Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-09
THE PIASA.
AN INDIAN TRADITION.

mo part OF the united states can vie III Wld
and romantic scenery, with the bluff of Illinois,
On one side of the river, often at the waters
edge, perpendicular wall Of rock rises to the
height Of some hundred feet. Generally on
the opposite shore, is a level bottom or prairie
of several miles width, extending to similar
bluff that rises parallel.with the river. One of
these ranges commences at Alton, and extends,
with few intervals, for many miles along the
banks of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. In
descending the river to Alton, the traveller will
observe between that town and the mouth of
the Illinois, narrow ravine, through which
small stream discharges its waters into the Mis-
sissppi That stream is the Piasa; its name is
Indian, and signifies, in the language of the Ill-
nois, the bird that devours men," Near the
mouth of that stream, on the smooth and per.
pendcular 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 +" the Piasa," and from this is de-
rived the name of the stream. The tradition of
the Piasa is still current among all the tribes of
the Upper Mississippi, and those who have in
habited the valley of the Illinois, and is briefly
this
Many thousand moons before the arrival of
the pale faces when the great megaloniz and
mastodon, whose bones are now dug up, were
still living in the green praries, there existed
bird of such dimensions that he could easily
carry off in his talons full grown deer. Hav-
ing obtained !. human victim, from that time he
sought human beings as his prey. He was art
ful as he was powerful-would dart suddenly
and Unexpectedly down upon an Indian, bear
him off to one of the caves Of the bluff, and de-
your him. Hundreds of warriors attempted for
years to destroy him, but without success
Whole villages were nearly depopulated fear
and CONSERVATION spread through all the tribes
of the Illinois. At length, Owatoga, a chief
whose fame extended as a warrior even beyond
the great lakes, separating himself from the rest
of his tribe tasted in solitude for the space of
whole moon, and prayed to the Great Spirit, the
Master of Life, that he would protect his chill
dren from the Piasa. On the last night of his
fast, the Great Spirit appeared to him in dream,
ors, each armed with bow and pointed arrows,
and conceal them in a designated spot. Near
the place of the concealment another warrior
was to stand in view, as victim Of the Piasa,
which they must shoot the instant that he poun-
ced upon his prey. When the chief awoke in
the morning, he thanked the Great Spirit, re-
turned 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 open
bluff, he soon saw the the Piasa perched on the
bluff eyeing his prey. Owatoga drew up his
manly form TO its utmost height, and placing his
feet firmly upon the earth, began to chan! the
death song of the warrior A moment after the
Piasa rose into the air, and swift as the thunder
bolt, darted down upon the chief Scarcely had
he reached his victim when every bow was
strung, and every arrow sent TO the feather into
scream that resounded far over the opposite side
of the river and expired. Owatoga was safe
not an arrow, not even the talons Of the bird
had touched him. The Master of Life, in ad-
mration of the noble deed of Owatoga, had held
over him an invisible shield. In memory ofthis
event, the image of the Piasa was engraved upon
the face of the bluff.
Such is the Indian tradition; of course do
not vouch for it's truth This much, however, is
certain the figure of a large bird, cut into the
solid rock, is still there and at height that is
perfectly inaccessible. How and for what pur.
pose it was made, / leave it to others to deter.
mine. Even at this day, an Indian never passes
the spot in his canoe, without firing at the fig
ure of the bird The marks Of the balls on the
rock are almost innumerable. Not great while
since, | 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 of the caves connected with the
above tradition, as one of those to which tht
bird had carried its human victims. Proceed
ed by an intelligent guide, who carried spade
| set out on my excursion. The cave was ex
tremely difficult of access, and at one point O