The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-18

1852.
in a few hours, load boat with them
In the branches of dead cedar on shore
was an eagles nest, and near by, on an
adjacent tree, sat one Of the " birds of
Jove" watching his eyrie. We turn the
headland and enter what Mrs. Elicit
calls
Lake Bryant.
Here we began to realize something we
had imagined in regard to Minnetonka.
The lake is clear of water-growth, and
begins TO assume the deep blueish green
of old Erie itself. The shores improve
greatly, and indicate that the timber is
becoming good. The extent of this di-
vision is about two miles from east to
west and a mile and half from north to
south. In giving these distances, it must
be borne in mind that the shores of Min
netonka are succession of deep indenta-
tions and jutting promontories and penin-
sulas and between these headlands we
measure distances from point TO point,
taking the widest portions of the inter-
vening waters. We landed and walked
some distance along the south shore, find
ing heavy underground with rich soil,
but as yet not very large timber We en-
barked and run for what was previously
named Cedar Point, but for reasons which
will soon be explained we named
| Point Wakon.
This is an elevated promontory half
mile in length, running out from the
southern shore of the lake. At the ex-
treme point, and for fifteen or twenty
rods back, it is not over two rods in
width. The shores on either side run I'D
with gradual inclination, except Just at
the point, where they are more abrupt
The prevailing growth on this promonto-
ry is red cedar, very large, with an en-
tangled jungle of underground, which
shoots up between the matted limbs of
fallen and decaying cedars, some Of which
indicate that they were felled centuries
ago. This place is undoubtedly Holy
Ground, for here are the unmistakeable
signs of Dakota worship from ages ago
to the present time. Therefore we say
let this be Point Wokon.* 1t deserves
more meaning cognomen than Cedar
Point. The heather orgies of a great
and powerful race. for whose ancient
homes we have just bartered a pittance of
our trashy gold, here were celebrated
long before the world-seeking Genoese"
reared the Haunting standard of CASTLE and
Aragon upon the shores of the Haytian
seas. The appearance of the ground !;
the marks upon the trees the ruins of
rude altars remnants of old scalp hoops !;
the painted stones, and all such imple-
mcnts Of savage rites, prove eur theory
beyond the possibility of controversy
We arc told that until month or six
weeks ago, finely painted rock, sacred
to the Dakota, was here preserved with
religious care. The reeking scalp of the
Chippewa had lain upon it, and around it
had danced the Dakota Brave for genera
tions. But the white man came, and
with the grasp Of the Vandal laid his
sacreligious hands upon it, to be deposit
ed in some two-penny museum! Why
should not this sacred relic of departing
race have rested here forever? We
admire the taste of the being who stole it
away! But no Minnesotian will deem
the base deed unaccountable, when they
are informed that it was perpetrated by
but we won't name him, knowing that
notoriety is as sweet TO him as we'll
earned fame.
E'The youth that fired the Ephesan dome,
Outlives in fame the pious fool who built it.'
View from Point Wakon.
Up the lake it is grand beyond des-
cription. Heavens, what subject for the
pencil Of a Cole or Sontagg! The wind
is beginning to rise, and the dark blue
waves are tumbling up on the clear sandy
beach at our feet, the white spray plash-
ing over against the boulders farther from
shore, and then again gently receding into
the bosom of the lake. Upon a tree
against which we leaned, was the name,
in bold pencil-mark, of Elizabeth F.
Elicit" traee ed by her own hand only
few days previous. Watching the gam
bols of the waves, intuitively came up