Paul was called by the Dakotas _Wakan_
_Teepee_--sacred lodge. In the days that are no more they lighted their
council-fires in this cave and buried their dead near it. See _Neill's
Hist. Minn_., p. 207. Capt. Carver in his _Travels_, London, 1778, p.
63, et. seq., describes this cave as follows: "It is a remarkable cave
of an amazing depth. The Indians term it Wakonteebe, that is, the
Dwelling of the Great Spirit. The entrance into it is about ten feet
wide, the height of it five feet, the arch within is near fifteen feet
high and about thirty feet broad. The bottom of it consists of fine
clear sand. About twenty feet from the entrance begins a lake, the water
of which is transparent, and extends to an unsearchable distance; for
the darkness of the cave prevents all attempts to acquire a knowledge of
it. I threw a small pebble toward the interior parts of it with my
utmost strength. I could hear that it fell into the water, and
notwithstanding it was of so small a size it caused an astonishing and
horrible noise that reverberated through all those gloomy regions. I
found in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics which appeared very
ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss so that it was with
difficulty I could trace them.
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