which knew his mind was well stored.
The individual to whom refer was one Of those
unfortunate dcnizens of the forest whose destiny,
alas is placed in the hands of his more powerful
fellow man, who, possessing one trait (ony color)
distinguishing him from his neighbor, has taken
upon himself to rule the destiny of the ancient
possessors of the forests who, we must acknow-
ledge, have been taught by either cupidity or
avirce all the vices of the white man. and but few
of his virtues. With the Indian character was
we'll acquainted, and, without much formality
we opened friendly intercourse, which had last
ed but short time before we reached the high
bluffs before the town of Lower Alton. A short
distance above that village the waters Of the Mis-
sissippi are confined to their course the Illinois
side by high ledge Of rocks or cliffs, with which
the sight of the traveller, when ascending the Mis-
sissippi, is not often gratifcd, and to him such
change from the low, monotonous scenery which
is found when ascending the stream, must always
be pleasing When passing part of this rocky
barrier Of the foods, observed that my Indiar
friend of sudden seemed to rivet his attention
to different object to what had hitherto occu
pied his attention. He was attentively viewing
the prints, or, rather, outlines of certain figures
which, at this day, are visible on some parts o
those rocks. Whether these figures are the worl
of human beings, or whether the human imagina
ton can consider them upon close inspection, I,
be other than the works of nature, | will not say
not having infinitely examined them At an,
rate, I found the Indian appeared to pass tn,
place with that instructive dread, which character
izes mankind when their thoughts are drecte,
to objects with which their minds associate tn,
marvellous and terrible. Some ofoar party bein,
anxious 10 know what caused the Indians ankle
y,hc, to crafty their curiosity, related the fol
lowing =
Many, great many years ago, long before tn
Chimokumen' began their settlement west of tn
This term is confined TO the Americans 1t
uanslation is "iong knires."