Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-24
For the Nashville Patriot.
LEGEND OF THE PIAsA


No part Of the United states can surpass IN wild
ana romantic scenery, te bluffs Of the Illinois. On one
side Of the river often a. the waters edge, psrpendeu-
lar wall OF rock rises to the height Of hundreds Of feet
In descending the Mississippi Alton, the travel
Ter will observe between that town and the Illinois,
ravine BY which small pours its waters
into the Mississippi This stream is the Piasa' the
Indian one, and sgaihes in the language Of
the Illinois, tfAs bird nat dsCoars sneH' Near the
mouth Of that stream the smooth and perpendicular
face ofthe bu elevation which human art can
REACH the fgure OF bird, with its wings
extended. The bird which this figure represents
called by the Indians 1e Pasa and from this is de-
the Of the The tradition Of the Pasa.
relAed below IS still current among the Indian tribes
Of the Upper Mississippi those who have inhabited
the valley Of the Illinois OF vouch
for is truth this much, however, ctgf the figure
OF great bird, into the solid rock, Is still TO be
seen, and height which is perfectly inaccessible to
Even at this day Indian it with
dischArging his gun the figure; the marks Of the
balls the rock almost innumera5le. Not long
since was induced visit the below the mouth
OF Che Illinois river and above that Of the Piasa. Ny
curiosity principally directed TO the examination
OF the caves connected with the tradition being those
which the bird had carried its human victims. Pre-
ceded by intelligent guide, who carried spade set
upon my journey The which desired most TO
extremely difficult Of access, and az point
OF progress stood elevation Of than
hundred and fifty feet, the face of the blud. with
barely to sustain foot; the unbroken wall tow
cred above while below rolled the river. After
long and perlous clamberng at length reached the
The roof vaulted hardly less than twenty
Eve feet in height the shape irregular, and the
floor throughout the whole extent of human
bones, skulls, etc., mingled together in the utmost
fusion. To what depth they extended unable to de-
eide; but dug the depth Of three four feet in
rous parts Of the cavern, and STILL found nothing but
The remains of thousands must have been de-
posted here how, by whom, for what purpose,
leave it to wiser heads to determine
Nothing could be impressive than the view
from the entrance OF the The Mississippi
rolling in silent grandeur beneath us.-hgh overhead
single cedar hung its gnared boughs the top Of the
c and upon its blastedtop seated bald eagle. No
sound of life us, Sabbath stiffness rested
on the scene,-not cloud hung in the heavens,
breath of air stirring The landscape presented the
Wild and beautiful aspect that it did before it had
met the gaze OF the white man."
As when through the midnight bell slowly toling
Leaves mournful vibrations to chime in ears,
Wild tales OF the by-gone and buried, rolling
Adown tbs lopg lapses,-the darkness Of years.
What tho il the Genius Of Gloom sable-hooded,
Hath sat by their grave-sones and shrouded them long
II Ger the dusk wing OF silence hath brooded;
And their forgot by the children Of Song?