"This work has just been offered for sale at our book-stores, and we

strongly recommend it to all those who feel an interest in the character

of our aborigines. It is well known to many of us here, that Mr.

Schoolcraft has, for the last several years, been industriously engaged

in collecting facts which illustrate the 'mythology, distinctive

opinions, and intellectual character' of the Indians. His researches

have embraced 'their oral tales, fictitious and historical; their

hieroglyphics, music, and poetry; and the grammatical structure of their

languages, the principles of their construction, and the actual state

of their vocabulary.' The materials he has now on hand afford him the

means of fulfilling this extensive plan, and this 'first series' is only

a leading publication.

"When the position which Mr. S. has occupied for the last seventeen or

more years is recollected, as well as his fitness and exertions to

improve all its advantages, we shall at once see the benefit to the

literary and scientific world which his researches in these various

departments are likely to produce. The subjects which have engaged his

attention are regarded with deep interest by the philanthropist, the

philologist, the archaeologist, as well as many other liberal inquirers,

both in Europe and America, who, amid the scanty facts, cursory

observations, and hurried, random conjectures of those who have been

favored with a comparatively near view of them, have lamented the want

of such deliberate investigations and comparative examinations,

continued with sober judgment through a long series of years, as are now

offered to the public. We trust that a proper and enlightened patronage

will warrant Mr. Schoolcraft in completing his design. No man,

possessing his qualifications, has enjoyed his advantages. He has been

able to take up, at his leisure, the scattered links of a broken chain,

and fit them together. A chaos of aboriginal facts will be reduced,

under his hand, to some degree of order.

"Mr. Schoolcraft and Mr. Catlin have done more to preserve the fleeting

traits of aboriginal character and history than all their predecessors

in this field of inquiry, and none can follow them with the same

success, as none can have the same range of subjects before them. The

scene is changing with each year, and the past, with respect to the

Savages, does not recur. They fall back with no hope to recover lost

ground; they diminish with no hope to increase again; they degenerate

with no hope to revive in physical or moral strength. Those who have

seen them most during the last few years, have seen them best. After

observers will find mere fragments, or a heterogeneous mass, in which

all original identity is distorted or gone.

"The Tales now published must not be estimated for their intrinsic merit

alone. They may have less variety of construction, less beauty of

imagination, less singularity of incident, than belong to oriental

tales, the productions of more refined times, or more excitable people.

But the estimate must not be comparative. They are to be regarded as

the type of aboriginal mind, as the measure of intellectual power of our

Sons of the Forest; as speaking their sentiments, their hopes and their

fears, whatever they were or are, whether elevated or depressed, whether

raising the race or sinking it in the scale of untutored nations.

Whether they prove a poverty of mental energy, a feebleness of

imagination, a want of invention, or the reverse, cannot affect the

value of these volumes in the opinion of those who look into them for

evidences of the true character of the Indians. Mr. Schoolcraft, or any

other gentleman of taste and skill, might have formed out of these

materials a series of Tales, highly finished in their unity and design,

strikingly colored by fancy, such as would have caught the popular whim.

But this was not his object. He has been honest in his renderings of the

aboriginal sense, whether pointed or mystical, of the Indian's

mythology, whether intelligible or obscure; of their shadowy glimpses of

the past and the future; of the beginning and end of things, without

alteration or embellishment. Such a work was wanted, and such a work was

expected from Mr. Schoolcraft.

"If we have room, we will quote one or two of the shorter tales, such as

'Mon-daw-min, or the origin of Indian corn,' and the 'Celestial

Sisters,' both of which are very characteristic, and show, under the

garb of much figurative beauty, how Indians appreciate the blessings of

a kind Providence, and, how his domestic affections may glow and endure.

Indeed, there are few of these tales that would not give interest to our

columns, and we shall be pleased to give our readers an occasional

taste, provided we thereby induce them to supply themselves with the

full feast in their power."

_20th_. It is stated that the oldest town in the United States is St.

Augustine, Florida, by more than forty years. It was founded forty years

before Virginia was colonized. Some of the houses are yet standing which

are said to have been built more than three centuries ago, that is to

say, about 1540. De Soto landed in Florida in 1539. Narvaez, in his

unfortunate expedition, landed in 1537. Both these expeditions were

confined to the exploration of the country west and north of the Bay of

Espiritu Santo, reaching to the Mississippi. De Soto crossed the latter

into the southeastern corner of the present State of Missouri, and into

the area of Arkansas, where he died.

_21st_. _The Detroit Free Press_, of this day, has the following

remarks:--

"Much interest is manifested in this work of Mr. Schoolcraft, as a

timely rescue from oblivion of an important portion of the great world

of mind--important inasmuch as it is a manifestation of two principles

of human nature prominent in an interesting variety of the human race,

the sense of the marvelous and the sense of the beautiful, or the

developments of wonder and ideality. The character of a people cannot be

fully understood without a reference to its tales of fiction and its

poetry. Poetry is the offspring of the beautiful and the wonderful, and

much of it the reader will find embodied in the Indian tales to which

the author of the _Algic Researches_ has given an enduring record.

"Much of this work strongly reminds the reader of the Grecian Mythology

and the _Arabian Nights Entertainments_.

"According to one of the Odjibwa tales, the morning star was once a

beautiful damsel that longed to go to 'the place of the breaking of

daylight." By the following poetic invocation of her brother, she was

raised upon the winds, blowing from 'the four corners of the earth,' to

the heaven of her hopes:--

Blow winds, blow! my sister lingers

From her dwelling in the sky,

Where _the morn with rosy fingers_,

Shall her cheeks with vermil dye.

There, my earliest views directed,

Shall from her their color take,

And her smiles, through clouds reflected,

Guide me on, by wood and lake.

"The work abounds with similar beautiful thoughts and inventions.

"Catlin may be called the red man's painter; Schoolcraft his poetical

historian. They have each painted in living colors the workings of the

Indian mind, and painted nature in her unadorned simplicity. They have

done much which, without them, would, perhaps, have remained undone, and

become extinct with the Indian race. As monuments of history for future

ages, their works are not sufficiently appreciated.

"The author of these volumes has stamped upon his page much of the

intellectual existence of the simple children of the forest, and

bequeathed us a detail map of their _terra incognita_--their fireside

amusements in legendary lore."

I am willing to notice this and some other criticisms of this work as

popular expressions of opinion on the subject. But it is difficult for

an editor to judge, from the mere face of the volumes, what an amount of

auxiliary labor it has required to collect these legends from the Indian

wigwams. They had to be gleaned and translated from time to time.

Seventeen years have passed since I first began them--not that anything

like this time, or the half of it, has been devoted to it. It was one of

my amusements in the long winter evenings--the only time of the year

when Indians will tell stories and legends. They required pruning and

dressing, like wild vines in a garden. But they are, exclusively (with

the exception of the allegory of the vine and oak), wild vines, and not

pumpings up of my own fancy. The attempts to lop off excrescences are

not, perhaps, always happy. There might, perhaps, have been a fuller

adherence to the original language and expressions; but if so, what a

world of verbiage must have been retained. The Indians are prolix, and

attach value to many minutiae in the relation which not only does not

help forward the denouement, but is tedious and witless to the last

degree. The gems of the legends--the essential points--the invention and

thought-work are all preserved.

Their chief value I have ever thought to consist in the insight they

give into the dark cave of the Indian mind--its beliefs, dogmas, and

opinions--its secret modes of turning over thought--its real philosophy;

and it is for this trait that I believe posterity will sustain the book.

A literary friend, of good judgment, of Detroit, writes (19th): "Your

tales have reached me, and I have read them over with a deep interest,

arising from a double source--the intrinsic value of such stories and

the insight they give of Indian intellect and modes of thought. They

form a truly important acquisition to our literary treasures, as they

throw a light oft the Indian character which has been imparted from no

other quarter. They form a standard by which to determine what is true

and what is false in the representations made heretofore of the

aboriginal nations on most prominent subjects. No one will doubt that

you render the genuine Indian mind and heart. Those who conform to

these renderings will pass muster; the rest will be rejected. Let Mr.

Cooper and others be thus measured."

_24th_. Muk-kud-da Ka-niew (or the Black War Eagle), chief of the coasts

of Arenac, brought me an antique pipe of peculiar construction,

disinterred at Thunder Bay. It was found about six feet underground; and

was disclosed by the blowing down of a large pine, which tore up a

quantity of earth by its roots. The tree was two fathoms round, and

would make a large canoe. With the pipe were found two earthen vases,

which broke on taking them up. In these vases were some small bones of

the pickerel's spine. He saw also the leg bones of an Indian, but the

upper part of the skeleton appeared to be decomposed, and was not

visible. He thinks the tree must have grown up on an old grave. The pipe

consisted of a squared and ornamented bowl, with a curved and tapering

handle, all made solid from a sort of coarse _terra cotta_. He says it

was used by taking the small end in the mouth, and thinks such was the

practice of the ancient Indians, although the mode is now so different

by their descendants. The chief ornament consists of eight dots on each

face, separated by longitudinal strokes, leaving four in a compartment.

If the tree was four feet diameter, as he states, it denotes an ancient

occupation of the shores of Lake Huron, which was probably of the old

era of the mining for copper in Lake Superior.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

American antiquities--Michilimackinack a summer resort--Death of Ogimau

Keegido--Brothertons--An Indian election--Cherokee murders--Board of

Regents of the Michigan University--Archaeological facts and

rumors--Woman of the Green Valley--A new variety of fish--Visits of the

Austrian and Sardinian Ministers to the U.S.--Mr. Gallup--Sioux

murders--A remarkable display of aurora borealis--Ottawas

of Maumee--Extent of auroral phenomena--Potawattomie

cruelty--Mineralogy--Death of Ondiaka--Chippewa tradition--Fruit

trees--Stone's preparation of the Life and Times of Sir William

Johnson--Dialectic difference between the language of the Ottawas and

the Chippewas--Philological remarks on the Indian languages--Mr.

T. Hulbert.

1839. _June 25th_. ALEX V.V. BRADFORD, Esq., of New York, being about to

publish a work on American antiquities,[93] solicits permission to use

some of my engravings. I am glad to see an increasing interest in our

archaeology, and hope to live to see the day when the popular tastes

will permit books to be published on the subject.

[Footnote 93: This work was published, I think, in 1841.]

_26th_. Mrs. Morris brings a letter from Hon. A.E. Wing, of Monroe. She

contemplates spending the summer on the island on account of impaired

health. The pure air and fine summer climate of Mackinack begin to be

appreciated within a year or two by valetudinarians. It is a perfect

Montpelier to them. The inhaling of its pure and dry atmosphere in

midsummer is found to act very favorably on the digestive organs. No

process of _health-making gymnastics_ is prescribed by physicians. They

merely direct persons to walk about and enjoy the sights and scenes

about them, to saunter along its winding paths, or go fishing or

gunning. Its woods are delightful, and its cliffs command the sublimest

views. One would think that if the muses are ever routed from the bare

hills of Olympus and the springs of Helicon, they would take shelter in

the glens of Michilimackinack, where the Indian _pukwees_, or _fairies_,

danced of old. I received intelligence of the death of Ogimau Keegido

(Speaker Chief), the head sachem of the Saginaws. He had indulged some

time in drinking, and, after getting out of this debauch, was confined

by sickness three days. Death came to his relief. Some years ago this

man met with an accident by the discharge of a gun, by which his liver

protruded; he took his knife and cut off a small piece, which he ate as

a panacea. He was a man of strong passions and ungoverned will. He

visited Washington in 1836, and, with other chiefs, sold the Saginaw

reservations.

The party of Saginaws who brought me the above information had among

them twenty-two orphan children, whose parents had died of small-pox.

They were on their way to the Manitoulines.

_28th_. Mud-je-ke-wis, a minor chief of Grand Traverse Bay, surrenders a

belt of blue and white wampum, and a gilt gorget, which he had received

from some officer of the British Indian Department in Canada, saying he

renounces allegiance to that government, and reports himself, from this

day, as an American.

_29th_. Chingossamo (Big Sail), of Cheboigan, having migrated to the

Manitouline Islands with thirteen families, about seventy-nine souls, an

election was this day held, at this office, by the Indians, to supply

the place of ruling chief. Sticks, of two colors, were prepared as

ballots for the two candidates. Of these, Keeshowa received two-thirds,

and was declared duly elected. I granted a certificate of this election.

The present population is reduced to forty-four souls, who live in

thirteen families. This band are Chippewas.

Gen. Scott arrives at this post, on a general tour of inspection of the

northern posts, and proceeds the same day to Sault St. Marie,

accompanied by Maj. Whiting.

_July 2d_. The _Wisconsin Democrat_, of this date, contains an

interesting sketch of the history of the Brotherton Indians, which is

represented to be "composed of the descendants of the six following

named tribes of Indians, viz., the Naragansetts, of Rhode Island; the

Stoningtons, or Pequoits, of Groton, Connecticut; the Montauks, of Long

Island; the Mohegans, Nianticks, and Farmington Indians, also of

Connecticut. Several years before the American Revolution, a single

Indian of the Montauk tribe left his nation and traveled into the State

of New York. He had no fixed purpose in view more than (as he expressed

it) to see the world. During his absence, however, he fortunately paid

a visit to the Oneidas, then a very large and powerful tribe of Indians

residing in the State of New York. With them he concluded to rest a

short time. They, discovering that he possessed 'some of the white man's

learning,' employed him to teach a common reading and writing school

among them. He remained with them longer than he at first intended.

During this time the Oneida chief made many inquiries respecting his

(the Montauk) tribe, and the other tribes before mentioned, and

received, for answer, 'that they had almost become extinct--that their

game was fast disappearing--that their landed possessions were very

small--that the pure blood of their ancestors had become mixed with both

the blood of the white man and the African---that new and fatal diseases

had appeared among them--that the curse of all curses, the white man's

stream of liquid fire, was inundating their very existence, and the

gloomy prospect of inevitable annihilation seemed to stare them in the

face--that no 'hope with a goodly prospect fed the eye.' The Oneida

chief, actuated partly with a desire to extend the hand of brotherly

affection to rescue the above tribes from the melancholy fate that

seemed to await them, and partly with a desire to manifest his deep

sense of the valuable services rendered to him and his nation in his

having taught among them a school, gave to the schoolteacher a tract of

land twelve miles square for the use and benefit of his tribe, and the

other tribes mentioned."

The treaty of the 14th of January, 1837, with the Saginaws, is confirmed

by the Senate.

_3d_. The _Arkansas Little Rock Gazette_, of this date, states that the

long existing feud in the Cherokee nation, which has divided its old and

new settlers, has terminated in a series of frightful murders. Its

language is this:--

"We briefly alluded in our last to a report from the west that John

Ridge, one of the principal chiefs of the Cherokee nation, had been

assassinated. More recent accounts confirm the fact, and bring news of

the murder of Ridge's father, together with Elias Boudinot and some ten

or twelve men of less distinction (some accounts say thirty or forty),

all belonging to Ridge's party.

"These murders are acknowledged to have been committed by the partisans

of John Boss, between whom and Ridge a difference has for a long time

subsisted, growing out of the removal of the Cherokees from the old

nation to the west, Ridge having uniformly been favorable to that course

and Ross opposing it."

A council was recently held to consult in relation to the laws to be

adopted by the united nation in their present country, there being some

essential differences between the code by which that portion of the

nation recently emigrated from the east had been governed, and the laws

adopted by the old settlers in the west. Each party contended for the

adoption of its own code, and neither would concede to the other, and

the council finally broke up without being able to come to any

understanding on the subject. On his way from this council, Ridge was

murdered. Ridge, although a recent emigrant, we understand agreed with

the old settlers in regard to the adoption of their laws, while Ross

contended for those of the old nation east.

After the murder of Ridge, General Arbuckle, the commander of the United

States forces on this frontier, sent a detachment of dragoons to Ross,

with a request that he would come to the garrison, who declined unless

he could be allowed to bring with him some six or seven hundred of his

armed partisans, and take them into the garrison with him. This, of

course, could not be allowed, and so the detachment returned to the

garrison, and after that the murders subsequent to that of Ridge were

committed. One of them was perpetrated within the bounds of Washington

County, in this State, and we hope the necessary steps will be taken by

our authorities to secure and bring to trial the murderer, and thus

preserve inviolate the jurisdiction of our State over her own soil. "We

learn that a council was called of the whole nation, to be held

yesterday, with a view of settling the existing difficulties, and we

hope it may result in establishing peace among them."

_3d_. I received a letter introducing Mr. and Mrs. Kane, of Albany. We

love an agreeable surprise. I recognized in Mrs. K. the daughter of an

old friend--a most lady-like, agreeable, and talented woman; and deemed

my time agreeably devoted in showing my visitors the curiosities of

the island.

_6th_. The business of my superintendency calls me to Detroit. Fiscal

questions, the employment of special agents, the collection of treasury

drafts, the payment of annuities; these are some of the constant cares,

full of responsibilities, which call for incessant vigilance. I reached

the city in the steamer "Gen. Wayne," at 8 o'clock, in the morning.

_8th_. John A. Bell, and Sand Watie, Cherokee chiefs, publish in the

_Arkansas Gazette_, an appeal to public justice, on the murder of the

Ridges and Boudinot, which took place on the 22d of June previous.

_13th_. Rev. Mr. Duffield informs me of some geological antiquities,

reported to have been recently discovered in Ohio, made in the course of

the excavations on the line of the canal, between Cleaveland and Beaver.

_15th_. The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan inform me, by

their secretary, of my having been placed on a committee, as chairman,

to report "such amendments to the organic law of the University, as they

shall deem essential, with a view to their presentation to the next

legislature."

_25th_. Being on my passage from Detroit to Mackinack, on Lake Huron, a

Mr. Wetzler, of Rock River, Wisconsin, stated to me that a Mr. Davy, an

English emigrant, found, in making an excavation in his land near

"Oregon," some antiquities, consisting of silver coins, for which Mr.

Wetzler offered him, unsuccessfully, $50. The story looks very much like

a humbug, but it was told with all seriousness by a respectable

looking man.

A Mr. Ruggles, of Huron, Ohio, who was aboard of the same vessel, said,

that hacks of an axe were found in buried cedars, some years ago, at a

depth of about 40 feet below the surface, near the east edge of Huron

County, Ohio. There are no cedars, he adds, now growing in that

section of Ohio.

The _Burlington Gazette_ (Iowa) says, "that a Sac and Fox war party

recently returned from the Missouri, bringing eight scalps, and a number

of female prisoners, and horses. The Indians murdered were of the Omaha

tribe. The party consisted of ten men, with their squaws; and, although

only eight scalps were brought in, it is supposed that not a single man

escaped. We are not aware that feelings of hostility have heretofore

existed between these nations. The ostensible object of the Sac and Fox

party was to chastise the Sioux. The expedition was headed by Pa-ma-sa,

the bold and daring brave who recently inflicted a dangerous wound upon

the person of Ke-o-kuk."

_26th_. Arrived at Mackinack, in the steamer "United States," at 4

o'clock in the morning, after an absence of about twenty days.

_27th_. Mr. John R. Kellogg says, that during the early settlement of

Onondaga, N.Y., say about 1800, in cutting into a tree, in the vicinity

of Skaneateles, _iron_ was struck. On searching, they cut out a rude

chain, which was wound about in the wood, and appeared to have been

fastened above. Query, had this been a pot trammel of some ancient

explorer? Onondaga is known to have been early visited.

He also stated that three distinct hacks of an axe, of the ordinary

size, were found, in cutting down an oak, at the same period, in Ontario

County. Six hundred cortical layers were found _outside_ of these

antique hacks, indicating that they were made in the 12th century. I

record these archaeological memoranda merely for inquiry.

_29th_. Osha-wus-coda-waqua, a daughter of Wabojeeg, a celebrated war

chief of the close of last century, of Lake Superior, visited the

office. She states that her name is the result of a dream, by some

ancient crone, who officiated at her nativity, and that it means _the

Woman of the Green Valley_. She is now about 60 years of age. When about

15 or 16, she is said to have been a slender, comely lass, with large

bright hazel eyes, and a graceful figure. At this age, she married a

young gentleman from the north of Ireland, of good family and standing,

and high connections, who made a wild adventure into this region. This

is the origin of the Johnston family, in the basin of Lake Superior, and

the Straits of St. Mary's. She has had eight children, four sons and

four daughters, all of whom grew up to maturity, and all but the eldest

are now living. Her husband, who became a noted merchant or outfitter, a

man of great influence with the Indians, and high intelligence and

social virtues, died in 1828, at the age of about 66 years. She is now

subject to some infirmities; fleshy and heavy, and strongly inclined, I

should judge, to apoplexy. Her father, Wabojeeg, died of consumption,

not very old. She told me that the hieroglyphics and pictures which the

Indians cut on trees, or draw on barks, or rocks, which are designed to

convey _instruction_, are called KE-KÉE-WIN--a word which has its plural

in _un_. It is a noun inanimate. She laughs at the attempts of the

American and foreign traders to speak the Indian, the rules of which

they perpetually, she says, violate.

_31st_. A new species of white fish appears in the St. Mary's this

spring. It is characterized by a very small mouth, and pointed head, and

a crowning back, and is a remarkably _fat_ fish. The Odjibwas call it

_o-don-i-bee,_ or water-mouth. Hence the Canadian word _Tulibee_.

Wakazo, an Ottawa chief of Waganukizzie, and his band visit the office,

to confer on their affairs. He persists in his former determination to

form an agricultural settlement with his people, on the North Black

River, Michigan shore, and says that they will go down, to open their

farms, soon after the payment of the annuities.

_Aug. 1st_. Visited by the Baron Mareschal, Austrian Minister at

Washington, and Count de Colobiano, Minister of the kingdom of Sardinia.

These gentlemen both impressed me with their quiet, easy manner, and

perfect freedom from all pretence. I went out with them, to show them

the Arched Rock, the Sugar-loaf Rock, and other natural curiosities. At

the Sugar-loaf Rock they got out of the carriage and strolled about. The

baron and count at last seated themselves on the grass. The former was a

tall, rather grave man, with blue eyes, well advanced in years, and a

German air; the latter, three or four inches shorter of stature, with

black eyes, an animated look, and many years the junior.

_4th_. My children arrived at Mackinack this evening, from their

respective schools at Brooklyn and Philadelphia, on their summer

vacation, and have, on examination, made good progress.

_7th_. Albert Gallup, Esq., of Albany, lands on his way to Green Bay as

a U.S. commissioner to treat with the Stockbridges. This gentleman

brought me official dispatches relative to his mission and the

expenditures of it, and, by his ready and prompt mode of acting and

speaking, led me to call to mind another class of visitors, who seem to

aim by extreme formality and circumlocution to strive to hide want of

capacity and narrow-mindedness. Mr. Gallup mentioned a passage of

Scripture, which is generally quoted wrong--"he who reads may

run"--which set me to hunting for it. The passage is "that he may run

that readeth it."--HABAKKUK ii. 2.

_10th_. Mr. Stringham, of Green Bay, reports that he had recently

visited the scene of a battle or affray between the Sioux and

Chippewas, on Lake St. Croix, near the mouth of the St. Croix River,

Upper Mississippi. One or two Sioux, it seems, had been killed by some

thoughtless young men of a party of Chippewas, about three hundred

strong. This party encamped on the south shores of Lake St. Croix. They

were secretly followed by the Sioux, who, watching their opportunity,

fell on the camp while they were asleep, near daylight. One hundred and

twenty were killed in the onset. As soon as the Chippewas discovered

their position, and recovered their self-possession, they rallied, and,

attacking the assailants, drove them from the field, killed twenty, and

chased them to near their village. Hearing of this, the captain of the

steamer, on board of which Mr. S. was, went into the lake, and they

viewed the dead bodies.

_24th_. Returned to Mackinack, after a trip of eight days to Detroit.

The Iowa papers give accounts of the recent shocking murders committed

by the Sioux. "We learn," says the _Burlington Patriot_, "from Governor

Lucas and another gentleman, who came passengers on the 'Ione,' last

evening, that two hundred and twenty Indians were killed in the upper

country about the 1st inst. The facts, as they were related by a young

gentleman who was at the treaty, are as follows: The Sioux had invited

the Chippewas to meet them at St. Peter's, for the purpose of making a

treaty of everlasting friendship. The Chippewas assembled

accordingly--the pipe of peace was smoked--and they parted apparently

good friends. A large party of the Chippewas was encamped at the Falls

of St. Anthony, and a smaller party encamped on the St. Croix, on their

way home, without the least suspicion of treachery on the part of the

Sioux. While they were thus peaceably encamped, they were surprised by

the Sioux, who commenced their butchery. They immediately rallied, but

before the battle terminated the Chippewas lost one hundred and fifty at

the Falls and twenty on the St. Croix. The number of Sioux killed on the

occasion amounted to about fifty. We do not much wonder at the hostility

that has been exhibited by the Sauks and Foxes against the Sioux, if

this latter tribe has always been as treacherous as they were on the

above occasion."

_Sept. 3d_. A remarkable and most magnificent display of the Aurora

Borealis occurred in the evening. It began a quarter before eight, as I

was sitting on the piazza in front of my house, which commands a view

of the lake in front, and the whole southern hemisphere. From the zenith

points of light flared down the southern hemisphere. The north had none.

For five minutes the appearance, was most magnificent. Streaks of blue

and crimson red light appeared in several parts. At ten minutes to

eight, long lines began to form on the east, then west, and varying to

north-west, very bright, silvery and phosphorescent. Before nine, the

rays shot up from the horizon north-east, and finally north--the

southern hemisphere, at the same time, losing its brilliance. This light

continued in full activity of effulgence to ten, and, after my retiring

from the piazza, its gleams were visible through the windows the greater

part of the night, till two o'clock or later.

_11th_. A chief from St. Mary's, called Iawba Waddik (Male Reindeer),

visited the office. This man's name affords an evidence of the manner in

which a noun or adjective prefix is joined to a noun proper, namely, by

the interposition of a consonant before the noun, whenever the latter

_begins_, and the former _ends_, with a vowel. We cannot say,

iawba-_addik_--male deer; but euphony requires that, in these cases, the

letter _w_ should precede, and soften the sound of the initial _a_.

This chief was first introduced to me in 1822. His tall and lithe form,

his ease of manners, and a certain mild and civilized air, made me

notice him. He turned out to be the youngest son of a noted war chief,

called the White Fisher--Wa-bo-jeeg. He had, however, never been on the

war path, but addressed himself early to the art of hunting, in which he

excelled, and furnished his family with a plentiful supply of food and

clothing. He had had twelve children by one wife, giving an impressive

lesson, that peaceful habits and a plentiful supply of the means of

subsistence, are conducive to their usual results.

He is now about 45 years of age. The seventeen years during which I have

known him, have not detracted from his erect figure, his mild and easy

manners, or his docile and decidedly domestic disposition.

_12th_. The payment of the Indian annuities, which commenced on the 3d

instant, was continued till the 10th, and, skipping the 11th (Sunday),

finished this day. These payments were made as usual, in specie, and

_per capita_--man, woman, and child faring alike. The annuities in

provisions, tobacco, salt, &c., were, in conformity with custom, turned

over to the chiefs of bands in bulk; and by them divided, with

scrupulous care, among their people. The payments and deliveries have

engaged the whole force of the department for seven or eight days, and

have ended satisfactory to the Indians, who have been subsisted,

meantime, on the public provisions, without trenching on their

own stock.

_13th_. The Maumee Ottawas arrive at Louisville, Ky., on their way to

the west. Among this band there are two chiefs, Anto-kee, the head

chief, and Petonoquette, a much younger man. Anto-kee is a son of the

celebrated chief Tushquaquier, who was looked upon by the Ottawas as the

father of the tribe. Petanoquette is half French, son of Louisan, a

distinguished chief, who was killed, when Petonoquette was a mere child,

by that most barbarous and ferocious of all warriors, Kish-kau-go, who

afterwards committed suicide in the Detroit jail, in which he was

confined for murder. Anto-kee and Petonoquette are represented as very

good men, well informed, and not much inclined to barbarity. The former

is said to be a relative of the great Pontiac.

_14th_. Leave Mackinack for Detroit.

_27th_. Return from an official visit to the office at Detroit.

_30th_. A London paper of Sept. 4th notices a brilliant display of the

aurora borealis and falling stars, on the same day of the extraordinary

display of the same kind, witnessed on this island. The first impression

in that city, was of a great fire in some distant part of the city,

there being, at first, a dense red light. The difference between the two

places is about 25° of latitude. Its commencement was about half, or

three quarters of an hour later. The editor says:--

"Between the hours of ten last night and three this morning in the

heavens were observed one of the most magnificent specimens of that

extraordinary phenomena--the falling stars and northern lights--ever

witnessed for many years past. The first indication of this singular

phenomenon was about ten minutes before ten, when a light crimson,

apparently vapor, rose from the northern portion of the hemisphere, and

gradually extended to the centre of the heavens, and by ten o'clock, or

a quarter past, the whole, from east to west, was in one vast sheet of

light. It had a most alarming appearance, and was exactly like that

occasioned by a terrific fire. The light varied considerably; at one

time it seemed to fall, and directly after rose with intense brightness.

There were to be seen mingled with it volumes of smoke, which rolled

over and over, and every beholder seemed convinced that it was 'a

tremendous conflagration.' The consternation in the metropolis was very

great; thousands of persons were running in the direction of the

supposed catastrophe. The engines belonging to the fire brigade stations

in Baker Street, Farringdon Street, Wattling Street, Waterloo Road, and

likewise those belonging to the West of England station; in fact, every

fire-engine in London was horsed, and galloped after the supposed 'scene

of destruction' with more than ordinary energy, followed by carriages,

horsemen, and vast mobs. Some of the engines proceeded as far as

Highgate and Holloway before the error was discovered.

"These appearances lasted for upwards of two hours, and towards morning

the spectacle became one of more grandeur. At two o'clock this morning,

the phenomenon presented a most gorgeous scene, and one very difficult

to describe. The whole of London was illuminated as light as noonday,

and the atmosphere was remarkably clear. The southern hemisphere, at the

time mentioned, although unclouded, was very dark, but the stars, which

were innumerable, shone beautifully. The opposite side of the heavens

presented a singular but magnificent contrast; it was clear to the

extreme, and the light was very vivid; there was a continual succession

of meteors, which varied in splendor. They apparently formed in the

centre of the heavens, and spread till they seemed to burst; the effect

was electrical; myriads of small stars shot out over the horizon, and

darted with that swiftness towards the earth that the eye scarcely could

follow the track; they seemed to burst also and throw a dark crimson

over the entire hemisphere. The colors were the most magnificent that

ever were seen. At half-past two o'clock the spectacle changed to

darkness, which, on dispersing, displayed a luminous rainbow in the

zenith of the heavens and round the ridge of darkness that overhung the

southern portion of the country. Soon afterwards, columns of silvery

light radiated from it; they increased wonderfully, intermingled amongst

crimson vapor, which formed at the same time; and, when at the full

height, the spectacle was beyond all imagination. Stars were darting

about in all directions, and continued until four o'clock, and all died

away. During the time that they lasted, a great many persons assembled

on the bridges across the river Thames, where they had a commanding view

of the heavens, and watched the progress of the phenomenon attentively."

_Oct. 2d_. Mr. J.H. Kinzie, of Chicago, mentioned to me, in a former

interview, a striking trait of the barbarity of the Potawattomies in the

treatment of their women. Two female slaves, or wives of Wabunsee, had a

quarrel. One of them went, in her excited state of feeling, to the

chief, and told him that the other had ill-treated his children. He

ordered the accused to come before him. He told her to lie down on her

back on the ground. He then directed the other (her accuser) to take a

tomahawk and dispatch her. She split open her skull, and killed her

immediately. He left her unburied, but was afterwards persuaded to

direct the murderess to bury her. She dug a grave so shallow, that the

Wolves dug out the body that night and partly devoured it.

_3d_. James L. Schoolcraft brought me some mineralogical and geological

specimens from _Isle Cariboo_--the land of golden dreams and fogs in

Lake Superior. The island has a basis of chocolate-colored sandstone.

_5th_. The _Oneida Whig_ mentions the death, on the 20th ultimo, near

Oneida Castle, New York, of Ondayaka, head chief of the Onondagas, aged

about ninety-six. At the time of his death, Ondayaka, and the

subordinate chiefs and principal men of his nation, were on their way to

join in the ceremonies of electing a head chief of the Oneidas. Within a

few miles of the council house of the latter tribe, Ondayaka placed

himself at the head of the deputation of the Onondagas, and commenced

the performance of the ceremonies observed on such occasions, when he

was suddenly seized with the bilious colic. Calling the next chief in

authority to fill his station, he withdrew to the road side, when he

soon after expressed a consciousness that "it was the will of the _Great

Spirit_ that he should live no longer upon the earth." He then sent for

his people, and took leave of them, after counseling them to cultivate

and practice temperance and brotherly love in their councils and among

the people of the nation, and friendship and integrity with all. He soon

after became unable to speak, and in a few hours his spirit was gathered

to the Great Spirit who gave it.

_7th_. The following is an Odjibwa tradition. Adjejauk and Oshugee were

brothers, living at St. Mary's Falls. Oshugee was the elder. One day he

took his brother's fishing-pole into the rapids, and accidentally broke

it. This caused a quarrel. Oshugee went off south, and was referred to

as Shawnee. This was the origin of that tribe who call the Chippewas

_Younger Brother_, to this day. This is said by Nabunwa. The Shawnee

(southman) here named is not the Shawnee tribe. With this explanation,

the tradition may be admitted. It was probably the origin of the

Potawattomies.

_10th_. Two plum trees, standing in front of the agency, which had

attained their full growth, and borne fruit plentifully, for some few

years, began to droop, and finally died during the autumn. I found, by

examination, that their roots had extended into cold underground springs

of water, which have their issue under the high cliff immediately behind

the agency. They had originally been set out as wall fruit, within a few

feet of the front wall of the house, on its southern side. The one was

the common blue plum, the other an egg plum.

A mountain ash, standing some twenty feet west of them, had protruded

its roots into a similar cold moisture, but, so far from injuring it,

the tree grew more luxuriantly, putting forth leaves and berries in the

greatest profusion. Seeing this disposition to flourish by its proximity

to underground currents, I cut the bark of the tree, which is of a close

binding character, to allow it to expand, and found this to have an

excellent effect. This tree bears a white bell-shaped cluster of

blossoms, which originate the most beautiful scarlet berries in the

autumn. The one species is a native, the other an exotic.

_12th_. _Pemid-jee_, signifies in Chippewa across, sideways. _Go-daus_

is a garment, or cloth designed for it. Hence _mad-jee-co-ta_ a skirt or

side-cloth.

_17th_. Col. Wm.L. Stone writes that he is making progress in his _Life

and Times of Sir William Johnson_, and begs a copy of the old Military

Orderly Book, in my possession, detailing the siege and taking of Fort

Niagara, &c. He says of _Algie Researches_: "By the way, what a

delightful book you furnished us. Don't you remember that I told you not

to go to ---- for revision? He would have spoiled your simple and

beautiful tales. President Wayland, my brother-in-law, was delighted

with them."

_Dec.5th_. Abraham Schoolcraft, Special Emigrating Agent, reports the

safe arrival of the Swan Creeks at their destination on the river Osage.

The lands are fertile, the waters good, forest trees in abundance for

fire-wood and fences. Everything promises well for their future

prosperity.

_13th_. Wrote to Col. Stone, transmitting him a copy of the old journal,

before alluded to, of the siege of Niagara, in 1759, the march of Gen.

Bradstreet for the relief of Detroit, in 1763, &c.

_26th_. Mackinack has again assumed its winter phase. We are shut in

from the tumult of the world, and must rely for our sources of

intellectual sustenance and diversion on books, or researches, such as

may present themselves.

The following words, I am assured, are different, in the Ottawa and

Chippewa dialects:--

CHIPPEWA. OTTAWA.

1. Axe, Wag-á-kwut, Nah-bah-gun.

2. Point, Na-au-shi, Sin-gang.

3. Spring (season), Se-gwun, Me-no-ka-mi.

4. Scissors, Mozh-wá-gun, Sip-po-ne-gun.

5. Spear, Ah-nit, Nah-bah-e-gun.

6. Stop; cease; be still, Ah-no-wa-tan, Mah-ga-nick.

7. It's flown away, Ke-pah-ze-qwah-o, Ke-ke-ze-kay.

8. Maple tree, In-ne-nah-tig, As-sin-ah-mish.

9. Milk, To-dosh-á-bo, Mo-nah-gan-á-bo.

10. Small lake, or pond, Sah-gi-e-gan, Ne-bis.

11. He smokes, Sug-gus-wau, Pin-dah-qua.

12. It is calm, Ah-no-wá-tin, To-kis-sin.

13. It will be a severe,

or bad day, Tah-mat-chi-geezh-ik-ud. Tah-goot-au-gan.

14. I will visit, Ningah-mah-wa-tish-e-way, Ningah-Ne-

bwatch-e-way.

15. He will quarrel

(with) you, Kegah-Ke-kau-mig, Kegau-ne-tehi-we-ig.

16. He will strike you, Kegah-Puk-e-tay-og, Kegah-wa-po-taig.

17. Hammer, Puk-ke-tai-e-gun, Wap-o-ge-gin.

18. Dog, An-ne-moosh, An-ne-mo-kau-gi.

19. My mother, Nin-guh, Nin-gush,

20. Yes, Aih, Au-nin-da.

It is evident that these dialectic differences arise, not from the use

of a different language, but a different mode of applying the same

language--a language in which every syllable has a well-known primitive

meaning. Thus, in the name for maple tree(8), the Chippewa means,

spouted, or man tree (alluding to its being tapped for its sap), and the

Ottawa, stoned, or cut tree, alluding to the same feature. The same

terms are equally well known, and proper in both dialects. So in 10, the

one says a collection of running water, the other, a little mass of

water. So in 13, the one says, literally, it will be a bad day; the

other, it will storm. So in 17, the one says strike-instrument; the

other swing-instrument. So in 20, one uses an affirmative particle, the

other says, certainly.

_31st_. Rev. Thomas Hulbert, of the Pic, on the north shores of Lake

Superior, writes about the orthography and principles of the Indian

languages. When this gentleman was on his way inland, he stopped at my

house, and evinced much interest in the oral traditions of the Indians,

as shown in _Algic Researches_, and presented me the conjugation of the

Indian verb "_to see_," filling many pages of an old folio account

book--all written in the wretched system of notation of Mr. Evans.[94] I

stated to him the analytical mode which I had pursued in my lectures on

the structure of the languages, with the very best helps at St. Mary's;

and that I had found it to yield to this process--that the Algonquin

was, in fact, an aggregation of monasyllabic roots: that words and

expressions were formed entirely of a limited number of original roots

and particles, which had generic meanings. That new words, however

compounded, carried these meanings to the Indian ear, and were

understood by it in all possible forms of accretion and syllabication.

That the derivatives founded on these roots of one or two syllables,

could all be taken apart and put together like a piece of machinery.

That the principles were fixed, philosophical, and regular, and that,

although the language had some glaring defects, as the want of a

feminine pronoun, and many redundancies, they were admirably adapted to

describe geographical and meteorological scenes. That it was a language

of _woods and wilds_. That it failed to convey knowledge, only because

it had apparently never been applied to it. And that those philologists

who had represented it as an _agglutinated mass_, and capable of the

most recondite, pronominal, and tensal meanings, exceeding those of

Greece and Rome, had no clear conceptions of what they were speaking

of. That its principles are not, in fact, polysynthetic, but on the

contrary _unasynthetic_: its rules were all of one piece. That, in fine,

we should never get at the truth till we pulled down the, erroneous

fabric of the extreme polysynthesists, which was erected on materials

furnished by an excellent, but entirely unlearned missionary. But that

this could not be done now, such was the _prestige_ of names; and that

he and I, and all humble laborers in the field, must wait to submit our

views till time had opened a favorable door for us. It was our present

duty to accumulate facts, not to set up new theories, nor aim, by any

means, to fight these intellectual giants while we were armed but with

small weapons.

[Footnote 94: A Wesleyan missionary, some time at Port Sarnia, opposite

Fort Gratiot, Canada.]

Mr. Hurlbut entered into these views. He had now reflected upon them,

and he made some suggestions of philological value. He was an apt

learner of the language, as spoken north of the basin of Lake Superior.

"Orthography," he writes, "though of much importance, did not engage so

much of my attention as the construction of the language. I am not so

sanguine as to that performance (the conjugation of the verb _to see_)

as to be anxious to bring forward another. I am aware that an Indian

speaker, who had never studied his own language, would pronounce much of

that incorrect (in following a particular system imposed on him),

particularly in the characterizing (definitive) form, for in this

conjugation the root always undergoes a change. If the first syllable be

short, it is lengthened, as _be-moo-za, ba-moo-zad._ If it be long,

another is added, as _ouu-bet, ou-euu-bed._[95] But when a particle is

used, as is more generally the case, the root resumes its original form,

as _guu-ouu-bed._ I thought it best to preserve uniformity. I inserted a

note explaining this. Upon this, principle of euphony, Mr. Evans'

orthography will answer better than may at first appear. When the towel

is short, the final consonant is sharp, as _mek, muk, met_; but when the

vowel is long, it sounds like _meeg, seeg, neeg, nuug, meed_."

[Footnote 95: This is in Mr. Evans' System of Orthography.]

I had thought of making a collection of words, as a commencement for a

lexicon, but there are impediments in jay way for the present: 1st, I

want a plan; I want the opinion of those versed in the language, as two

roots frequently coalesce and form compound terms, and sometimes two

verbs and a noun amalgamate by clipping all; and it requires a skillful

hand to dissect them and show the originals. Should all these compound

terms be introduced (in the contemplated lexicon), it would swell the

work to a good size. If this be not done, _we must find some rule for

compounding the terms_, that the learner may be able to do it for

himself. This (the rule) I have not yet ascertained.

"I am favorably situated for making philological observations. I observe

that the Cree, although essentially the same language as the Chippewa,

yet drops, or never had, many of the suffix expletive particles of the

latter, though the prefix particles are pretty much the same in both.

The Cree has not, I believe, the double negative nor the adverbial and

plaintive forms of verbs, as I have termed them. This renders the

language less complex, and much more easy of acquisition than

the Chippewa.

"One thought was forcibly impressed on my mind while perusing the

publications of the American Antiquarian Society. In these publications

they introduce the names of things in order to show the affinity of

different tribes. From my knowledge of Indian, I am inclined to think

that the names of things change the soonest in any language, and that,

in order to ascertain the original stock of any tribe or nation by

comparing languages, we must descend to the groundwork of the languages

and search, not so much for similarity of sound as for the arrangement

and essential and peculiar principles of the languages.

"A principle that prevails in the American languages, as far as my

information extends, is, that the verb, with its nominative and

objective cases, be inseparably connected. The Delaware, the Chippewa

(under whatever name), and the Cree, &c., make the change in person,

number, &c., by a change in the prefix or suffix. But the Mohawk and

Chippewyan [96] make the change, in some cases, in the middle of the word,

when the Chippewa and others always remain unchanged."

[Footnote 96: It must be remembered that the Chippewas and Chippewyans,

are diverse tribes. The two words are both Chippewa; but the tribes are

of different groups. The one is ALGONQUIN; the other ATHAPASCA. The

Mohawk belongs to a third group of languages, namely, the IROQUOIS.]

CHAPTER LXIX.

Popular error respecting the Indian character and history--Remarkable

superstition--Theodoric--A missionary choosing a wild flower--Piety

and money--A fiscal collapse in Michigan--Mission of Grand

Traverse--Simplicity of the school-girl's hopes--Singular theory of the

Indians respecting story-telling--Oldest allegory on record--Political

aspects--Seneca treaty--Mineralogy--Farming and mission station on

Lake Michigan.

1840. _Jan. 1st_. Having determined to pass another winter (some ten

weeks of which are past) at Mackinack, I have found my best and

pleasantest employment in my old resource, the investigation of the

Indian character and history. The subject is exhaustless in every branch

of inquiry, but the more it is turned over and sifted, the more cause

there is to see that there is error to be encountered at almost every

step. Travelers have been chiefly intent on the picturesque, and have

given themselves but little trouble to investigate. The historian has

had his mind full of prepossessions derived from ancient reading, and

has, generally, been seated three thousand miles across the water, where

the work of personal comparison was impossible. Left to the repose of

himself, mentally and physically, without being placed in the crucible

of war, without being made the tool of selfishness, or driven to a state

of half idiocy by the use of liquor, the Indian is a man of naturally

good feelings and affections, and of a sense of justice, and, although

destitute of an inductive mind, is led to appreciate truth and virtue as

he apprehends them. But he is subject to be swayed by every breath of

opinion, has little fixity of purpose, and, from a defect of business

capacity, is often led to pursue just those means which are least

calculated to advance his permanent interests, and his mind is driven to

and fro like a feather in the winds. _This_ man, and _that_ man, are

continually bringing up Indians to speak for some selfish object, which,

being a little out of sight, he does not perceive in its true light, but

which he nevertheless is soon made to comprehend, if a public agent

sets it plainly before him. But there is a perpetual watch necessary to

protect him from deception, and this necessity becomes stringent in the

exact proportion that a tribe has _funds_ or _treaty rights_ of any

kind. If these attempts to make the Indian a stalking-horse for masked

or misstated objects be independently met, and with just sentiments of

dissent, the agent of the government is liable to calumniation, and it

becomes the policy of unscrupulous men to get their affairs placed in

hands having less well-defined notions of moral right, or more easily

swayed in their opinions.

_7th_. The season of New-year has been as usual a holiday, that is to

say, a time of hilarity and good wishes, with the Indians in this

vicinity, numbers of which have visited the office.

_20th_. Some of the superstitions of the Indians are explicable only on

the ground of their belief in magic. An old blind man of Grand Traverse

Bay, called Ogimauwish (literally bad chief), referring to the early

period of the visits of Europeans to the continent, related the

following:--

When the whites first came to this country, wars and atrocious cruelties

existed between the new race of men and the Indians. When this animosity

began to abate, a treaty was held, which was attended by the Indians far

and wide. They were told by an interpreter, one of the white men who had

already learned their language, that the Indian tribes appeared, in the

eyes of white men, while in action, like the beasts of the forests and

the birds of prey, changing from one form to the other, and that the

bullets of the foreigners had no effect on them. The reason for this

exemption from harm was this:--

In those times the Indians made use of the Pazhikewash, or buffalo-weed,

which is still used by some of them to this day, especially on war

excursions. This made them invulnerable to balls. They made a liquor

from it, and sprinkled themselves and their implements, and carried it

in their meda bags. They are under the belief that this medicine not

only wards off the balls and missiles, but tends to make them invisible.

This, with their reliance on the guardian spirits of whom they have

dreamed at their initial fasts, throws around them a double influence,

making them both invisible and invulnerable.

There is a root used by the Pillagers, to which they attribute similar

protecting influences, or attribute the gift of courage in war. It is

called by them OZHIGAWAK.

_22d_. Theodoric (_vide ante_, April 19th,) writes me from Detroit in

terms of the kindest appreciation for my kindness of him. On his arrival

at Mackinack he most acceptably executed several trusts--writing a good

hand, being of gentlemanly manners and deportment, and an obliging

disposition, and withal a high moral tone of character--as the winter

drew on, I judged he would make a good representative for the county in

the legislature, and started him in political life. He received the

popular vote, and proceeded to the Capitol accordingly.

He writes: "I wish to say to you that my reception here, both in my

public and private capacity, has been all that my best friends could

desire, and far above what I had any reason to expect. I allude to this

subject because it furnishes me with an occasion to acknowledge my deep

indebtedness to your kindness, and it affords me pleasure to recognize

it, under God, as the chief instrument in conferring on me my present

advantages. And I assure you my great and constant anxiety shall be, so

to conduct myself as not to disappoint any expectations which you may

have been instrumental in raising in regard to me."

_28th_. A zealous and pious missionary of the Church of England came to

the Chippewas located on the left, or British, side of the St. Mary's

River some years ago, under the patronage of the ecclesiastical

authorities of Toronto. At this place he married one of the daughters of

the Woman of the Green Valley (Ozhawuscodawaqua) heretofore noticed as

the daughter of Wabojeeg. He now writes from Canada West: "Charlotte and

myself are very much obliged to you for your kind offer of assistance,

of which we will avail ourselves. Although I have now a promise of this

Rectory, or I may say, a former one has been confirmed by Bishop

Strachan two or three days ago."

_31st_. A friend--a trustee of one of the principal churches at Detroit,

writes: "You may think it strange that we of the first Protestant

Society of this city are not able to pay our very worthy and deserving

pastor, and so it is; but it is no less strange than true! Some of our

subscribers are dead; some have failed, and so they can pay nothing, and

others have left the country in search of a more congenial clime, and

those remaining and much difficulty in meeting their money engagements,

though nearly all are in the habit of attending the preaching of this

best of men, and we are driven to the necessity of making a call on you,

though at a distance.

"Mr. Duffield is continuing his Sunday evening lectures, with his

Thursday evening Bible class exercises, and they are constantly

increasing in interest. We think him a _wonder;_ he renders every

subject he touches, simple, and gives the doctrines he treats upon, what

the Scriptures pronounce them to be, 'A man, though a fool, need not

err therein.'

"Our legislature is moving on slowly; the shafts of wit wielded at each

other by ----, and ----, are, as the common phrase is, 'a caution;' it

requires a man of more than common discernment to see their point. You

have, doubtless, before this, seen the announcement of the appointment

of Hastings and Stuart, as Auditor and Treasurer; what will become of

the Internal Improvement system, is doubtful. Committees are now engaged

in examining the Bank of Michigan, and the Farmers' and

Mechanics' Bank."

Another friend, who was _au fait_ on fiscal affairs (5th Feb.), says:

"We get on quite well. The legislative committee will be compelled to

state facts, and if they do nothing more they must give us a clean bill

of health. I miss you much this winter, and hope, if we are spared, you

will not immure yourself again so long."

The fiscal crisis that was now impending over Michigan, it was evident

was in the process of advance; but it was not possible to tell when it

would fall, nor with what severity. All had been

over-speculating--over-trading--over-banking, overdoing everything, in

short, that prudence should dictate. But the public were _in_ for it,

and could not, it seems, back out, and every one hoped for the best. My

best friends, the most cautious guides of my youth, had entered into the

speculating mania, and there appeared to be, in fact, nobody of means or

standing, who had been proof against the temptation of getting rich

soon. I "immured" myself far away from the scene of turmoil and strife,

and was happy so long as I kept my eyes on my books and manuscripts.

_Feb. 8th_. The mission recently established by the Presbyterian Board

at Grand Traverse Bay, flourishes as well as it is reasonable to expect.

Mr. Johnston writes: "The chief Kosa, and another Indian, have cut logs

sufficient for their houses. This finishes our pinery on this point. We

cannot now get timber short of the river on the south-east side of the

bay, or at the bottom of it, twelve miles distant. Mr. Dougherty has a

prayer meeting on Saturday night, and Bible class on Sabbath afternoon.

His meetings on Sunday are regularly attended by all the Indians who

spend the winter with us; they continue to manifest a kind feeling

towards us, and appear anxious to acquire useful knowledge."

_March 7th_. While politicians, financiers, speculators in real estate,

anxious holders of bank stock, and missionaries careful of the Indian

tribes are thus busy--each class animated by a separate hope--it is

refreshing to see that my little daughter (Jane) who writes under this

date from her school at Philadelphia, is striving after p's and g's. "I

am getting along in my studies very well. I love music as much as ever.

I like my French studies much. I have got all p's for my lessons, but

one g. G is for good, and p for perfect." What a pity that all classes

of adult men were not pursuing their g's and p's with equal simplicity

of emulation and purity of purpose.

_10th_. Prof. L. Fasquelle, of Livingston, transmits to me a translation

of the so-called "Pontiac manuscript." This document consists of an

ancient French journal, of daily events during the siege of the fort of

Detroit by that redoubtable chief and his confederates in 1763. It was

found in the garret of one of the French _habitants_, thrust away

between the plate and the roof; partly torn, and much soiled by rains

and the effects of time.

_13th_. The Chippewa Indians say that the woods and shores, bays and

islands, are inhabited by innumerable spirits, who are ever wakeful and

quick to hear everything during the summer season, but during the

winter, after the snow falls, these spirits appear to exist in a torpid

state, or find their abodes in inanimate bodies. The tellers of legends

and oral tales among them are, therefore, permitted to exercise their

fancies and functions to amuse their listeners during the winter season,

for the spirits are then in a state of inactivity, and cannot hear. But

their vocation as story tellers is ended the moment the spring opens.

The shrill piping of the frog, waking from his wintry repose, is the

signal for the termination of their story craft, and I have in vain

endeavored to get any of them to relate this species of imaginary lore

at any other time. It is evaded by some easy and indifferent remark.

But the true reason is given above. Young and old adhere to this

superstition. It is said that, if they violate the custom, the snakes,

toads, and other reptiles, which are believed to be under the influence

of the spirits, will punish them.

It is remarkable that this propensity of inventing tales and allegories,

which is so common to our Indians, is one of the most general traits of

the human mind. The most ancient effort of this kind by far, in the way

of the allegorical, is in the following words: "The Thistle that was in

Lebanon sent to the Cedar, saying, give thy daughter to my son to wife:

and there passed by a wild beast and trod down the Thistle." (2

Kings, xiv. 9.)

_April 5th_. A representative in Congress writes from Washington: "The

House moves very slowly in its business--that is, the business of the

nation. The principal object seems to be to make or unmake a President."

_6th_. The Rev. Benj. Dorr, of Christ Church, Philadelphia, commends to

my attentions a Mr. Wagner, a gentleman of intelligence, refinement, and

scientific tastes, who leaves that city on a tour to the lakes and St.

Anthony's Falls. "His object is to see as much as possible, in one

summer's tour, of our great Western World, and I hope he may stop a

short time at Mackinack, that he may have an opportunity of forming your

acquaintance, of seeing your beautiful island, and examining your

splendid cabinet of minerals, which would particularly interest him, as

he, has a taste for geological studies."

_8th_. Hon. A. Vanderpool, M.C. from N.Y., observes: "The Senate has, by

the casting vote of the Vice President, decided in favor of the Seneca

treaty, i.e., that the Indians shall be removed. Much opposition has

been made to the treaty, as you will perceive from the speech of Senator

Linn, which I send you."

It has been alleged against this treaty that it was carried through by

the zealous efforts of the persons holding (by an old compact) the

reversionary right to the soil after the Senecas should decide to leave

it, and that the obvious interests of these persons produced an undue

influence on this feature in the result. It is averred that the

Tonewonda band of the Senecas, who hold a separate and valuable

reservation on the banks of the Tonewonda River, opposed the proposition

altogether, and refused to place their signatures to the instrument.

It was supposed that small Indian communities, living on limited

reservations, surrounded entirely on all sides by white settlements,

could not sustain themselves, but must be inevitably swept away. But the

result, in the case of the Senecas and other remnants of the ancient

Iroquois, does not sustain this theory. It is true that numbers have

yielded to dissipation, idleness, and vice, and thus perished; but the

very pressure upon the mass of the tribes, and the danger of their

speedy destruction without resorting to agriculture, appear to have

brought out latent powers in the race which were not believed to exist.

They have taken manfully hold of the plough, cultivated crops of wheat

and corn, and raised horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. They have adopted

the style of houses, fences, implements, carriages, dress, and, to some

extent, the language, manners, and modes of transacting business, of

their neighbors. And, perceiving their ability to sustain themselves by

cultivation and the arts, now turn round and solicit the protecting arms

of the State and General Government to permit them to develop their

industrial capacities. Too late, almost, they have been convinced of the

erroneous policy of their ancestors, &c. Every right-thinking man must

approve this.

_May 12th_. Prof. Orren Root, of Syracuse Academy, New York, appeals to

me to contribute towards the formation of a mineralogical cabinet at

that institution.

_30th_. The new farming station and mission for the Chippewas of Grand

Traverse Bay is successfully established. The Rev. Mr. Dougherty reports

that a school for Indian children has been well attended since November.

A blacksmith's shop is in successful operation. The U.S. Farmer reports

that he has just completed ploughing the Indian fields. He has put in

several acres of oats, and the corn is about six inches above the

ground. The Indians generally are making large fields, and have planted

more corn than usual, and manifest a disposition to become industrious,

and to avail themselves of the double advantage that is furnished them

by the Department of Indian Affairs and by the Mission Board which has

taken them in hand.

CHAPTER LXX.

Death of Col. Lawrence Schoolcraft--Perils of the revolutionary

era--Otwin--Mr. Bancroft's history in the feature of its Indian

relations--A tradition of a noted chief on Lake Michigan--The collection

of information for a historical volume--Opinions of Mr. Paulding, Dr.

Webster, Mr. Duer, John Quincy Adams--Holyon and Alholyon--Family

monument--Mr. Stevenson, American Minister at London--Joanna

Baillie--Wisconsin--Ireland--Detroit--Michilimackinack.

1840. _June 7th_. The first of June found me in Detroit, on my way to

Washington, where I was in a few days met by the appalling intelligence

of the death of my father (Col. Lawrence Schoolcraft), an event which

took place on this day at Vernon, Oneida County, New York. He had

reached his eighty-fourth year, and possessed a vigor of constitution

which promised longer life, until within a few days of his demise. A

dark spot appeared on one of his feet, which had, I think, been badly

gashed with an axe in early life. This discoloration expanded upwards in

the limb, and terminated in what appeared to be a dry mortification.

In him terminated the life of one of the most zealous actors in the

drama of the American Revolution, in which he was at various times a

soldier and an officer, a citizen and a civil magistrate. "Temperate,

ardent and active, of a mind vigorous and energetic, of a spirit bold

and daring, nay, even indomitable in its aspirations for freedom, he

became at once conspicuous among his brethren in arms, and a terror to

his country's foes." [97]

[Footnote 97: Nat. Intell. July 31, 1840.]

His grandfather was an Englishman, and had served with reputation under

the Duke of Marlborough in some of his famous continental battles, in

the days of Queen Anne, and he cherished the military principle with

great ardor. He spoke fluently the German and Dutch languages, and was

thus able to communicate with the masses of the varied population,

originally from the Upper Rhine and the Scheldt, who formed a large

portion of the inhabitants of the then frontier portions of Albany

County, including the wild and picturesque range of the Helderbergs and

of the new settlements of Schoharie, the latter being in immediate

contact with the Mohawk Iroquois. The influence of the British

government over this tribe, through the administration of Sir William

Johnson, was unbounded. Many of the foreign emigrants and their

descendants were also under this sway, and the whole frontier was

spotted with loyalists under the ever hateful name of Tories. These kept

the enemy minutely informed of all movements of the revolutionists, and

were, at the same time, the most cruel of America's foes, not excepting

the Mohawks. For the fury of the latter was generally in battle, but the

former exercised their cruelties in cold blood, and generally made

deliberate preparations for them, by assuming the guise of Indians. In

these infernal masks they gave vent to private malice, and cut the

throats of their neighbors and their innocent children. In such a

position a patriot's life was doubly assailed, and it was often the

price of it, to declare himself "a son of liberty," a term then often

used by the revolutionists.

He had just entered his seventeenth year when the war against the

British authorities in the land broke out, and he immediately declared

for it; the wealthy farmer (Swartz) with whom he lived, being one of the

first who were overhauled and "spotted" by the LOCAL COMMITTEE OF

SAFETY, who paraded through the settlement with a drum and fife. He was

at the disarming of Sir John Johnson, at Johnstown, under Gen. Schuyler,

where a near relative, Conrad Wiser, Esq., was the government

interpreter. He was at Ticonderoga when the troops were formed into

hollow square to hear the Declaration of Independence read. He marched

with the army that went to reinforce Gen. Montgomery, at Quebec, and was

one of the besieged in Fort Stanwix, on the source of the Mohawk, while

Gen. Burgoyne, with his fine army, was being drawn into the toils of

destruction by Gen. Schuyler, at Saratoga--a fate from which his

_supersedeas_ by Gen. Gates, the only unjust act of Washington, did not

extricate him.

The adventures, perils, and anecdotes of this period, he loved in his

after days to recite; and I have sometimes purposed to record them, in

connection with his name; but the prospect of my doing so, while still

blessed with an excellent memory, becomes fainter and fainter.

_8th_. Otwin (_vide ante_) writes from La Pointe, in Lake Superior, in

the following terms:--

"I often look back to the happy days I spent in your family, and feel

grateful in view of them. A thousand blessings rest on your head, my

dear friend, and that of your wife, for all your kindness to me, when

first a stranger in a distant land. I cannot reward you, but know that

you will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just."

_9th_. "I know of no good reason," says a correspondent, "why a man

should not, at all times, stand ready to sustain the truth." This is a

maxim worthy Dr. Johnson; but the experience of life shows that such

high moral independence is rare. Most men will speak out, and even

vindicate the truth, _sometimes_. But the worldling will stand mute, or

_evade_ its declaration, whenever his interests are to be unfavorably

affected by it.

I reached Washington on public business during the heats of June, and,

coming from northern latitudes, felt their oppressiveness severely.

_27th_. Mr. Bancroft, the historian, pursues exactly the course he

should, to ferret out all facts, new and old. He does not hold himself

too dignified to pick up information, or investigate facts, whenever and

wherever he can find them. In what he has to say about the Indians, a

subject that lies as a superstratum under his work, he is anxious to

hear all that can be said. "Let me hear from you," he adds in a letter

of this date, "before you go back. I want to consult you on my chapter

about the Indians, and for that end should like to send you a copy

of it."

The chief, Eshquagonaby, of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, relates

the following traditions: When Gezha Manido (the Good Spirit) created

this island (continent), it was a perfect plain, without trees or

shrubs. He then created an Indian man and woman. When they had

multiplied so as to number ten persons, death happened. At this the man

lamented, and went to and fro over the earth, complaining. Why, he

exclaimed, did the Good Spirit create me to know death and misery so

soon? The Good Spirit heard this, and, after assembling his angels to

counsel, said to them, What shall we do to better the condition of man?

I have created him frail and weak. They answered, O, Good Spirit, thou

hast created us, and thou art everlasting, and knowest all things; thou

alone knowest what is best.

Six days were given to this consultation. During this time not a breath

of wind blew to disturb the waters. This is now called _unwatin_ (a

calm). On the seventh day not a cloud was seen; the sky was blue and

serene. This is called _nageezhik_ (excellent day) by the Indians.

During this day he sent down a messenger, placing in his right bosom a

piece of white hare skin, and in his left, part of the head of the

white-headed eagle. Both these substances had a blue stripe on them of

the nature and substance of the blue sky, being symbols of peace.

The messenger said to the man that complained: "Your words are heard,

and I am come from the Good Spirit with good words. You must conform

yourself to his commands. I bring pieces of the white hare skin and the

white eagle's head, which you must use in your MEDAWA (religico-medical

rites), and whatsoever is asked on those occasions will be granted, and

long life given to the sick." The messenger also gave them a white otter

skin, with a blue stripe painted on the back part of the head. Other

ceremonial rites and directions were added, but these may suffice to

indicate the character of Mr. Eshquagonaby's tradition, which has just

been sent to me.

_July 1st_. I was now anxious to collect materials for the publication

of a volume of collections by the Michigan Historical Society, and

addressed several gentlemen of eminence on the subject. Mr. J. K.

Paulding, Sec. of the Navy (July 9th), pleads official engagements as

preventing him from doing much in the literary way while thus employed.

Dr. Noah Webster, of New Haven, expresses his interest in the history of

the country generally, and his willingness to contribute to the

collection and preservation of passing materials. "In answer to the

request for aid in collecting national documents, I can sincerely say it

will give me pleasure to lend any aid in my power. Respecting the State

of Michigan, I presume I could furnish nothing of importance. Respecting

the history of our government for the last fifty years, I might be able

to add something to the stock of information possessed by the present

generation, for I find men in middle life absolutely ignorant of some

material facts which have a bearing on our political concerns. But

little can be expected, however, from a man of _eighty-two,_ whose toils

must be drawing to a close."

The Hon. John A. Duer, Prest. Col. College (July 15th), while expressing

a sympathy in the object, declares himself too much occupied in the

duties of his charge to permit him to hold forth any promise of

usefulness in the case specified.

Hon. John Quincy Adams forwarded, with the expression of his interest in

the subject, twelve pamphlets of historical value, the titles of each of

which he carefully recites in his letter. "It will give me much

pleasure," he says, "to transmit to the society, when it may be in my

power, any of the articles pertaining to the history of the country and

mentioned in your letter, as suited to promote the purposes for which it

was instituted."

From other quarters and observers less absorbed in the discharge of

specific functions, I received several valuable manuscript

communications, chiefly relative, to transactions on the frontiers or to

Indian history.

_22d_. Two half-breeds from the upper lakes, whom I shall designate

Holyon and Alholyon, made their way to the seat of government during the

winter of 1840. Holyon had been dismissed for improper conduct from the

office of Indian interpreter at Mackinack about May. Alholyon had been

frustrated in two several attempts to get himself recognized as head

chief by the Ottawas, and consequently to some influence in the use of

the public funds, which were now considerable. One was of the Chippewa,

the other of the Ottawa stock. Holyon was bold and reckless, Alholyon

more timid and polite, but equally destitute of moral principles. They

induced some of the Indians to believe that, if furnished by them with

funds, they could exercise a favorable influence at Washington, in

regard to the sale of their lands. The poor ignorant Indians are easily

hoodwinked in matters of business. At the same time they presented, in

secret council, a draft for $4000 for their services, which they induced

some of the chiefs to sign. This draft they succeeded in negotiating to

some merchant for a small part of its value. No sooner had they got to

head-quarters, and found they were anticipated in the _draft matter_,

and the _project of a chieftainship_, by letters from the agent, than

they drew up a long list of accusations against him, containing every

imaginable and abominable abuse of office. This was presented at the

Indian office, where its obvious character should have, it would seem,

been at once suspected. The head of that Bureau, who began to see from

the strong political demonstrations around him, "how the cat was about

to jump," acceded to a request of Holyon and Alholyon, that the matter

be referred for local examination to one or two of their personal

advisers inland. This step (in entire ignorance of the private relations

of the parties, it must be presumed,) was assented to. In a letter of

Holyon to J.L.S., of May 19th, 1840, he says: "The department was

predisposed against him (the agent), and wanted only a cause to proceed

against him." But it left a stain on its fairness and candor by omitting

the usual course of furnishing the agent a copy of the charges and

requesting his attention thereto, or even of informing him of the

pendency of an investigation. As the charges were entirely unfounded,

and had been the diseased imaginings of disappointed and unprincipled

minds, it only put the agent to the necessity of confronting his

assailants, and with every advantage of accusers, examiners and the

appellant power against him, he was triumphantly acquitted, by an

official letter, of every charge whatever, and of every moral imputation

of wrong. "Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou

mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?" (Job xi. 3.)

_24th_. I left Washington for the north, taking my children along from

their respective schools at Philadelphia and Brooklyn, for their summer

vacation, and only halting long enough at Utica and Vernon, to direct a

marble monument to be erected to the memory of my father. The site

selected for this was the cemetery on the Scanado (usually spelled

without regard however to the popular pronunciation _Skenandoah_),

Vernon. It appeared expedient to make this a family monument, and I

directed the several faces to be inscribed as follows:--

THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED

In memory of

A FATHER, A MOTHER AND A SISTER,

By the surviving children.

* * * * *

COLONEL LAWRENCE SCHOOLCRAFT,

A soldier of the Revolution of 1776,

(He being the second in descent from James,

who came from England in the reign of Queen Anne,)

Born Feb. 3d, 1757. Died June 7th, 1840,

In his 84th year.

He lived and died a patriot, a Christian, and an honest man.

* * * * *

MARGARET ANN BARBARA,

Consort of Col. Lawrence Schoolcraft,

Died Feb. 16th, 1832, aged 72.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed."--PROV.

* * * * *

MISS MARGARET HELEN,

Daughter of Lawrence and Margaret Ann Barbara Schoolcraft,

Born 18th June, 1806

Died 12th April, 1829, in her 23d year.

I reached Detroit early in August. A letter from Mackinack, of the 13th

of that month, says: "The children arrived at midnight past, safe and

sound, and they seem quite delighted. Eveline seems to be the centre of

attraction with them all. I have not a word new to say. A change has

come over the spirit of our notables. Samuel, the day before your letter

was received, expressed his opinion, that 'it would go hard with you.' A

dog when he supposes himself unnoticed in the act of stealing, looks

mean, but when he is _discovered_ in the act, he looks meaner still. And

I know of no better comparison than _this_ clique, and _that_ dog."

_24th_. Hon. Andrew Stevenson, American Minister in London, responds to

my inquiries on certain historical points, respecting which he has

kindly charged his agent to institute inquiries.

_Sept. 5th_. I reached the agency at Mackinack about the beginning of

September. Facilis, a young man of equally ready and respectable

talents, writes me, from Detroit, under this date, expressing a wish to

be employed in the execution of some of the fiscal duties of the

superintendency during the season. "I write to you," he adds, "as a

friend. Times are hard, and every little that is directed to aid one in

his efforts to stem the current of life, possesses an incalculable

value." I yielded the more readily to this request from the chain of

circumstances which, however favorable, had hitherto disappointed his

most ardent aims and the just expectations of his friends.

_11th_. Joanna Baillie, the celebrated authoress, who has spent a long

life in the most honorable and deeply characteristic literary labors,

writes from her residence at Hampstead (Eng.), as if with undiminished

vigor of hope, expressing her interest in the progress of historical

letters in this (to her) remote part of the world. How much closer bonds

these literary sympathies are in drawing two nations of a kindred blood

together, than dry and formal diplomatics, in which it is the object, as

Talleyrand says, of human language to conceal thought!

_Oct. 16th_. Wisconsin is slowly, but surely, filling up with a healthy

population, and founding her moral, as well as political institutions,

on a solid basis. Rev. Jer. Porter, my old friend during the interesting

scenes at St. Mary's, in 1832 and 1833, writes me, that, after passing a

few years in Illinois, he has settled at Green Bay, as the pastor of a

healthful and increasing church. "I have recently," he writes, "made an

excursion on horseback, in the interior of the territory. I traveled

about 400 miles, being from home sixteen days. I went to meet a

convention of ministers and delegates from Presbyterian and

Congregational churches, to see if we could form a union of the two

denominations in the territory, so that we might have a perfect

co-operation in every good work. We had twelve ministers of these

denominations present, all but four or five now in the territory, and

were so happy as to form a basis of union, which will, I trust, prove

permanent, and be a great blessing to our churches. This seems to us a

very favorable beginning.

"I find the beautiful prairies of the interior rapidly settling with a

very good population from the Eastern States, and the healthiness of the

country gives it some advantages over Illinois. With the blessing of the

Lord, I think this may yet be one of the best States in the Union."

_20th_. The Rev. Henry Kearney, of Kitternan Glebe, Dublin (Ireland),

communicates notices of some of the inroads made by death on the rank of

our friends and relatives in that land. "Since my last, the valued

friend of the family, the Right Hon'ble Wm. Saurin (late

Attorney-General) was removed from this world of changes to the world of

durable realities. He was past eighty. The bishop (Dromore) is still

alive, not more than a year younger than his brother. Old age--found in

the ways of righteousness--how honorable!

"You will have learned, from the European newspapers, the agitated state

of all the countries from China to Great Britain. Is the Lord about to

bring to pass the predicted days of retribution on the nations for

abused responsibility, and the restoration of the ancient nation of

Israel, to be, once more, the depository of his judgment and truth for

the recovery of all nations to the great principles of government and

religion taught us in His holy word?"

_Nov. 1st_. Having concluded the Indian business in the Upper Lakes for

the season, I returned with my family to Detroit, and employed my

leisure in literary investigations.

_Dec. 3d_. Mr. Josiah Snow apprizes me that he is about, in a few weeks,

to issue the first number of a newspaper devoted to agriculture, in

which he solicits my aid.

_15th_. J. K. Tefft, Esq., of Savannah, informs me of my election, on

the 9th Sept. last, as an honorary member of the Georgia

Historical Society.

_19th_. I wrote the following lines in memory of my father:--

The drum no more shall rouse his heart to beat with patriot fires,

Nor to his kindling eye impart the flash of martial ires:

Montgomery's fall, Burgoyne's advance, awake no transient fear;

E'en joy be dumb that noble France grasped in our cause the spear.

The cloud that, lowering northward spread, presaging woe and blight,

In that wild host St. Leger led, no longer arm for fight;

The bomb, the shell, the flash, the shot, the sortie, and the roar,

No longer nerve for battle hot--the soldier is no more.

But long shall memory speak his praise, and mark the grave that blest,

When eighty years had crowned his days, he laid him down to rest;

The stone that marks the sylvan spot, the line that tells his name,

The stream, the shore; be ne'er forgot, and freedom's be his fame.

'Twas liberty that fired him first, when kings and tyrants plan'd,

And proud oppression's car accurst, drove madly o'er the land;

And long he lived when that red car--the driver and the foe

Unhorsed in fight, o'ermatched in war--laid impotent and low.

He told his children oft the tale--how tyrants would have bound,

And murderous yells filled all the vale, and blood begrimed the ground.

They loved the story of the harms that patriot hands repelled,

And glowed with ire of wars and arms, and fast the words they held.

The right, the power, the wealth, the fame, for which the valiant fought,

Have long been ours in deed and name--life, liberty, and thought;

And while we hold these blessings, bought with valor, blood, and thrall,

Embalmed in thought be those who fought and freely periled all.

_23d_. The Detroit Branch of the University of Michigan organized, and

the Principal sends me a programme of its studies. Mr. Williams also

sends me the programme of the Pontiac Branch.

_31st_. "We were in hopes," says James L. Schoolcraft, in a letter from

Mackinack, "of seeing a steamboat up during the fine weather in the

latter part of November. It is now, however, since 14th inst., cold.

Theodoric has undertaken to conduct a weekly paper, the _Pic Nic_,

which, thus far, goes off well. Lieut. Pemberton, in the fort, is

engaged in getting up a private theatre. Thus, you see, we endeavor to

ward off winter and solitude in various ways. The rats are playing the

devil with your house. I have removed all the bedding. They have injured

some of your books."

CHAPTER LXXI.

Philology of the Indian tongues--Its difficulties--Belles

lettres and money--Michigan and Georgia--Number of species in

natural history--Etymology--Nebahquam's dream--Trait in Indian

legends--Pictography--Numeration of the races of Polynesia and the Upper

Lakes--Love of one's native tongue--Death of Gen. Harrison--Rush for

office on his inauguration--Ornamental and shade trees--Historical

collections--Mission of "Old Wing."

1841. _Jan. 12th_. The Rev. Thomas Hulbert, of Pic, Lake Superior, who

has studied the Chippewa language, says: "I fully concur in your remarks

on the claims of philology. Circumstances may be easily conceived in

which the missionary could in no way serve the cause of Christianity so

effectually as by the study of barbarous languages. His primary object,

it is true, is Christian instruction; but he would, at the same time,

serve the cause of science, by assisting in the advance of comparative

philology. In this light I view your _Algic, Researches_, which I

consider a valuable acquisition to the missionary, as it introduces him

into the stronghold of Indian prejudices. The introductory remarks I

studied with peculiar interest.

"I find the principal difficulty in getting at the principles of the

language to be in the compounds. I have long thought upon the subject,

but have as yet ascertained no rule to guide me. However, I do not

despair. If it cannot be taken by a '_coup de main_,' patience and

perseverance may in the end prevail. I intend to bend my mind to this

subject for the future. It will probably require much research to settle

this matter. There are some compounds that I form readily, in others I

fail. I have not observed anything in the language like the rythmatic

flow of Greek and Latin poetry; there is no alternation of long and

short syllables; some words are composed entirely of long syllables,

others of short ones, but generally there is at least one of each in

a word.

"I have nothing in the shape of Indian poetry or hieroglyphics, neither

have I seen the rocks you mention south-east of this place, but I have

heard of them. All their traditions, or comic and tragic lore, should be

collected, though it could not all be published in consequence of its

obscenity. Almost all the _Ah-te-soo-kaum_ I have heard, has had more or

less of this ingredient."

Those who contend for a Welsh element in the languages of the American

stocks, find little or no support in modern vocabularies.

ENGLISH. GERMAN. WELSH. ALGONQUIN.

Fire, Feuer, Tan, Schoda.

Water, Wasser, Duel, Neebi.

Earth, Erde, Daal, Aki.

Welt,

Wind, Wind, Gwint, Noden.

Sky, Volka, Avere, Geezhikud.

Sea, Meer, More, Gitchigomi.

Book, Buch, Llyfer, Muzzenyegun.

This topic requires, however, to be investigated on a broad scale. It is

merely adverted to here. It is among the western nations that inquiries

should be extended.

_Feb. 4th_. I received a diploma of membership from the Georgia

Historical Society, forwarded in accordance with a previous notice; and

a few days after, through the medium of the Hon. A.S. Porter, the first

volume of their transactions. Southern zeal quite outdoes us, in our

literary efforts here of late. The truth is, men have speculated so

wildly, they have no money to devote to historical or literary plans. A

correspondent writes me (Feb. 12th) on these visionary plans of

investment.

"H. wants me to go farther in the Cass Front; But I am determined to

fall in the rear, as I have written to him. For the last three years I

have been going on the Dutch plan, which, had I always pursued, I should

now have had $10,000 in gold in my trunk, instead of having ten thousand

trunks full of _ground_."

_7th_. Dick says that there are about 60,000 species in the animal

kingdom. Of these, 600 species are mammalia, or sucklings, mostly

four-footed; 4,000 birds, 3,000 fish, 700 reptiles, 44,000 insects,

about 3,000 shell fish, and 80 to 100,000 animalcula, invisible to the

naked eye. Perhaps these species may reach to 300,000 altogether. Yet

here are no estimates for plants, ferns, mosses, madrepores, extinct

fossil species, minerals and rocks. What a field for the naturalist! Yet

Pope could exclaim--

"Say what the use, were finer optics given,

T' inspect a mite--not comprehend the heaven."

We are, in fact, equally and as much in want of microscopic and

telescopic knowledge.

_20th_. An Indian, a Chippewa, recently visited the office, whose name

is Nageezhik. This is one of the simplest compounds. I spent some time,

however, with the man and his companions to get its exact etymology.

_Geezhik_ is the sky, or visible firmament, seen through the clouds. The

word denotes two phenomena: first, something visible to the eye that is

fixed and does not move, which is implied by the root _geezh_, and the

inflection _ik_, which seems applicable to all inanimate substances, to

denote the fact of their substantivity. The sky is thus described

apparently as a created, or made thing. _Na_ (the _aa_ in Aaron) is a

qualifying particle of very general use. It appears to place substances

to which it is affixed in a superlative sense, and always as exalting

the object. Thus its meaning may be fair, admirable, or excellent.

Applied to geezhik, it implies an excellent quality in only one sense,

that is excellent or fair, for a spot on the blue profound, of which

geezhik is the description. For fairness or excellence cannot exist, or

be described in their language, unless seen plainly by the eye. It is

the spot made by a small cloud that makes it excellent or fair. The

meaning is the fair or excellent (spot) on the sky.

_March 1st_. Madwaybuggashe, a Chippewa Indian, of Grand Traverse Bay,

Lake Michigan, related the following dream of Nebahquam, an Indian who

recently died at that place:--

Nebahquam dreamed that he saw a white man coming towards him, who said,

You are called. He replied, Where am I called? The white man pointed to

a straight path, leading south-east. Follow that. Nebahquam obeyed and

followed it, till he came to a thick wooded country through which the

path led. He soon came to stumps of trees newly cut down, and afterwards

heard a cock crowing. He next passed through a new town, where he was

inclined to stop, but was told to go on. Again the cock crew. He next

came to an immense plain, through which his path led straight forward

for some time, till he came to the foot of a ladder. He was told to

ascend this, but it reached up as he went, till, looking back, he had a

wide bird's-eye view of towns, cities, and villages. He continued to go

up until he reached the skies. Here stood another white man, who told

him to look round a new earth. There were four splendid houses. His

guide told him to enter one of these. As he got near it, a door opened,

and he entered into a splendid apartment where four white men were

seated. Two of these had heads white as snow. They spoke to him saying,

Here is the place to which you are called. No Indian has ever reached

here before. Few white men come here. Look down and behold the bones of

those who have attempted to ascend, bleaching at the foot of the ladder.

The two venerable men then gave him a bright-red deer's tail, and an

eagle's feather, which he was directed to wear on his head; they were

talismans that would protect him from peril and danger, and insure him

the favor of the Master of Life. Both white and red men could have

reached the place, they continued, but for refusing to receive Him who

was sent to save them, and for reviling and killing him. Look around

again, they continued to say, and he saw animals and birds of every kind

in abundance. These are for the red men, and are placed here to show the

peculiar care of the Great Spirit for them.

Nebahquam was a Roman Catholic, and died in that faith. But he said that

he had heard the dream in his youth, and he regarded it as sacred. Such

are the blendings of superstition and religion in the Indian mind.

_3d_. Some of the incidents of the fictitious legends of the Indians

teach lessons which would scarcely be expected. Manibozho, when he had

killed a moose, was greatly troubled as to the manner in which he should

eat the animal. "If I begin at the head," said he, "they will say I eat

him head first. If I begin at the side, they will say I eat him

sideways. If I begin at the tail, they will say I eat him tail first."

While he deliberated, the wind caused two limbs of a tree that touched

to make a harsh creaking noise. "I cannot eat with this noise," said he,

and immediately climbed the tree to prevent it, where he was caught by

the arm and held fast between the two trees. Whilst thus held, a pack of

hungry wolves came that way and devoured the carcass of the moose

before his eyes.

The listener to the story is plainly taught to draw this conclusion: If

thou hast meat in thy wanderings, trouble not thyself as to little

things, nor let trifles disturb thy temper, lest in trying to rectify

small things thou lose greater ones.

_13th_. Some years ago, a Chippewa hunter of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake

Michigan, found that an Indian of a separate band had been found

trespassing on his hunting grounds by trapping furred animals. He

determined to visit him, but found on reaching his lodge the family

absent, and the lodge door carefully closed and tied. In one corner of

the lodge he found two small packs of furs. These he seized. He then

took his hatchet and blazed a large tree. With a pencil made of a burned

end of a stick, he then drew on this surface the figure of a man holding

a gun, pointing at another man having traps in his hands. The two packs

of furs were placed between them. By these figures he told the tale of

the trespass, the seizure of the furs, and the threat of shooting him if

he persevered in his trespass. This system of figurative symbols I am

inclined to call pictography, as it appears to me to be a peculiar and

characteristic mode of picture-writing.

_22d_. Mr. Ellis, in his Polynesian Researches, represents the Pacific

Islands as being inhabited by two distinct races of men, each of whom

appears to preserve the separate essential marks of a physical and

mental type. The first, which is thought the most ancient, consists of

the Oceanic negroes, who are distinguished by dark skins, small stature,

and woolly or crisped hair. They are clearly Hametic. They occupy

Australia, and are found to be aborigines in Tasmania, New Guinea, New

Britain, New Caledonia and New Hebrides. The other race has many of the

features of the Malays and South Americans, yet differs materially

from either.

Yet what is most remarkable, the latter have an ingenious system of

numeration, by which they can compute very high numbers. They proceed by

decimals, precisely like the Algonquin tribes, but while the

arithmetical theory is precisely the same, a comparison shows that the

names of the numerals have not the slightest resemblance.

POLYNESIAN. ALGONQUIN.

One, Atabi, Pazhik.

Two, Arua, Neezh.

Three, Atora, Niswi.

Four, Amaha, Newin.

Five, Arima. Nanun.

Six, Aono, Ningodwaswa.

Seven, Ahitu, Nizhwaswa.

Eight, Avaru, Schwaswa.

Nine, Aiva, Shonguswa.

Ten, Ahuru, Metonna.

The Polynesians, like the Algonquins, then say, ten and one for eleven,

&c., till twenty, which is _erua ahuru_, this is two tens; twenty-one

consists of the terms for two tens and one. In this manner they count to

ten tens, which is _rau_. Ten _raus_ is one _mano_, or thousand; ten

_manos_ one million, and so on. How exactly the Algonquin method, but

not a speck of analogy in words.

_27th_. One of the emigrant Germans who swarm about the city, a poor

ill-dressed wood-sawyer, met me, on coming out of my office door, and,

mistaking me for the owner of a visible pile of wood, addressed me in

one of the Rhine dialects, inquiring the owner. I replied: _Ich wies

necht--es is necht mein_. He looked with delighted astonishment at an

American speaking his language--"a stranger in a strange land"--and was

ready to proffer any services in his power.

_April 4th_. A friend from Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, writes: "It was

my luck to be called to Washington the latter part of February, and to

be detained until the 11th ultimo, and in that great city business

occupied my attention all the time. The congregation of strangers from

all parts of the Union was immense; the number estimated at fifty

thousand. Thirty thousand of them, at least, expectants, or thinking

themselves worthy of office. But, alas! for the ingratitude of man, they

were, almost to a man, sent home without getting their share of the

pottage.... There has yet been no change in the head of the Indian

Bureau, although there are three candidates in the field.

"I have just heard the rumor of the death of Gen. Harrison (the

newly-elected President of U.S.), and, upon inquiry, find that it is

well founded. It is said that he died last night at twelve o'clock. He

has been suffering for a week past with a severe attack of pneumonia, or

bilious pleurisy. Should this be so,[98] it will make a great change in

the political destiny of the country for four years to come. Mr. Tyler

is a southern man with southern principles, rather a conservative,

opposed to a heavy tariff, if in favor of any. There will be a different

policy pursued, and you will find great disappointment and confusion. He

is not a man who will pursue a proscriptive course in turning out and

putting into office, but who will go upon the great principle of the

Virginia school in regard to office-holders. 'Is he honest? Is he

capable?' I am of the opinion that the chartering of a national bank

will not meet his approval. But there is no telling. Politicians, in

these days of humbug, make so many turnabouts that it is impossible to

scan their future conduct by their past deeds."

[Footnote 98: It was.]

_7th_. Wrote a communication for the _Michigan Farmer_, on the important

subject, as a matter of taste, of "ornamental and shade trees." New

settlers are bent on denuding their lands of every tree, and a newly

opened farm looks as if a tornado had passed over it.

_6th_. Messrs. Dawson and Bates submit estimates for the contemplated

historical volume, for which I am taking every means of preparing the

materials. I am satisfied that without publication the Hist. Society

cannot acquire a basis with the literary world to stand upon. My own

collections respecting the language and history of the Indian tribes are

alone adequate to the publication of several volumes, and I have long

sought, without being able to find, a proper medium of bringing these

materials forward. My local position is unfavorable to sending them to

the American Philosophical Society, or to any of the cities on the

seaboard, where they would, however, be mangled, as I told Mr.

Duponceau, for want of proof-reading; and here, alas! it is a question

of _dollars_.

_15th_. Rev. Geo. N. Smith reports the state of the new mission at "Old

Wing," on Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, as encouraging. The

American Board (who gave up this general field just at a time when, some

thought, it was ready to bear fruits) transferred the treaty fund under

which this mission was undertaken.

"We chopped in all," writes Mr. S. "about forty-five acres, but a team

is necessary to clear off the timber, so that the land can be cleared

and prepared for a crop this season. During the winter we had a school,

which produced very encouraging results. I taught it in my own house.

The scholars applied themselves closely to their studies and made great

progress in learning, so that, if we had funds to go forward without

embarrassment, our progress of ameliorating the condition of this band

would be very flattering.

"The Indians say they are going to remain here this summer, and improve

their lands, and that, if they can get their oxen, wagons, tools, &c.,

this spring, those who have never been here since they purchased (these

purchases were in the U.S. Land Office), will come immediately and

settle. And, I think, if their expectations in this respect could be

realized, they would go forward with renewed encouragement, and with a

success which would well compare with our best expectations. Also if

their annuities could be paid somewhere in this vicinity, it would be of

great advantage to them, as it would save much time which might be very

profitably spent at home."

CHAPTER LXXII.

Popular common school education--Iroquois name for Mackinack--Its scenic

beauties poetically considered--Phenomenon of two currents of adverse

wind meeting--Audubon's proposed work on American quadrupeds--

Adario--Geographical range of the mocking-bird--Removal from the West to

the city of New York--An era accomplished--Visit to Europe.

1841. _May 3d_. F. SAWYER, Jr., Esq., a gentleman recently appointed

Superintendent of Public Instruction, from Ann Arbor, writes: "Yours of

the 19th April came during my absence at Marshall, and I take the first

opportunity to reply, thanking you for the suggestions made. It is my

intention to attempt the publication of a monthly, something after the

manner of the _Boston Common School Journal_, one of the best things of

the kind, in my humble opinion, to be found in the Union. As the

legislative resolution authorizing a subscription for such a publication

is repealed, a journal, if started, will depend upon the disposition of

the people to sustain it.

"My intention is to address a circular to the different Boards of School

Inspectors throughout Michigan, urging upon them the necessity of doing

something for the cause, and invoking their efficiency in the matter. If

they will take hold and raise a certain amount in their district, and

pledge their constant exertions to excite and keep alive public interest

on the subject of common schools, much will have been effected.

"To succeed, the journal must treat of subjects in the most popular

manner, avoiding, as far as is consistent with the dignity of the object

in view, very elaborate and prosy disquisitions. I shall endeavor to get

a circular out next week. Meantime accept my thanks for the interest you

take in the subject, and be assured that if I succeed in starting the

journal, I shall, at all times, be grateful for contributions from you."

_22d_. Landed at Mackinack after having passed the winter at Detroit. It

appears from Colden that the Iroquois called this island

Teiodondoraghie. What an amount of word-craft is here--what a poetic

description thrown into the form of a compound phrase! The local term in

_doraghie_ is apparently the same heard in Ticon_deroga_--the

imprecision of writing Indian making the difference. _Ti_ is the

Iroquois particle for water, as in _Tioga_, &c. _On_ is, in like manner,

the clipped or coalescent particle for hill or mountain, as heard in

Onondaga. The vowels _i, o_, carry the same meaning, evidently, that

they do in Ontario and Ohio, where they are an exclamatory description

for beautiful scenery. What a philosophy of language is here!

_June 15th_. The balmy, soft influence of a June atmosphere, resting

upon this lovely scene of water, woods, and rocks--a perfect gem in

creation, deeply impressed me. Under a strong sense of its geological

frame-work of cliffs and winding paths, it appeared that it only

required a poetic drapery to be thrown over it and its historical

associations, to render it a pleasing theme of description. So unlike

English scenery, and yet so characteristic--so very American.

_21st_. While standing on the piazza in front of the agency house at

Mackinack, about five o'clock P.M., my attention was directed to the

strong current which set through the strait, west, under the influence

of a strong easterly wind. The waves were worked up into a perfect

series of foam wreaths, succeeding each other for miles. While admiring

this phenomenon, a cloud gathered suddenly in the west, and, in a few

minutes, poured forth a gust of wind towards the east, attended with

heavy rain. So suddenly was this jet of wind propagated towards the

east, that the foam of waves running west was driven back eastwardly,

before the waves had time to reverse their motion, which created the

unusual spectacle of two opposing currents of wind and waves, in the

most active and striking manner. The wave current still running west,

while the wind current seized its foam and carried it in a long line

towards the east. The new current soon prevailed. At half-past six

o'clock the storm had quite abated, and the wind settled lightly from

the south-west.

_26th_. Mr. John J. Audubon announces his intention to prepare a

complete work on American quadrupeds, correspondent, in the style of

execution, to his great work on ornithology. "As I do not know," he

modestly says, "whether you are aware of my having published a work on

the birds of America, I take this opportunity to assure you that I

have, and, at the same time, to apprise you of my having undertaken, and

in fact, began another on the viviparous quadrupeds of our country,

which it is also my intention to publish as soon as I can.

"In all such undertakings, the simple though unintermitted labors of an

individual are not sufficient, and assistance from others is not only

agreeable, but is, in my opinion, absolutely necessary to render them as

complete as possible.

"Having not only heard, but also read, of your having rendered essential

services to Charles Bonaparte, Mr. Cooper of this city, and other

eminent naturalists, I think that perhaps, you would not look upon my

endeavors to advance science as not unworthy of the same species of

assistance at your hands, and I will therefore say, at once, what my

desires are, and wish of you to have the goodness to let me know,

whether it is agreeable or convenient for you to assist me.

"My wishes are to procure of quadrupeds, of moderate and small sizes,

preserved entire in the flesh, and in strong common rum (no other

spiritous liquor will preserve them equally well), and the _heads_ and

_feet_ of the larger species, likewise in rum. The large animals in the

skins, after having taken accurate notes of measurements, the color of

the eyes, date of capture, locality, and also, whatever may relate to

their _habits_ and _habitats_! By the first of which, I more

particularly mean, their usual and unusual postures, gaits, &c., and

whether they climb trees, or are altogether terrestrial. My desire to

have the animals in the flesh, is in connection with my wish to give

their anatomy, or as much of it as may be thought useful or necessary to

the student of nature, and by which the species may be better hereafter

known than heretofore."

_28th_, Maj. Delafield writes respecting the contemplated work of

Audubon: "If in your power to aid him as proposed, you will contribute

to another magnificent American work on natural science, intended to be

on the same grand scale with his ornithology."

_July 7th_. Among the most noted aboriginal characters who have, in

bygone times, lived here, was Adario, a Wyandot, who flourished while

that tribe were in exile on this island. He appears to me, from the

descriptions given of him, to have had larger inductive powers than the

Indians generally though they were only employed on stratagems and in

negotiations, in which, curiously enough, he succeeded in making the

Iroquois vengeance fall on the French, his allies. To be wise with him

was more than to be just. Look at Colden. The philosophy put into his

mouth by La Hontan, probably has some basis, in actual talk, with the

gay baron.

The following appear to be turning points in Iroquois history:--

Father de Moyn discovers the Onondaga country 1653

Erie war closes 1655

New Amsterdam surrenders to the Duke of York 1664

First treaty of the Iroquois with the French 1667

La Salle builds the first vessel on the lakes 1679

La Salle lays the foundation of Fort Niagara 1679

English revolution bringing in a new dynasty in William 1688

Capture and burning of Schenectady 1690

_27th_. I received notice of my election as an honorary member of the

Pennsylvania Historical Society.

_Aug. 1st_. During the number of years I have passed in the country of

the upper lakes, I have noticed the mocking bird, _T. polyglottis_, but

once or twice as far north as the Island of Michilimackinack. I have

listened to its varied notes, during the spring season, with delight. It

is not an ordinary inhabitant, nor have I ever noticed it on, the St.

Mary's Straits, or on the shores of Lake Huron north of this island.

This island may, I think, be referred to as its extreme, northern and

occasional limit.

_10th_. I determined to remove from Michilimackinack to the city of New

York. More than thirty years of my life have been spent in Western

scenes, in various situations, in Western New York, the Mississippi

Valley, and the basins of the Great Lakes, The position is one which,

however suitable it is for observation on several topics, is by no means

favorable to the publication of them, while the seaboard cities possess

numerous advantages of residence, particularly for the education of the

young. So much of my time had been given to certain topics of natural

history, and to the languages and history, antiquities, manners, and

customs of the Indian tribes, that I felt a desire to preserve the

record of it, and, in fact, to study my own materials in a position more

favorable to the object than the shores, however pleasing, of these vast

inland seas. The health of Mrs. Schoolcraft having been impaired for

several years, furnished another motive for a change of residence.

However great was the geographical area to be traversed, the change

could be readily effected, and promised many of the highest

concomitants of civilization. Beyond all, it was a return to my native

State after long years of travel and wandering, adventure, and

residence, which would bear, I thought, to-be looked at and reflected on

through the mellowed medium of reminiscence and study.

The journey was easily performed by steamers and railroads, which occupy

every foot of the way, and it was accomplished without any but agreeable

incidents. I left the island, which is the object of so many pleasant

recollections, about the middle of August, and reached the city of New

York during that month, in season, after some weeks agreeably passed at

a hotel, to take a private dwelling-house in the upper part of it

(Chelsea, 19th street) early in September. I now cast myself about to

publish the results of my observation on the RED RACE, whom I had found,

in many traits, a subject of deep interest; in some things wholly

misunderstood and misrepresented; and altogether an object of the

highest humanitarian interest. But our booksellers, or rather

book-publishers, were not yet prepared in their views to undertake

anything corresponding to my ideas. The next year I executed my

long-deferred purpose of visiting England and the Continent with this

plan in view, and was highly gratified with the means of comparison

which these finished countries afforded with the rough scenes of Western

America. France, Belgium, Prussia, Germany and Holland were embraced in

this tour.

This visit was one of high intellectual gratification, and carried me

into scenes and situations for which the reading of books had but poorly

prepared me. I kept a journal to refresh my memory of things seen and

heard, approved and disapproved.

The Western World, they tell me, turns too fast,

By European optics scanned and glassed;

But when we look at Europe, although fair,

They must have had new Joshuas working there;

For, be our eagerness just what it will,

She, spell-bound, seems to stand profoundly still.

THE END.

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