and long before we reached shore, the collected population of the village was at the water's side to greet us on landing

"And naked youths, and painted chiefs admire

Our speech, our colour, and our strange attire."

A few words gave them to understand, that we were on our way to attend the treaty at Chicago, and they informed us that they were on the point of starting for the same place. After the customary ceremonies and presents, we visited several of their lodges, and found none of them destitute of some articles of American or European manufacture, as kettles, knives, axes, &c. The men of this tribe are distinguished for their tall, erect, and manly stature, and we think it may be remarked, that beards are more common to them than to most of our northern tribes.* We observed one aged per

*BEARDS. Robertson mentions that the American Indians have no beards; but this remark is only strictly applicable to the effeminate natives of South America and the West India Islands, of whom he also states, that their appetites were so small, that it became a common saying of the first settlers of Hispaniola, that one Spaniard would eat as much as ten Indians. Now precisely the reverse is true of our North American tribes, whose appetites are, in general, voracious, to a degree that has often astonished the beholder. The remark respecting the want of beard, is repeated, however, by Charlevoix, and by other writers of less authority, in particular reference to the tribes of the North. But it is to be received with considerable limitations. Though a beard is less common to them than to the man of Europe, and of Asia, its absence, where wanting, is not always so much the result of a want of vigour of constitution as of the fashion of plucking it out in early life. It is esteemed necessary to the decency of appearance among the young and middle aged to remove the beard, and as the razor is unknown to them, they employ the only means at command to eradicate it. Hence it is more common to see beards upon old men, who become careless and neglectful of personal appearance. Of the Indians of the Algonquin stock, the Chippewas are perhaps most exempted from beards; the Ottowas less so; and the Pottowattomies still less. Among the two last mentioned tribes there is a custom, sufficiently frequent, though not uni

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son, in particular, whose long descending gray beard would not disgrace a Nazarite.

From this place, we went on about six miles, and encamped on a high prairie bank, where we spread our beds upon the ripe grass. On the following morning, we embarked at five o'clock, a heavy mist and cool air prevailing on the river. On going a few miles, we took a false channel leading into a pond, in extricating ourselves from which we spent an hour and a half. This is an occurrence which it requires unremitting attention to avoid. The mist was now dispelled, and we pursued our course under favour of a bright sky and transparent atmosphere. On either shore, we passed a succession of rural scenes, "ever pleasing, ever new." At two o'clock, we reached the mouth of the Vermillion, a fine clear stream, entering on the left bank. This point is estimated to be equi-distant between Chicago and Fort Clark, it being ninety miles either way. The rapids commence half a mile above, which makes it evident that the Illinois is greatly diminished in size above the junction of the Vermillion. The water at once becomes shallow, and the rock, which is a sandstone, presents itself first in broken masses, and soon after flooring the bed of the river. When our canoe would no longer float without rubbing against the rocks, we got out and made a short portage, the empty canoe being still guided along by men walking in the stream on each side.

versal, of letting the beard grow only upon the under lip, or upon the chin, from which it depends in a compact lock, or a kind of bunch. This is an ancient Egyptian, and also a Jewish custom, as old, at least, as the days of Moses, who forbad the Jews to cut off the angle or extremity of the beard. We have no favourite theory to support in mentioning this fact, The coincidence is probably accidental.

With respect to the existence of hair upon other parts of the body, we believe it is always present in adults, though they are later in arriving at the age of pubescence. Exceptions, however, are not rare.

When we again embarked, we could, however, go but a very short distance. Another portage was necessary.

In short, we could no longer proceed in our water craft. Nothing but a series of rapids appeared above as far as we could explore. The water was scarcely eight or ten inches deep in any place, and often less than four. With great exertions, we had proceeded two or three miles above the Vermillion, and about 4 o'clock, we encamped near a remarkable isolated hill, called by French voyageurs Le Rocher, and

ROCK FORT.

This is an elevated cliff on the left bank of the Illinois, consisting of parallel layers of white sandstone. It is not less than two hundred and fifty feet high, perpendicular on three sides, and washed at its base by the river. On the fourth side it is connected with the adjacent range of hills by a narrow peninsular ledge, which can only be ascended by a precipitous, winding path. The summit of this rock is level, and contains about three-fourths of an acre. It is covered with a soil of several feet in depth, bearing a growth of young trees. Strong and almost inacessible by nature, this natural battlement has been still further fortified by the Indians, and many years ago was the scene of a desperate conflict between the Pottowattomies, and one band of the Illinois Indians. The latter fled to this place for refuge from the fury of their enemies. The post could not be carried by assault, and tradition says that the besiegers finally succeeded, after many repulses, by cutting off the supply of water. To procure this article the besieged let down vessels attached to ropes of bark, from a part of the precipice which overhangs the river.

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but their enemies succeeded in cutting off these ropes as often as they were let down. The consequence was a surrender, which was followed by a total extirpation of the band.*

On gaining the top of this rock we found a regular entrenchment, corresponding to the edge of the precipice, and within this other excavations, which, from the thick growth of brush and trees, could not be satisfactorily examined. The labour of many hands was manifest, and a degree of industry which the Indians have not usually bestowed upon works of defence. We found upon this elevation broken muscle shells, fragments of antique pottery, and stones which had been subjected to the action of heat, resembling certain lavas.

From this elevated spot an extensive and diversified view of prairie scenery is presented, and the objects about our encampment appeared reduced to a diminutive size.

"How fearful

And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eye so low!

The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles."

The soil which results from the gradual disintegration of this rock, is nearly a pure sand. On descending we found the prickly pear (cactus) covering a considerable portion of this soil, where scarcely any other plant is hardy enough to vegetate.

Of the height of this cliff, the estimate which we have given is merely conjectural. The effect upon the observer is striking and imposing. But we are disposed to think the effect of loftiness produced by objects of this

* Charlevoix.