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Tous le^ autres exemplaires uriginaux sont fiimis en commonpant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impresslon ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparattra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols —^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les car2es planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs d des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gaushe A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagos nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 -''f \ r ^1 ^! sf- — '^H tJ I J THE TRADITIONAL HISTORY AID) CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES OF THB OJIBWAY NATION. BY a. COP WAY, OB, KAB*OB-OA-OXB-B0WH, OBIBP OV TBB OJIBWAT HATCOM. ILLU8TRAT1D BY DARLl « « • -• 5 t » » • ■< . • to* btiCC .0^1 I fr (. tt • « fr ^ J 00 a ''a ' "* CCOCtOt Jl ••• .• «■. HI.' » J C >. ;■ BOSTON: BENJAMIN B. MUSSEY & CO. 29 CORNHILL. 1851. "^ \ ■%., • •• • ": • • .«. » <• «'. w • »« 1 • •• * * • ■ A TO AMOS LAWRENCE, ESQ., ©f Boston, ina00. ' THIS VOLUME, WITH FEELINGS OF DEEP QRATITUDI, Uro 3EHTIMENTS OF THE mOHEST RESPECT, 18 APFEOTIONATILT INSnRIBBD BY THE AUTHOR. „.r*'- - ■■'fiiyfiUm.Tfc ■'•'i'-^ii_':%fr PHEF ICE. Iw oompHanoo with the oft-repeated request of a number of literary friends I present this volume to the public. In doing so there is another motive that has influenced me, and I may be pardoned, if here, at the commencement of my task, I briefly record it. la thus giving a sketch of my nation's history, de- scribing its home, its country and its peculiarities and in narrating its traditionary legends I may awaken in the American heart a deeper feeling for the race of rei- men and induce the pale-face to vse greater effort to effect an improvement in their social and political re- lations. You must know that my advantages have not been very groat for the attainment of knowledge ; that, in common with my forest brethren I have, as the saying is, " been brought up in the woods." I feel incompe- 100«2d ^^ PREFACE. tent for my work, but, am impelled forward by the thought that the nation whose hfaiory I here feebly sketch seems passing away and that unless a work like this is sent forth, much, very much that is inter- estiiig and instructive in that nations actions will with it pass away. Though I cannot wield the pen of a Macaufap or the graceful wand of an Irving with which to delin- eate an .ndian's life, yet I move a pen guided by an intimate knowledge of the subject it traces out, the joys and the sorrows it records. It is not many years since I laid aside my bow and arrows, and the love for the wild forest, born with me, I yet retain. Twenty months passed in a school in Illinois has been the sum-total of my schooling, save that I have received in the wide world. During my residence of six years among the palefaces I have acquired a knowledge of men and things, much, very much more I have yet to learn, and it is my desire that my brethren ii; the far west may share with me my crust of information; for this end I have labored and do labor, and will continue to labor, till success crowns my efforts or my voice and hand are silent in the home of the departed. To the Christian and the Philanthropist, I present PREFACE. it in these pages an account of the rise and progress of events which have greatly advanced the moral eleva- tion of my nation. Should they see in it anything to stimulate them to greater action, now is the time, the hour to act. It can be proved that the introduction of Christianity into the Indian tribes has been produc- tive of immense good. It has changed customs as old as any on the earth. It has dethroned Pi-ror, and has enthroned truth. This fact is enough to convince any one of the unjustness and falsity of the common say- ing, that, " the Indian will be Indian still." Education and Christianity are to the Indian what wings are to the eagle that soar above his home. They elevate him ; and these given to him by men of righ views of existence enable him to rise above the soil of degradation and hover about the high mounts of wisdom and truth. To the man of letters I would say, that in compli- ance with your request I am aware how far short I have fallen from satisfying you with a recital of the Ojibways' history. Much has been lost to the world, through a neglect of educating the red-men who have lived and died in the midst of eduoationary privileges but have not been allowed to enjoy them. They hold a key which will 1* '''' PREFACE. unlock a library of information, the like of which is not. It is for the present generation to say, whether the last remnants of a powerful people shall perish through neglect and as they depart bear witfi them that key. Give the Indian the means of education and he will avail himself of tLem. Keep them from him and let me tell you he is not the only loser. The Indians at present mingle with the whites. The intercourse «iey have had together has not in all instances elevated th^k character of the former. The many hundreds of rude careless, fearless whites who have taken up their abode in frontier regions have in- duoed the red-men to associate and unite with them in practices of dissipation. To the Americans at home I look for an antidote for this evil, which they as well as myself must most sincerely regret. Friends, Christians, your love for mankind extends beyond the border. Your love for manl^ind has pene- trated the forests, and is to-day shedding its holy influ- ence on many a happy group assembled around a birchen fire. May you not tire or grow faint. The history of the Ojibways like that of other In- Jian tribes is treasured up in traditionary Inrp Tf K== oeen passed down from age to age on the tide of song, PREFACE. xi for there is much poetry in the narrative of the old sage as he dispenses his facts and fancies to the listen- ing group that throng around him. As the first volume of Indian history written by an Indian, with a hope that it may in some degree bene- fit his nation, and be the means of awakening an inter- est for the red-men of America in tiiose whose homes are where they once lived and loved, this work is sent forth tremblingly, yet with hope by its Author. KAII-aE-aA-aAH-BOWH. New York, April 25, 1850. II I ;;^^3Eg:r^'^"r'"--" CHAPTER I. THEIR COUNTRY. The extent of territory ocoupied by the Ojibway nation, is the largest of any Indian possessions of which there is any definite knowledge. When the Champlain traders met them in 1610, its eastern boundary was marked by the waters of Lakes Huron and Michigan. The mountain ridge, lying between Lake Superior and the frozen Bay, was its northern barrier. On the west, a forest, beyond which an almost boundless prairie. On the south, a valley, by Lake Superior, thence to the southern part of Michigan. The land within these boundaries has always been known as the country of the Ojibways. It comprises some of the most romantic and beautiful scenery. There are crystal waters flowing over rooky beds, reflecting the mighty trees that for centuries have reared their stout branches above them. There are dense forests which no man has entered, which have never waked an echo to the woodu.an's axe, or r 4 14 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF I I sounded with the sharp report of a sportsman's rifle. Here are miles of wild flowers whose sweet fragrance, is borre on every southern breeze, and which form a carpet of colors as bright and beautiful as the rainbow that arches Niagara. The woodland is composed of a great variety of trees, mostly pine, hemlock, oak, cedar, and maple. As the traveller approaches the north, he will meet birch tamarach, spruce, and evergreen. In going from east to west, along the borders of the lakes, the scenery is so changing and of such kaleide- scope variety and beauty that description is impossible. There is room and oppctunity for adventure among the bold, broken, rugged rocks, piled up one upon another in " charming confusion," on the shores, along the borders of the silent waters, or beneath the solid cliffs against which the waters of Superior break with a force which has polished their rocky surface. The mountains, rivers, lakes, cliffs, and caverns of the Ojibway country, impress one with the thought that Nature has there built a home for Nature's children. THEIR LAKES. It is unnecessary for me to describe minutely every IaI.^ J.l._J. ^_i-.x_ i„ i1- - /-v'l I ;j T ;i-i _ tion those of greatest note, and which the traveller as THE OJIBWAY NATION. 15 he stood upon the shore has viewed with an admiration bordering on idolatry ; for, surely, were there anything besides the Creator worthy of worship it would be His works. At one time the easternmost lake of the Ojibways was Huron. But they have, by their prowess, gained the waters of Ontario and Erie. Lake Huron is of great depth. Its waters are known by their beautiful clearness, and by the fact of their rise and fall once in every seven years. It^ shores were lined with their canoes at a period shortly subse- quent to the introduction of fire arms into their midst. Rock abounds in great quantities, and the wood con- sists mainly of cedar, hemlock, pine, and tamarach. The hills rising in the south and in the north-east, present to the observer a very imposing appearance. From the main there juts forth a point of land, on one side of which is Georgian Bay or Owen's Sound and the lake. The ledge of rocks near this has the appearance, at a distance, of a fortification. When the waters are calm and clear these rocks can be seen in huge fragments beneath their surface as if thrown there by some giant in other days. The great depth of the water of this lake has in- duced the belief among the Indians that it has a con- nection with other lakes, and possibly with the sea, aud it has been supposed that such is the cause of its rise and fall once in a certain number of years. Hi 16 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP Many stories are told of monsters who are said to inhabit these waters and of the cause of the flowing of the water in the channel of the Manettoo Islands on the coast. Ae before stated the water of this lake is very clear In the year 1834 while journeying upon its northern borders I dropped a small silver coin. It rapidly de- soended till it was lodged upon a rock. I could see it very distinctly. I attached a cord to an axe and low- ered it till it touched the rook on which the money lay On drawing it up and measuring the length of the cord I found, to ^my surprise, that the coin which T could see so distinctly was at a distance of seventy three feet from the surface of the water and about seventy live or eighty feet from where I stood. The bays near this lake are the Pantonogoshene, (Fallmg-Sand Bay,) and the Thunder Bay The islands are numerous, and a three days' journey among them would convince any one that they are numbered by thousands. They are very similar to those in the St. Lawrence, known as "the thousand islands," masses of rock, as if thrown up by some mighty convulsion of nature. Many, however, are covered with low cedars, imparting to them a somewhat lovely and attractive appearance. The north-west and easterly winds cause an ebb and flow of water in the lake. The wind n««««= .. ... Side of the chain of islands, which runs in a linl If ■;! •j^^:r^W^'^S?W*«9rta(B*jM%Kl=iS!HI*«tnt^ THE OJIBWAY NATION. 17 parallel with the north shore. It then rushes to and from the other extremity of these islands, and thus causing a continual current. But other causes than this, effect the rise and fall, on return of seven years. These have been differently defined by different indi. viduals. The cause assigned by H. R. Schoolcraft, Esq., has been most generally received as the true one. I am not prepared to state here in full my own reasons for this singular fact, but I am in hopes to give them before long. On the shores of Huron have been fought some of the most severe battles between the Chippewas and the Iroquois. French River, Saganaw Bay, and Sagueeng, have been the scenes of these bloody and disastrous conflicts. Lake Superior, or, as it is named in the Ojibway language, Ke^che-gumme, is situated in the centre of the nation, and is not only the largest of its lakes, but the largest lake of water in the world. It has been called the " Great Lake of the Ojibways." This is the most remarkable of all lakes, not merely on account of its size, but on account of the pic turesque scenery around it, and the almost innumera- ble traditions related of it and its borders. Every point of land, every bay of water has its legendary story to tell, and it is this that renders Lake Superior snnftrinr in oil r^i-1%^^^ i_ _-i.-j. /. . . _ ..-.^ ,„, „;,,icio iu puiiit 01 iuteresl. This lake extends about five hundred miles from east to west j 18 TBADITIONAL HISTORY OP the distance around is about fourteen hundred miles. The immense body of water within these limits aro at times calm and placid ; at others, furious and foaming, and as the waves lash the shores, the thunder of their voice echoes and re-echoes amid the rocky caverns which their constant action has made. From the highlands of "Grand Cape" or "Frog Hills" can be obtained one of the grandest views to be had on the lakes. Twenty-three miles from these are tiie celebrated « Falls of St. Mary's." Many, whose love of adventure has surmounted their fear of danger, have gone up in canoes above these falls, and from the summit of these hills have been doubly paid for their journey by the wide-extended view of the broad lake spread out before them. The sandy beach extends from " White Fish Point" southerly towards the Pictured Rocks, a distance of upwards of one hundred and fifty miles. At the upper end of this beach are the Sand Hills rising abruptly from the waters edge to a height of over three hundred feet. Next to these in point of interest are seen " the Pictured Rooks" which extend fourteen miles beyond the sandy beach. All of the southern shore presents a bold and rugged appearance ; and the northern is for the most part of the same character. The towering cliffs that border the lake, appear like giant sentinels; particularly at night, when the bri-ht THE OJIBWAY NATION. 10 light of the rising moon causes them to oast their sha- dows, do they thus appear, standing in bold relief with trees upon their sides, whose waving branches seem to give life to the tall-guards. These heights are connected with many traditionary stories ; and, according to the superstition of our fore- fathers, the heroes of many romances loiter upon their sides. Red Lake, Leach Lake, Mill Lake and Lake Win- nipeg are in the North. Leach Lake is noted as being the resort of wild fowl. They are there found in great numbers, being attracted to the spot by the wild rice which is there met with in vast quantities. The waters of Mill Lake flow into the Mississippi River. It is about sixty miles in circumference. Its shores abound with valuable cornelian stones, and its adjacent woods with a great variety of game. THEIR RIVERS. Their Rivers are the largest in the world. First in importance and magnitude is the Mississippi, on whoso banks for two thousand miles can be seen the most enchanting scenery. The St. Lawrence flowing from the source of the St. Louis River, at the head of Lake Su'^ftl'i"*" f-nm lair a •*■' *«™***^ «(«^ Ijsl-- J.:!! J.1 J. 1.1 ^ • • i.^rvw, viXi uiixj Vliob uOQY uroOlpl- tates itself over the Falls of Niagara, and sweeping by 80 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF ^^' in i; I ! i *'the Thousand Islands " and over the Laohiene Ra- pids, mi-gles with that of the Gulf of St Lawrence. Another stream flows from near the head of the Missis- sippi. Red River flows from the edge of the Prairie, ^ first westward, but soon changes its course, and passes in a northerly direction till the frozen regions stay its farther progress. These mentioned, are the principal rivers from which they drank in that happy time when they knew not of that insidious foe,—" the fire water." In addition to these there are a number of rivers, which, in any (ither country would be considered "great." Those flowing into the Mississippi are the Crow-wing, St. Croix, Chippeway, and Wisconsin. Those flowing into the St. Lawrence are the Montreal and Burnt-wood. I speak of those in the Ojibway country. Near Huron are the Mohawk, Sagianaw, Tranti, and others running their waters into the Lakes. When I look upon the land of the Ojibways I can- not but be convinced of the fact that in no other por- tion of the world can there be a territory r^ore %vored by Heaven. The waters are abundant anH. . the air bracing i:nd healthy; and the soil admam^iy adapt- ed for agricultural purposes. It is not much to be wondered at that in such a climate, such a strong, ath- letic and hardy race of men should exist, as the Ojib- wtij^t a-e g^jnerally acknowledged to be= In fact, they could scarcely be otherwise. There is as much differ- THE OJIBWAT NATION. 91 enco between them and many tribes of tho South as there is between the strong wind and gentle zephyr. THEm MOUNTTANS. The mountains are few. There are, however, quite a number of eminences, not exactly to be rated under the name of mountair^ and I am sure cannot be called levb' earth. There are many heights along the south- em shore of Lake Superior and some in the north to which the title of mountains is applied. Thera are numerous lofty peaks of granite, a short distance back from the shore of Lake Huron and the northern shore of Lake Ontario. I have walked over that part of the country for many days in succession and have seen nothing but these granite hUls, most o'' which are des- titute of wood. There was a time w.'ien they were well covered with trees that took root in the clefts, but they were all destroyed by fire and the peaks to- day present a very barren and iuattractivo appear- ance. The Porcupine Mountains near La Point, can be seen, in a clear day, at a distance of eighty miles from their base. One of the grandest sights I have ever witnessed, was a view of this range of mountains, at a distance, when the morning sun was rising above their 22 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP ' summits, and a fog from the lake enveloped their tops/ It was indeed worth the night's journey to behold. The Missawbay Heights are formed of ledges of rock, piled one upon another, and lie in a line parallel with the north-west shore. There are numerous mountains and hills on the northern shore of Lake Superior. The elevation known as "the Thunder Mountains," have the singular appearance of a lion crouching for its prey. A curious legend is told of this range, which will be related in a subsequent chapter. The Caraboo Heights, below the Thunder Mountains, are deserving of liiention. They are viewed with admi- ration by all tourists who approach them. Upon these heights are to be seen figures, claiming the attention of those curious in ancient lore, which, if rightly inter- preted, might possibly furnish a clue to the origin of the Chippeways. There is another mountain, the only one in fact, that is visible from the lake at a great distance. Adja- cent to the mountains are numerous hills, thickly wooded and carpeted with rich moss, soft as velvet and of beautiful variegated colors. The mountainous edge, near the source of Lake Supe- rior on one side, and the Mississippi River on the other, is quite high. It commences on tlie south shore of Lake Superior, and runs in a westerly direction, to the iiuuU Ui vCiQ liYoi ioZ. 'JrOiX, I have now given an imperfect outline of the lakes, THE OJIBWAY NATION. 23 rivers, and mountains of the country occupied by the Ojibways. It is in the midst of such that they now and have for years lived. There they roamed to the chase and hastened to the field of combat. Theii canoes floated by the shores of those mighty lakes, or glided sraoothljidown the stream. On those waters they departed at early dawn, and returned at dusk with loads of venison. The war-cry resounded among those cliffs and rocky pae^es, and the merry shout and song of children glad- dened the old chieftain's heart. In 1610, from each of those thousand islands the smokft arose from the wigwams of a numerous tribe. That was the day of their glory and prosperity. Then their shouts of triumph were answered from peak to peak, for a distance of two thousand miles west, and four hundred north. Review what has been said. Look at their country and say has any nation possessed a better. The mountains of the north covered with evergreens, shad- ing f he wide lakes. The high hills on the south, rising cliff upon cliff, till the uppermost is concealed by the clouds. The Missaw Bay Heights on the west, stand- ing like towers in naked grandeur, lookmg down with contempt, as it were, on the hundred streams whose roar rises with the mist which envelops their summits. Deep ravines, through which the sireams as they — If pass sing the songs of nature in soft strains, till gath- \; 1 24 TBADITIONAL mSTORY OP ering strength, the waters dash over rooks in deep caverns, and thunder forth in heavier tones. I have stood on one of the mountain peaks and seen a column of snow descending upon the icy waters of Lake Superior, a distance of fifty miles, and it ha-^ taken one day an. a-half to reach th#edge of the lake which lay at the base of the mountain. The sun rises and sets with beautiful effect Its rays resting upon the clouds and reflected from them clothe the whole extent in robes of fire ; every hill seems blazing with the glory of the sun. In every ray is seen the spirit ^f poetry. Suppose yourself standing at a distance, and behold mg one of the nation going up the mountain's side near him the waters of Superior— " W weary and still after storm.'* Over his head the forest trees waved their heavy branches. Behold him! he stands there ruler of the forest world. One of Nature's sons standing in her own battlements. His erect and manly form, his easy, graceful motion, are true indications of the exalted soul that lives its active life within. Living as he does, amid the happiest creations of the Great Creator, he' cannot but adore and worship Him. His devotion is pure. He tg 0_ r^ «ee3 God in biorms and hears Him in the wind." THE OJIBWAY NATION. 25 Nature points him up to Nature's God. I love my country ; and will any of my readers condemn a child of the forest for loving his country and his nation ? " Land of tLe forest and the rock — Of darl|jlue lake and mighty river— Of mountains reared aloft to mock The storm's career, the lightning's shock My own green land forever !" I cannot better close this chapter than by subjoining the following graphic description of "The Pictured Rocks," given by General Lewis Cass : "Upon the southern coast of Lake Superior, about fifty miles from the Falls of St. Mary, are immense, precipitous cliffs, .ailed by the voyageur Le Fottrail, the Pictured Rocks. This name has been given them in consequence of the different appearances which they present to the traveler, as he passes their base m his canoe. It requires Httle aid from the imagination to discern in them the castellated tower and lofty dome, and every sublime, grotesque, or fantastic shape, which the genins of architecture ever ulvented. These cliffs are an unbroken mass of rocks, rising to the elevation of three hundred feet above the level of the lake, and stretching along the coast for fifteen miles. " The voyagers never pass this coast except in the * """-^ ■-"""; ""U tne maians, before they make the attempt, offer their accustomed oblation, to 26 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP propitiate the favor of their Monitas. The eye instantly searches along the eternal rampart, for a single place of security ; but the search is vam. With an impas- sable barrier of rocks on one side, and an interminable expanse of water on the other, a sudden storm upon the lake would as inevitably assu#destruction of the passenger in his frail canoe, as if he were on the brink of the cataract of Niagara. ** The rock itself is a sand-stone, which is dismte- grated by the continual action of the water with com- parative facility. There are no broken masses upon which the eye can rest and find relief. The lake is so deep, that these masses, as they are torn from the precipice, are concealed beneath its waters until it is reduced to sand. The action of the waves has removed every projecting point. "When we passed this immense fabric of nature, the wind was still and the lake was calm. But even the slightest motion of the waves, which in the most profound calm agitates these eternal seas, swept through the deep caverns with tie noise of the distant thunder, and died away upon the ear, as it rolled forward in the dark recesses inaccessible to human observation. " No sound more melancholy or more awful ever vibrated upon human nerves. It has left an impres- sion which neithei" +i"i« "«- '''-* ^ _ /r -..,... ...^.. \^i,si,a,LHjyj ociii C3V6l CliaCe. " Resting in a frail bark canoe, upon the limpid THE OJIBWAY NATION. 27 waters of the lake, we seemed almost suspended in the air, so pellucid is the element upon which we floated. In gazing upon the towering battlements which im- pended over us, and from which the smallest fragments would have destroyed us, we felt, and felt intensely our own insignifiers, to which the deer often go to feed on the grass. An Indian can shoot a deer in the woods at a distance of fifty paces. The bow was ^nerally made of iron-wood or red cedar; sometimes of hickory, well seasoned. The arrows were made like spikes at the end. Before they had iron, they used bone and shell for the ends : the shells were carved in such a manner as to admit of be- ing pointed at the end of the arrow. I have no recol- lection of killing but one deer with an arrow, as fire arms came into the field of action as soon as I did. I remember being at the foot of Rice Lake, Canada West, with others on a hunting tour in the night. Soon after nine o'clock, we heard the animal feeding in the grass by the shore. Having a liehted candle w» «io««^ ,•* :^ a three-sided lantern ; opening one side, the light was I ' ' "m 36 If , : ■ ■ ' 11 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP thrown upon the deer only. By this contrivance we were enabled to approach so near it in our canoe, that it appeared to be but ten or fifteen paces from us. I drew my bow-stringr— the arrow winged its way— the deer mac. a few short leaps, and- died. During my travels in the East, I have met with indi- viduals whom I found it difficuh to convince that the Indian's arrow could execute so much, and doubted me when I told them that with it they killed deer, bears, and such like. Several year^ ago, in the State of New-York, an elderly gentleman, a farmer and myself were entertained by a kind family to tea. The gentleman monopolized all the time for conversation with questions about the Indian mode of life. I answered them all as well as I could, though some of them were so very odd, that it was with the exercise of the greatest muscular strength that I could refram from laughing in the inquisitive person's face. He seemed satisfied with all my answers except those in relation to killing deer with bow and arrow.-— He doubted. He could'nt bring his mind to believe such a thing possible. After laboring half an hour to con- vince him of the fact that we could, he turned aside, firmly resolved not to believe me. I held my tongue, half mad ; and made the proposition that the next day THE OJIBWAT NATION. 37 I would make a bow and a couple of arrows, and as I understood he was a farmer, I should get him to furnish a yearling calf, and if in shooting I did not hit it, I would pay him the price of the calf if he desired it ; but if, on the contrary, I should hit it, and kill it, then it should be mine ! While our friends at the table could not wait till the morrow to know the result, my friend, tjie doubting gentleman, coolly declined, saying he be- lieved we could kill deer at sixty paces if we hit it at all. I and my friends endeavored to provoke him to accept my proposition, but failed to accomplish our pur- pose, his avarice overcoming his unbounded curiosity ! Bears are also taken by means of bow and arrow. They are very easily captured in winter, for then they are found in hollow logs and in the ground enjoying their winter quarters. The black bear is to be found all over the Ojibway country. They are more numerous in years when fruit and acorns are abundant. Some of the Ojibway people believe the bear to be a transformed being ; in other words, that it was once a more intelli- gent creation, and for this reason they profess a great veneration for its head and paws, but not so much for its meat, for they relish that very highly, and seem to forget its former intelligence when indulging their appe- tites with a savory steak. The head and paws arc ■ I IlllHii 38 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP I: Hji ; Ml ir:; festooned with colored cloth and ribbons, and suspended at the upper end of the Indian's lodge. At the nose they bestow a very liberal quantity of tobacco, as a sort of peace-offering to the dead animal. In early life I received a lecture from my father upon hunting. He related many cufining stories of the bear, and I remember I got so courageous that the next day I was aU the time in a perfect fright, thinking every brush heap I met the hiding place of some old Bruin. In ae year 1832, 1 made my firsv appearance as a bear hunter. It was in the fall of the year that I with others left our homes with the intention of being absent for three or four weeks. We went down Crook's Rapids below Rice Lake, to hunt. I remember how skittish I felt at first, as I shouldered my gun and foUowed the six hunters before me into the wo ds, for just then all the cunning stories I had heard were fresh in my mind. We came to a halt about three miles distant from our starting place, and the head liimter, my father, gave his companions a brief description of the face of the country and of the places to which the bear would be most likely to resort, for then they were eating acorns. Around us we could see newly-made tracks of the deer and bear ; my lips parched, and my whole body fevered with aaiiuty. Wheu my father had finished his account, he THE OJIBWAY NATION. 39 turned to me, and. said : — " My son, don't go very far ; keep behind the rest as you hear the jSring of guns, and when you think it is time to return, you can come round this way and go towards home:" then, waving his hand, oif the party started in every direction. I, too, went one way. When I lost sight of the others of my party, all the "crnming stories" about the bear— of its hiding under rotten logs, of its pretending to die, and its sudden at- tacks, rushed upon my mind. I was soon roused from my reverie, for in less than twenty minutes I heard the reports of guns from all directions ; but for all this I walked along as well as I could, looking out for a bear which I was afrmd ofseeifig, and yet hunting for. I would walk along in the open space, so that I might see my bear at a distance, and not come suddenly upon him or he upon me. The guns were fired every few minutes. I could see, occasionally, deer at a distance rumiing at full speed. While I was passing along at the foot of the hills on which the thick foliage concealed the logs, which lay piled one upon another, I heard a tremendous crash near the top. I stood, as if transfixed to the spot, and' sure enough, I could see the branches of the young trees waving, and thought I could see ob- jects approaching me. I scarce dare to wink, and tiem- 40 i ' { TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP bled ill my scarlet leggins, when to my dread astonish- ment I saw a large bear coming down towards me, like a hogshead rolling down a hill! I jumped behind a pine tree, and prepared for the combat. He came at me at a full gallop, and I feared the worst. When he had approached to within five paces from me, I thought it time to define my position, and make some demonstra- tion of war. I sprang from my hiding place, and alighted upon the gromid. I hallooeu at the top of my voice, « Yah !" and at the same time pointed the muzzle of my gun to the white spot on the breast of the animal. I fired, and the smoke enveloped myself and the bear.- As I did so, I fell to the ground, and a bmidle of leaves which the bear had scratched up in his "exercises" fell upon my face. This I thought to be the bear, and fall- ing backward, I expected the fellow would get to be quite loving of his new-fomid companion, and in the transports of his joy, hug me to death. But when I raised my head, I learned my mistake, and beheld a tremendous animal apparently in the agonies of depart- ing life. I arose, picked up my gim, which had fallen from my hand, and immediatety reloaded it, in order to be prepared if his actions proved to be a farce instead of a tragedy. I took a long pole and poked him consider- a1%lTT TT_ J.'J .. t ahlv. Wo rlirl nnt cU ^-^ oi iue. Yet so doubt- THE OJIBWAY NATION. 41 fill was I of his death, that I left him. Thus ended my first adventure on a bear-hunting excursion. In the immediate vicinity of Lake Superior, Indians trap bears in large « dead falls." Near Red and Lead Lakes, they takethemwhen crossing thewater. Some years ago, they were thus captured at the head of Lake iSuperior. The Moose and Deer are also taken, chiefly howev^ in the Northern parts of Lake Superior and in the vicinity of Red Lake. The Moose is one of the largest animals found, and the hunters have quite a merry time when three or four are taken at one time. It is consid- ered best to take them before they leave their yard in the winter. If they are not thus taken, it is very diffi- cult to secure them, as they are very fleet. The Reindeer is taken in all parts of the North West. It is the hardiest animal in the country. They are often chased for days in succession by the Indians, and a coat of ice is seen to cover them, caused by their per- spiration ; at the same time a thick steam arises from them. They go in droves, and when they are on the run, the light snow rises in clouds in every direction.— The skin of the deer, as well as the skins of all the ani- mals I have mentioned, are manufactured into clothing, and are oftentimes dressed in a beautiful manner and highly ornamented. il ! !!! ...J . Hi,] 42 TBA0ITIONAL HISTORY OP The Elk is Ui he found in the West, on the neutral ground lying between the Sioux and Ojibway nations • at the head waters of the Wisconsin ; in the Northern parts of Michigan, and ve-i- the Chippeway, St. Croix, Rum and Red Rivers, 1 h * is one of the noblest look- ing animals in our country. When on the run its head is held high, its back curved, on which its large horns appear to rest. At one time, in 1837, 1 saw a drove of five hundred ; and a more animating sight I never be- held. I shot one, and being at that time a prisoner at the foot of Lake Pepin, and wishing to be generous to my enemies, I took it to the chief of the tribe that held me. Soon after I was liberated, and with my cousin Johnson was permitted to depart. The Bufalo is taken only at the head of Red River, where the Chippeways and the half-breeds kill between eight and ten thousand every year. The Indians form into companies and take their wagons with them when . they go on a Buffalo hunt. The drove of Buffalo is very large, and grazing they blacken the prairie as far as the eye can reach. The tread of the Buffalo makes the earth to tremble. The hunters are mounted on ponys, who are so taught that when a wounded animal falls they immediately start for an encounter with another. The Indian gath- THB OJIBWAY NATION. 43 era his arrows from the grass while he is riding at full speed— a feat which is considered very dexter- ous, but which is quite common on the western prai- ries. Before leaving this noble animal, I must indulge my readers with what a recent writer says respecting it : prefacing it with the remark that the Bison and the Buffalo are one and the same. " From the species of the ox kind the Bison is well distinguished by the foUowing peculiarities. A long shaggy hair, clothes the fore parts of the body, forming a well marked beard, beneath the lower jaw, and de- scending behind the knee in a taft ; this hair nses on the top of the head in a dense mass nearly as high as the extremities of the horns. Over the forehead it is closely curled and matted so thickly as to deaden the power of a rifle ball, which either rebounds or lodges in the hair, merely causing the animal to shake his head as he heavily boimds along. The head of the Bison is large and ponderous, compared to the size of the body : so that the muscles for its support, necessarily of great size, give great thickness to the neck, and by their origin from the prolonged dorsal vertebrae i^ocesses, form the peculiar nroipctior* /^oii^/i ♦u- i rni... i. . of an oblong form, diminishing in height as it recedes, 44 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP SO as to give considerable obliquity to the line of the neck. The eye of the Bison is small, black and brilliant ; the horns are black, and very thick near the head, where they curve upwards and outwards, rapidly taper- ing towards their points. The outward line of the face is convexly curved, and the upper lip, on each side being papillons within, di- lates and extends downwards, giving a very oblique appearance to ^he lateral gap of the mouth, in this par- ticular resembling Ue ancient architectural bas-relief, representing the heads of oxen. The physiognomy of the Bison is menacing and ferocious, and no one can see this animal in his native wilds without feeling in- clined to attend to his personal safety. The summer coat of the Bison differs from his winter dress rather by difference of length than by any other particulars. In summer from the shoulders backward, the hinder parts of the animal are all covered with a very fine short hair that is as smooth and soft to the touch as velvet. The tail is quite short and tufted at the end, and its utility as a fly brush is very limited. The color of the hail is uniformly dun ; but the long hair on the anterior THE OJIBWAY NATION. 46 parts of the body is, to a certain extent, tinged with yel- lowish or rust color. These animals, however, present so little variety in regard to color, that the natives con- sider any remarkable difference from the common ap- pearance as resulting from the immediate interference of the Great Spirit. Some varieties of color have been observed, though the instances are rare. A Missouri trader informed the members of Long's exploring party, that he had seen a greyish white Bison, and a yearling calf, that was distinguished by several white spots on the side, a star or blaze in the forehead, and white fore-feet. Mr. I. Doughty, an interpreter to the expedition, saw in an Indian hut a very well pre- pared Bison's head with a star on the front. This was highly prized by the proprietor, who called it his great medicine ; for, said he, the herds come every season to the vicinity to seek their white companion. In appearance, the Bison cow bears the same relation to the bull as is borne by the domestic cow to her mate. Her size is much smaller, and she has much less hair on the fore-part of her body. The horns of the cow are much less than those of the bull, nor are they so much connected by the hair= The cow is by no means destitute of beard ; but 4d TRAITITIONAL HtSTORT OF though she possesses the conspicuous appendage, it is quite short when compared with that of her cona- panion. From July to the latter part of December the Bison cow continues fat. Their breeding season commences towards the lat- ter part of July, and continues until the beginning of September, and often the cows separate from the bulls in distinct herds, and bring forth their calves in April. , The calves rarely separate from the mother before they are a year old, and cows are often seen accompa- nied by calves of three seasons. The flesh of the Bison is somewhat coarser in its fibres than that of the domestic ox, yet travellers are unanimous in considering it equally savory as an arti- cle of food; we must however receive the opinions of travellers on this subject with allowance for their pecu- liar situation, being frequently at a distance from all other foo^, and having their relish improved by the best of recommendations in favor of the present viands, hunger. It is with reason, however, that the flesh is said to be more agreeable, or the grass on which these animals feed is short, firm and nutritious, being very difierent THE OJIBWAY NATIOn» 47 from the luxurious and less saline grass produced on a more fertile soil. The fat of the Bison is said to be far sweeter and ' richer, and generally preferable to that of the common ox. The observations made in relation to the Bison's flesh when compared to the flesh of the domestic ox, may be extended to almost all wild meat, which has a peculiaar flavor and raciness, which renders it decidedly more agreeable than that of tame animals, although much coarser, and the fibre by no means so delicate. Of all the parts of the Bison that are eaten, the hump is most famed for its peculiar richness and delicacy, be- cause when cooked 'tis said very much to resemble marrow. The tongue and marrow bones are also highly esteemed by the hunters." Before dismissing the subject of game, I must men- tion those anunals that are taken principally for their for. I cannot enter into a detailed account of these. The furs brought into the market by the Ojibways, have ever been considered the best. They consist for the most part of Beaver, Otter, Martin, Fisher and Lynx. -^---- -i--_iiv-i oi liio \^ai;uuia,ii couiiiry, between the shores of Ontario, Huron and Lake Superior, was once 48 TRADITIONAL HISTORY vF well hunted for the beaver, but its pelt being here val- ueless, they are increasing in numbers. These are some of the animals caught by the Ojib- ways on land. There is an abundance of fish in all their waters. The best of these is the sweet fish of the lakes, Sis-ka-way, which is esteemed a very great deli- cacy ; and many others which I will not mention, lest I should weary my readers, but will allow them to swun from my sight. CHAPTER IV. PLATS AND EXERCISES. " Fantastic, frolickscme and wild, With all the trinkets of a child " Cotton. I believe all the Indian nations of this Continent have amusements among them. Those of the Prairie nations are different from those of the Ojibways, suitable to their wide, open fields. The plays I am about to describe are the principal games practised by the people of my nation. There are others ; and chance games are considerably in vogue among them. One of the most popular games is that of ball-play- ing, which oftentimes engages an entire village. Par- ties are formed of from ten to several hundred. Before they commence, those who are to take a part in the play must provide each his share of staking, or things sev apart,- and one leader for each party. which grfi Hi 60 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP 1!! lljllillill •^-1 lli |! ! Each leader then appoints one of each company to be stake-holder. Each man and each woman (women sometimes en- gage in the sport) is armed with a stick, one end of which bends somewhat like a small hoop, about four inches in circumference, to which is attached a net work Oi' raw-hide, two inches deep, just large enough to admit the ball which is to be used on the occasion. — Two poles are driven in the ground at a distance of four hundred paces from each other, which serves as goals for the t^yo parties. It is the endeavor of each to take the ball to his hole. The party which carries the ball and strikes its pole wins the game. The warriors, very scantily attired, young and brave fantastically painted — £ind women, decorated with feathers, assemble around their commanders, who are generally men swift on the race. They are to take the ball either by funning with it or throwing it in the aur. As the ball falls in the crowd the excitement begins. — The clubs swing and roll from side to side, the players ran and shout, fall upon and tread upon each other, and in the struggle some get rather rough treatment. When the ball is thrown some distance on each side, the party standing near instantly pick it up, and run at full speed with three or four after him at full speed.-^ THE OJIBWAY NATION. 01 Tlw others send their shouts of encouragement to their own party. "Ha! ha! yah!" «A-ne-gook!» and these shouts are heard even from the distant lodges, for children and all are deeply interested in the exciting scene. The spoils are not all on which their interest is fixed, but is directed to the falling and rolling of the crowds over and under each other. The loud and merry shouts of the spectators, who crowc' he doors of Oie wigwams, go forth in one continued peal, and tes^ tify to their happy state of feeling. The players are clothed in ftir. They receive blows whose marks are plainly visible after the scuffle. The hands and feet are unincumbered, and they exercise them to the extent of their power ; and with such dex- terity do they strike the ball that it is sent out of sight. Another strikes it on its descent, and for ten minutes at a time the play is so adroitly managed that the ball dues not touch the ground. No one is heard to complain, though he be bruised severely, or his nose como in close cocimunion with a club. If the last mentioned catastrophe befell him, he is up in a trice, and sends his laugh forth as loud as the rest, though it be floated at first on a tide of blood. It is very seldom, if ever, that one is seen to be anery l>ecause he has been hurt. If he should get so, they 52 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP iiiHilli would call hiia a " coward," which proves a sufficient check to mauy evils which might result from many seemingly intended injuries. While I was in La Point, Lake Superior, in the sum- mer of 1836, when the interior band of Chippeways, with those of Sandy Lake, Lac Counterville, Lac De Frambou, encamped in the Island, the interior bands proposed to play against the Lake Indians. As it would be thought a cowardly act to refuse, the Lake Indians were ready at an early hour the next day, when about two hundred afid fifty of the best and swiftest feet as- sembled on a level green, opposite the mansion house of the Sev. Mr. Hall. On our side was a thicket of thorns ; on the other the lake shore, with a sandy beach of half a mile. Eve- ry kind of business was suspended, not only by the In- dians, but by the whites of all classes. There were but two rivals in this group of players. One of these was a small man from Cedar Lake, on the Chippeway river, whose name was " Nai-nah-aun-gaib," (adjusted feathers,) who admitted no rival in bravery, daring, or adventure, making the contest more inter- esting. The name of the other competitor was " Mah-koonce^" (young-bear,) of the shore bands. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 63 The first, as I said before, was a small man. His body was a model for sculpture ; well proportioned. His hands and feet tapered with all the grace and delicacy of a lady's. His long black hair flowed carelessly upon his shoulders. On the top of his raven locks waved in profusion seventeen signals (with their pointed fingers) of the feathers of that rare bird, the western Eagle, be- ing the number of the enemy he had taken with his own hand. A Roman nose with a classic lip, which wore at all times a pleasing smile. Such was Nai-nah- aun-gaih. That day he had not the appearance of having used paint of any kind. Before and after the play I counted five bullet marks around his breast.-- Three had passed through ; two were yet in his body. Besides these, there were innumerable marks of small- shot upon his shoulders, and the graze of a bullet on his temple. His rival on this occasion was a tall muscular man. His person was formed with perfect symmetry. He walk- ed with ease and grace. On his arms were bracelets composed of the claws of grizzly bears. He had been in the field of battle but five times ; yet on his head were three signals of trophies. The parties passed to the field ; a beautiful green^. as even as a floor. Here they exhibited all the agility 54 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP and graceful motions. The one was as stately as the proud Elk of the plains ; while the other possessed all the gracefulness of the Antelope of the western moun- tains. Shout ajfler shout arose from each party, and from the crowds of sjiectators. "Yah-hah — yah-hah," were all the words that could be distinguished. After a short contest the Antelope struck the post, and at that mo- ment the applause was absolutely deafening. Thus ended the first day of the play, which was continued for some length of time. After this day's game was over, the two champions met and indulged in a sort of personal encounter with the ball. This they continued a short time, then parted company, in good humor, and mingled with the crowd. The Moccasm play is simple, and can be played by two or three. Three moccasins are used for the purpose of hiding the bullets which are-employed in the game. So deeply interesting does this play sometimes become, that an Indian will stake first his gun ; next his steel- traps ; then his implements of war ; then his clothing ; and lastly, his tobacco and pipe, leaving him, as we say, " Nah-hah-wan-yah-ze-yaid ;" a piece of cloth with a string aroung his waist. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 66 The "Tossing Play" is a game seldom seen among the whites. It is played in the wigwam. There is used in it an oblong knot, made of cedar boughs, of length, say about seven inches. On the top is fastened a string, about fifteen inches long, by which the knot is swung. On the other end of this string is another stick, two and a half inches long, and sharply pointed. This is held in the hand, and if the player can hit the large stick every time it falls on the sharp one he wins. ^" Bone Play," is another in-door amusement, so call- ed, because the articles used are made of the hoof-joint bones of the deer. The ends are hollowed out, and from three to ten are strung together. In playing it they use the same kind of sharp stick, the end of which is thrown into th6 bones. Doubtless the most interesting of all games is the " Maiden's Ball Play," in the Ojibway language, Pah- pah-se-Kah-way. The majority of those who take part in this play are young damsels, though married women are not excluded. The ball is made of two deer skin bags, each about five inches long and one in diameter. These are so fastened together as to oe at a, distance of seven inches each from the other. It is thrown with a stick five feet long. This play is practiced in summer beneath the shade 66 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP ill Nil of wide-spreading trees, beneath which each strives to find their homes, tahwin, and to run home with it. ThesQ having been appointed in the morning, the yomig women of the village decorate themselves for the day by paint- ing their cheeks with vermillion, (how civilized, eh ?) and disrobe themselves of as much unnecessary clothing fts possible, braiding their hair with colored feathers, which hang profusely down to the feet. At the set time the whole village assemble, and the young men, whose loved ones are seen in the crowd, twist and turn, to send sly glances to them, and receive their bright smiles in return. The same confusion exists as in the game of ball played by the men. Crowds rush to a given point as the ball is sent flying through the air. None stop to narrate the accidents that befal them, though they tirni- ble about to their no little discomfiture ; they rise mak- ing a loud noise, something between a laugh and aery, some limping behind the others, as the women shout. " Ain goo" is heard sounding like the notes of a dove, of which it is no bad imitation. Worked garters, mocca- sins, leggins and vermillion are generally the articles at stake. Sometimes the Chief of the village sends a par- cel before they commence, the contents of which are to i.-6 uiStriuiiiCu aiaOiig tne maiaens whea Ihe play is over. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 57 II I remember that some winters before the teachers from the pale faces came to the lodge of my father, my mo- ther was very sick. Many thought she would not re- cover her health. At this critical juncture, she told my father that it was her wish to see the " Maiden's Ball Play," and gave as a reason for her request that were she to see the girls at play, it would so enliven her spirits with the reminiscences of early days as to tend to her recovery. Our family then resided at the upper end of Belmount Lake, above Crow River. The next day, at early dawn, the crier of my father was sent around to inform the vil- lage damsels that the Ball Game was to be played at the request of the Chiefs wife. Two large spruce trees were transplanted from the woods, to holes in the ice j and in the afternoon the peo- ple from the villages were on the shore of the Lake.— Among them was my mother, wrapt up in furs and blankets to protect her from the cold. There was just enough snow upon the ground to make the footing very imcertain. I scarcely recollect any thing equal to the sport of that day. The crowds would fall and roll about, some laughing most heartily at themselves and at the distorted comitenances of their companions, whose pain could not be concealed. When it was over, they oS TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF all stood in a circle, and received the rewards allotted to each, consisting of beads, ribbons, scarlet cloths, sequently they were carried on for conquest, until at length re- venge has been the cry of both parties. The waters of Menesotah have been crimsoned with the blood of both nations, and the upper Mississippi has witnessed their unrewarded contest j and their shouts and groans have alike resounded among the mountain passes, and echoed from cliff to cM on the rock-waUed ahure. 63 : TRAUITI0N4L RI8T0RT OF The rivers which flow into the Mississippi have float- ed hundreds of the canoes of the Ojibways, freighted with resolute warriors against the Siouxs. While the Siouxs have passed up the same streams, and finding the smoke of the " Ah-ah-to-wm" Yising from the wig- wam, have suddenly startled them with their war-cry. The heights of Lake Superior have been used as towers by the Siouxa from which to watch the sky across the Lake, while the barrier ridges of the North were used by the Ojibways for the same purpose. Thus Nature furnished her children with watch-towers and fortresses. The quarrels have been kept alive, and the war-fires fanned by the songs of each nation. As soon as child- ren were old enough to handle a bow and arrow, repre- sentations of the enemy worn made, and the youngsters taught to shoot at them, for exercise and practice. The old men narrated to them deeds of bravery, and thus were they inspired with a desire to grow up, and when men, act like their fathers, and scout the wide forests for each other. Even the mothers have taught their offspring, before they leave their breast, to hate their enemies. The Siouxs have, in some instances, ackno ./- lodged that our forefathers drove them from the North West of St. Paul, a lake they call "E-sab-j/ah-mah-da;' and the upper part of Leach Lake. THE OjriBWAY NATION. 68 Several years ago, while strolling by the Cliippeway River, with one of the most intelligent Indian Chiefs, whose name was « Moose Tail," he pointed out to me nmnerous battle-grounds of days past, and all day sketched to me in his own graphic language the con- flicts that had occurred upon them. I counted twenty-nine battle-grounds on the shores of the Menomenee river, along which is a small branch of the Chippeway, on the western side, where trees were notched according to the number of warriors who fell. The border of ihe St. Croix contains more, and the upper Mississippi can furnish traditional recoi j of battles at every mile of its course. Above the Falls of St. Anthony, just above the "great bend," one of the deadliest battles was fought ; and an- other near the mouth of the Chippeway. The Chippeways have gone to war in bands of from two to five, while the Siouxs, in nearly every instance, have had as many hundreds. Of the recent war, an account of which has been pub- lished, on Lake St. Croix and Rum River, it is only necessary to repeat what others have said, that it was brought on by the treachery and*cmelty of those in whose power it was to have prevented the sad occur- '""■"■■* ■ "^^ ^" ""*« Daiiie-iitjiu oi Lakettt. Uroix soon Illil llll 64 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP after the conflict, and saw the remains of the slaugh- tered Chippeways scattered in all directions. The marks of bullets were upon all the trees, and the shrub- very was all trodden down. Some of the dead were suspended upon the branches of the trees. The Siouxs may have killed a large number of Chippeways, but the warfare was not an honorable one. The day previous, a pipe of peace was received from the Sioux Nation by the Ojibways, who had a desire for peace. The pipe was expected that day, and was smoked in good faith, but the next day the Siouxs followed the Ojibways up the river, then followed those of St. Croix. The day following they availed themselves of every advantage, and killed over one hundred Chippeways and upwards of ninety Siouxs. Since this conflict, many Americans have settled among them, whose pre- sence has in a great degree prevented a repetition of the same disastrous scenes. It is by tne good influence of the whites that they will eventually abandon their war life, and betake them- selves to the employments of peace. I was glad, during my bhort stay at Minisota, to see the beneficial results of Gov. Ramsay's ^orts among the Indians. They must be induced to give up wg^ and petty strifes before irtfitr fort Ka 'K/^v^y^i^4.i.»Jl n . t • ■•■. . — J ..-«iA sj-^ wciiNPiiiicu, iuijrauy or pnysicaiiy. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 65 I cannot close this chapter without giving my readers an account of the wars I have referred to. It is written by William Warren, a writer in the « Minisota Pioneer." He has made himself well acquainted with the history of the Ojibways, and is himself by birth, partly, one of the Nation. Writing from Crow Winr^ River he says : « A party of one hundred and fifty once laid an am- buscade at the extreme point of Shaguhwaumik. The Ojibway lads, crossing over early ,.. the morning to kill ducks, were set upon, but the point being well adapted to defence by numerous sand hills, they fought till the village opposite being alarmed, the warriors began to svarm forth; and crossing over, landed a mile below the extreme point, cutting the Siouxs entirely off from escape ; all were killed but two, who jumped into the lake, and were never heard of or seen after. The bones of the slain warriors are still visible in particles,through- out the entire point. The Chippeways tell of a large war party that was raised to march against the then Sioux village of Sandy Lake, The party was so numerous, that the string of warriors reached a great distance as they marched in single file, against the devoted village ; which was taken after a bloody slaughter. This event happened or took place, about one hundred and twenty years ago. 5 \ 66 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP The leader's name was Bauswush, grand-father of the present Chief of Sandy Lake, now aged about sixty years. The party started from Fond du Lac, Some years after Sandy Lake had been taken by this chief, sixty Ojibway warriors started down the Mississippi on a war party. At the confluence of the Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers, they found on their way back, traces of a large Sioux war party that had gone up, and pro- bably killed their defenceless wives and children. Too late to arrive to their rescue by the signs left, they dug holes on the ^ank of the river, and laid an ambuscade for their enemies. The Sioux soon came floating down, singing songs of triumph and beating the drum. Their canoes were laden with prisoners, and the scalps of the slain dangled on poles erected in them. The Siouxs numbered three hundred ; the party in ambush, but sixty. But when they recognized wives and children as prisoners, and beheld the bleeding scalps of their re- latives, the blood boiled in their veins, and, in perfect desperation, they sounded the war-whoop and discharged a flight of arrows on their triumphant and confident enemies. Many canoes were upset, and a few prisoners swam ashore at the first surprise ; but the Siouxs rallying, soon eflfected a la^d'"!? "«'^ ♦— ' ii--- . . - -zjjj wii.- vj, iiig MieiT remammg prisoners THE OJIBWAY NATION. 67 « to trees, a regular Indian fight commenced. When arrows and ammmiition had failed, they dug them hid- ing holes close to one another, and pelted each other with stones. The bravest fought hand to hand with knives and clubs. This fight lasted three days, till at last, the Siouxs retreated, leaving many dead, and most of them prisoners. The Ojibways, satisfied with their revenge, returned to their desolated village. The marks of this battle and the hiding holes on the bank are still visible, within a few rods from where I am writing. The Siouxs and Ojibways have met three different times at the confluence of these rivers. The village of Sandy Lake, since the Ojibways have resided there, has twice been nearly depopulated ; once as I have just re- lated, and another time, this band was attacked at Cross Lake, forty miles north of Crow Wing, while in their spring encampment, and all killed and taken prisoners but seven men, four women and three children ; this event occurred about fifty years ago ; and some men are living, who were at ihat time taken prisoners by the Siouxs, and afterwards ietumed. Many battles occurred about Leech Lake and Red Lake of the^North. The whole of that region between tlio urow Wing and British line, has been conquered 68 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP fioto the Siouxs. Many engagements and massacres took place on the St. Croix and Chippeway rivers. Two considerable fights occurred at Elk river, emptying in the Mississippi at a place called to this day by the In- dians, * the battle-ground.' The marks of these battles are still visible ; at the last, was killed a renowned war chief of the Ojibways, who was, in his time, the terror of the Siouxs ; and died much regretted by his tribe. The name of this chief was Ke-che-wauh-e-shash ; Big Martin. The Ojibways of this distri9t, often speak of him as the one, whose valor and prowess conduced to drive their enemies from the country. Many exploits are told of him, and he died covered with scars received in a hundred fights. About forty years ago, a party of two hundred warriors under Flat Mouth, Chief of Leech Lake, fell on a camp of Siouxs at Long Prairie, numbering forty lodges j all were killed but six men of the Siouxs. The Ojibways captured many horses, but being unable to manage them, killed them ; and the bones of man and horse are still bleaching on the plain. About the same time, the Black Duck, of Red Lake, was surrounded after destroying a large camp of Siouxs, and he, with forty braves, killed to a roan, on the far western plains. He was a renowned warrior and 9 THE OJIBWAY NATION. 69 brave man. It is unnecessary to mention their differ- ent hostile meetings of late years ; for the past ten years, not less than four hundred Ojibways have been killed in this war, and we can judge by this, what a sacrifice of life there has been for the past two centuries. As many fights, surprises, massacres and single ex- ploits can be told of this endless feud as would fill a book ; all through the country, from Selkirk's Settlement to Wisconsin River south, and from Lake Superior to the Mississippi, spots are shown where the blood of these two tribes has been freely spilt. Even at this day, in spite of the white man's interference, it is no strange thing to hear of surprises and murders on either side, and to see a warrior with his head stuck full of eagles' plumes, denoting the number of enemies he has killed in his time. One hundred years ago, the Ojibways were hemmed in along the shores of Lake Superior ; the war path of their enemies terminated at many of their lake shore villages. But now they are masters of all the country to the Mississippi ; and had it not been for the partition of lands among the Indian tribes, by the United States, Hole in the day, their late noted war chief, used often to confidently affirm that he would have made his vil-, :e at St. Peters, and the hunting grounds of his young 70 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP men would have extended far mio the western plains of the Siouxs. All this proves much for their prowess in war ; but they lay the main cause of their success to their first intercourse with whites ; they became pos- sessed of fire arms long before their enemies, and made good use of them." The continuation of these wars, up the first of April, 1850, as given by the Minesota Chronicle, is here related: — " Our community has just been startled with the in- telligence of Eftiother of those sanguine scenes so common in the annals of the two powerful tribes of the North- west — the Siouxs and the Chippewas. On Wednesday morning last, about sunrise, a war party of Siouxs from the village of Little Crow and Red Wing, surprised a small encampment of Chippewas, on Apple River, Wis- consin, and killed aud scalped fourteen of them, with- out loss or injury to the attacking party. They also took one boy prisoner. Few men were with the party of Chippewas — ^it being mostly composed of women and children, engaged in making sugar. The fourteen kill- ed comprised three men, three nearly grown boys, six females, women and children, and two male children. The attack was upon ground heretofore ceded by the Siouxs to ilie Government, but upon which, by treaty THp OJIBWAY NATION. n Stipulation, they still have the privilege of huntin . The place is 20 or 25 miles no.th-east of Stillwater. On Thursday, the Sioux warriors appeared in the streets of Stillwater, and went through the scalp dance, in celebration of their victory— forming a circle round the Chippev I boy — their prisoner — and occasionally striking him on the face with thrir reeking trophies.— The boy, we understand, has already been adopted into one of the faiiulies at Little C ow Village. It is with pain we nuord the occurrence of a scene so truly revolting to the bettor feelings of humanity. This aggression of the Siouxs will doubtless lead to retaha- tion on the part of aie Chippewas ; and we may expect to hear of more bloodshed, unless the civil and military authorities succeed in putting a stop to it. This can hardly be expected with the present meagre force on our frontiers. The murder of the Chippewa on Crow River by the Siouxs a few weeks ago, (who was the son of the Chief White Fisher) had caused much revengeful feel- ing to break out anew among that tribe, previous to the occurrence we now relate. It is proper to remark, that the better disposed men among the Siouxs entirely disapprove of this renewal of their old feud against the Chippewas. The leader of the party in this tragedy is a graceless scamp, who last 72 THE OJIBWAY NATION. fall scalped his own wife. He was arrested for the act, and confined in the prison at Fort Snelling for several weeks. Having signed the temperance pledge, and promised a reform for the future, he was finally released. It were better had he been kept there till this time. It is said the main reason that induced him to lead his comrades to slay the defenceless Chippewas, was to wipe oiF the disgrace of his former cruelty to his own family, and the punishment which followed it. Such are the Indian's ideas of honor ! Measures wijl be taken by Gov. Ramsey to bring the ofienders connected with this outrage to justice. The Chippewa boy will be sent back to his people as soon as he can be reclaimed from the Siouxs." ii'i CHAPTER VI. THE WAR BETWEEN THE IROQUIS AND WESTERN HURONS, TERMINATING IN THE WARS BETWEEN THE OJIBWAYS & IROftUIS IN CANADA WEST. " The death shot hissing from afar, The shock, the shout, the groan of war." More than two hundred winters have clothed the mountains of the North with snow, which as many summer suns have mehed, since the battle shout of the Hurons, in their once happy and peaceful homes, died away, and the Iroquois shouted their note of triumph. Long and bloody had been the struggle between the Hurons and Iroquois when they were heard of by Cham- plain in the year 1608. The one nation occupied the whole tracl of land about the three lakes Ontario, Erie, and that which still bears the name of the Nation. TheV formA(i n nnnC^A^:,^^*: -^ /._ -.^ . - - •..iii...x^iaiiwii vi XXV V xiaiions, as did their brethren the Iroquois, who occupied at ihat time 74 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP the principal part, of what is now the State of New- York Few Int laii w r;.:s have been more sanguinary than those between the Hurons and the Iroquois. The forces on each ,.ide were equal, and from childhood they had gradually acquired great expertness in the use of arms, the bow and the arrow : both were innurcd to climate and fatigue. The whole Huron country was kept in constant commotion, for the Hurons had made depreda- tions upon the Algonquin tribes in the South, North, and West. When they fell out with their own brethren, the war became a series of sanguinary smgle combats. The hands of friends become those of enemies, sending forth a declaration of war from the Hurons upon thek allies, who had assisted against the Algonquin tribes, and upon whose children they had committed most barba- rous acts — acts which could not be forgotten. The Ottaways, Ojibways and Nenomenees, turned a deaf ear to their cries, and listened not when they came and related their misfortunes. It was heart-rending to see the Huron warrior suppressing his sobs and tears — and many a warrior shouted vengeance on the Hurons with whom they had till then been on peaceable terms. They had not forgotten their former treaties, or that iheir faith in the sacredness of them, confirmed by the THE OJIBWAY NATION. 75 pipe of peace, had been violated. The allies of the Ojibways had been trifled with ; they must now re- ceive the reward of their perfidy, for the frown of that Monedoo before whom they had consented to smoke the pipe of peace, rested on them. The struggle went on-each alternately rent the skies with shouts of victory, which were but momentary.- The wails of the wounded and suffering were heard on the shores of the broad Niagara, and on the banks of the St. Lawrence. The Hurons had penetrated to the North, along the shores of Mah-ah-moasee-be (Ottaway river.) Their canoes floated by the banks of the On- tario, Erie and Huron. The inland seas in the northern part of the peninsula were thronged by them. The rivers, mountains, and vallies were all theirs. In such a delightful country were their game and wigwams, and it was for these they fought with a desperation seldom equalled, never excelled-till conquered by their own brethren, they yielded what they had so bravely strug- gled to retain. Since then, tradition informs us, they were called "the Elder Brothers," on accomit of their conquest of the Hurons. The dispersion which took place in the year 1648, gave the victors possession of all (now) Canada West. The Iroquois overcame their brethren soon after the II I A 76 THE OJinWAY NATION. introduction of European fire arms, and it was the dread of these weapons which in part induced them to se<5k shelter amid the tribes on the south-west shores of Laka Huron. The first Nation fled to the South of Lake Huron, aboui Saganaw— subsequently it moved further South on the St. Clair. The second Nation went to the North-west, at the foot of the great lake called Kechegum, now called Lake Superior. Of the third, a great number were adopted by their conquerors in perfect amity. The remaining two Nations joined with westerA tribes, and in the course of time have neariy lost their nationality. The exultation of the Iroquois was almost beyond bounds. They pursued their retreating brethren over the St. Clair, and along the Northern shores of Lake Huron. They were the possessors of the whole terri- tory; the valley of the Ottawa yielded them their game, which a few years before was the right and sup- port of their exiled brethren. ' Dejected, disheartened, the Hurons presented them- selves at the doors of the Great Council Wigwams of different Nations, whom they had made enemies by their former repeated depredations, but rather than submit to be led by their own brethren, as a conquered race throughout their former possessions, those who went to » THE OJIBWAT NATION. ft the north-west .•uiie? .. councU among themselves, in which it was c- . ,od upon what should be done. This coun.,1, u ding to ancient tradition, must have been heiH ^ ho outlet of French River, and oo the Northern shore of Lake Huron. The Hurons assembled themselves in council, and in the course of then: deliberations, they desired several of their Chiefs to visit the great Ojibway family on Lake Superior, and see whether that people would forgive them the wrongs they had done them, and admit them as their allies. The war canoes of the Hmons were mamied and paddled on the bosom of the great lake in search of a place of refuge. They arrived qmte iate in f.e autmnn at the castermost village of the Ojibways, a situation they named Pe^uak-^„a-wah^mg, (Romid Point,) near the fork of a bay called by the French Aunce Bay. now known as Ke-wa-o-rum. It was the policy of the Hurons to present themselves m a pitiable condition before their superiors, the Ojibway family of the great lake, that they might the more easily obtain their fevor mi sympathy. Tradition informs IS that they came and presented themselves before the Council-door of that Nation, and begged them tn .r.„» «^en own children's lives. They had painted &eir iMtL'.^ita ' l>!ll nlillll l\\ 79 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP fkces black, rent their clothes, and with emaciated and haggard frames, came to implore their aid. They nar- rated their misfortunes, to incite the pity cf the nation. The Ojibways saw them, and yielded to pity and com- passion. The Hurons were received as friends ; they overcame the war spirit of the Ojibways, who kindly seated them at their side. The Huron Chief detailed the barbarous acts of their brethren, and narrated in glowing language their cruelty. That their allies had driven them from their lands ; that thei^ childreA had been thrown on the blaze of their own fires in their own wigwams, and the wigwams beneath which they had resided for years, reduced to ashes !— Some were compelled to drink the blood of their own children, while those -.rho were carried away into their own brethren's country, were denied food, and were offered their own children's flesh in its stead. That countiy was covered with blood, and with the mangled remains of their fathers who had fought for their lands. The exulting cry of the Oneida, mingled with the shouts o^ the Mohawk, was heard in the land where once they lived. They said that the graves of their people were desecrated, and that the bodies of many of their women and children lay unburied on their battle-fields, from the waters of Erie to the valley THE OJIBWAT NATION. 79 of Ottawa in the North. The Hurons related the account of then- children's massacre with tears and sobs, and by such means moved those who had been thei^ enemies to pity them, and kindled in the hearts of some a feeling of revenge upon the Iroquois, who had so reck- lessly overstepped the barrier which Nature hath raised in the hearts of all men. If thus the fugitive Hurons had gone to solicit aid in the midst of the Ojibway country, they could have aroused the bravery of the Nation to have gone in arms in their favor, and carried on war still longer. At this time there lived the greatest of renowned war- His name has been handed down from generation to generation, and his bravery and fame been envied by all yoimg warriors. It is said that this Wah-boo-geeg arose in the council with a club in his hand, and remembering the Hurons and tneir many barbarous acts, shook the war club over their heads, ajid said that ii was not fear which had led them to give them such a reception, but it was pity for their innocent children, that induced them to open their amis and receive them. He told them that hencefor- ward none should molest-that their children and the children of his own people should sport together-that ill 80 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF II ill ! Ill 111 I'lMlnlhih! '''iiii'i III ll 'I ' i, llli], It'll the war club of the Ojibways should protect them — and that they were as numerous as the leaves of the forest trees, towards the setting sun. A situation was assigned them near by where they and their children could reside, and be near the villages of the Ojibways. It was adjacent to a bay about fifteen miles eastward of AUuce Bay, and a river whose name has been Huron from that day to this. I have been thus particular in naming the events which led to the subjugation of the Huron Iroquois by their own brethren, the Iroquois of the East, that the reader may be informed of the chief cause of their sub- sequent success, which was the fact of their having enlisted in their favor the Ojibway Nation. The West- em Iroquois, finding a refuge in the midst of Western tribes, endeavored to stop the commerce which had been commenced by the great Ottawa river, and profitably carried on between the French and the Ojibways of Lake Superior. This rash attempt on the part of the Iroquois brought on the disastrous war between that Nation and the Ojibways, an account of which is re- served for the next chapter. Wl Hiiiiii CHAPTER Vir. THE WAR BETWEEN THE OJIBWAYS AND THE EASTERN IROQUOIS. " In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humanity ; But when the blast of war blows in his ears, Then imitates the action of the tiger." Before the dispersion of the Hurons no difficulty exist- ed between the Ojibways and the Eastern Iroquois, but the Western Hurons often waylaid the hunters of the Ojibway Nation, and continuing so to do eventually aroused the w,.r-whoop of revenge far and near. After the yt , « *m, Champlain traders began to cair) on theii commercial transactions on the waters of the mhckn. Sebee (Trading River,) which introduced ^^mong- -.. inc ans iire-arms woollen-goods, and steel for weapor- A wcr. Th. next year (1609,) Champlain :... de a tit^aty with 88 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP the Northern tribes, an examination of which will show in what manner they were to aid them in their wars with the Iroquois. History exhibits the disastrous results following this connection with them. . During a period of thirty-five years the Ojibways on Lake Superior, had been obtaining fire-arms from the French of auebec. They carried on a peaceful traffic with the French of Lake Superior until the year 1662, when the troubles between the Iroquois and the Ojib- ways commenced. The commerce which for thirty-five years had received no interruption, either from quarrels without or dissentions within their midst, was attacked by the Iroquois, who barbarously plundered and mas- sacred the Ojibway warriors, who had been out for Mon- treal to barter furs for domestic goods, as also for wea- pons of war and fire-water. At the entrance of French River, two of this company escaped from the Iroquois, and conveyed an account of the fate of their comrades io the Ojibways at Aunce Bay. This so incensed the Algonquin tribe that they sent the invaders a message to this effect, that if diey ever perpetrated the like again, they would send a few of their warriors in pursuit, to exterminate them. The proud Iroquois laughed in scorn at the threat of the Ojibways, and sent to learn il'illJIli! THE OJIBWAY NATION. ^ whether the Ojibways included their women in their proposed extermination. A Council of Peace was called by the Ojibways, which was held, according to tradition, below Sault St. Marie, at a place called in the Algonquin tongue, Massessanga. This council received the deputies of the Iroquois, who concluded a treaty, which they secretly intended not to preserve. During the summer all lived in peace. They met as friends on the shores of the Huron, and as friends hunted in the valley of the Ottawa. A second offence was committed on the Ojibways, above the Falls, near where Byto vvn now stands, on the Ottawa River. The Iroquois fell upon a party of the Ojibways, who were hauUng their canoes over the car- rying place. These they took from them, as also their « fire-water," which they had obtained from the French. About twenty were slain ; the remaining swam across the river before their enemies could reach them. Of these, two died on their way home, from hunger an| exposure. The rest, three in number, only survived to reach the kjo» th shore of Lake Superior, and give infor- mation of the attack. The Ojibways were Jiighly ex- asperated. They were excited to fury, and a desire for revenge reigned in every heart. 84 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP \Wi liiii The Hurons availed themselves of this favorable op- portunity to remind them that they had suffered like cruelties from their brethren. Another Council was to be called. The Chiefs of the Ojibways were to go to Nahtooway, Sahgeeny, the principal village of the Iro- quois, on the eastermost shore of Lake Huron. They arrived during an Iroquois scalp dance of tri- umph. It was over the scalps of people of their own nation. For several days they knew not whether they would be massacred or allowed to return ; they could get no satisfaction. The sages of the Iroquois knowing however that their people had aggrieved the feelings of the Ojibways, wisely concluded to reflect seriously upon the importance of pressing peace with so powerful a Nation as the Ojibways were universally acknowledged to be. They met the Ojibway Chief in council, who demanded of them as many packs of furs as warriors they had slain, which the Iroquois Chiefs granted amid the manifest dissatisfaction of the people. The council agreed that the treaty should never be infringed upon, and that it should be held inviolate and permanent. It was a fair, impartial, and open treaty, and it was distinctly understood that the first breach qf it should be a signal fo* war between the offenders and the offended. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 85 They scrutinized the featnres of one and another— shook hands, and bade eacn other farewell,— (a final farewell.) The Chiefs of the Ojibways returned to their own country. Trade was again prosecuted with renewed energy and enterprise, and several valuable loads of furs were sent to the whites of Montreal. No shock of discord was heard,--the shrill war-whoop was hushed. Peace dwelt among the mountains of the North. Without fear the Ojibway and Iroquois hunters met, and spent their evenings together, relating each his ad- ventures and exploits. The Ottawa river was thickly dotted with canoes heavily freighted with furs from the North and West. Blankets were bought with these, and fire-water, which was carried to the extreme end of Lake Superior, and to its Northern shores. The Hurons became so forgetful of their late wars, that they even ventured to accompany the trading In- dians (now called Ottawas) down to Montreal, and for one year and a summer they suifered no molestaticHi— all was quiet. The Iroquois saw that the French were more friendly to the Indians of Lake Superior than they were to them : and that the Ojibways were a protection to tho^ by whom they were formerly molested. TTie treaty had remained unbroken nearly three years, wM ■"lllllll!ll'ii;i:iii I I illlllilllll !'^ * Ilii lilllliiil 86 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP when bands of the Iroquois waylaid the Ojibways simultaneously at various points on the Mah-ah-moo-sebee, The news of these unprovoked attacks reached the shores of Lake Superior, but as it was late in the fall, they deemed it imprudent to proceed against the Iroquois, and delayed their expedition imtil the ensuing spring. Runners were sent during the winter to the different allies of the Ojibways, the Sacs and Foxes, Menomones, Kinnestenoes, Pottawatamies, and the Hurons of San- dusky, each of whom were informed of the movements of the great (3jibway family in the West. Strings of wampum were sent from village to village by fleet nmners from the extreme end of Lake Superior to the South, far over the prairies of Illinois. The bays of Michigan resounded with the war cry of the Sacs, while the Menomones trained their young warriors for the approaching conflict. The war dance became a constant exercise, and in fact, the chief amusement of the Indians. The Hurons excited the reveng3ful feelings of the Ojibways by tell- ing them of the outrages the Iroquois had committed on their children. They shook their war clubs towards the rising sun, and a signal was given that betokened a terrific onslaught. Their hunting grounds were aban- doned, and their women who had attended the com- ll!l!i!!!. THE OJIBWAY NATION. m fields were obliged to fish during the summer, in order to obtain a subsistence. By previous arrangement, the warriors of the Nations were to meet below Sault iSt. Marie, at the first chang- ing of the flower moon (May). The time arrived. Wah-boo-jeeg's son mustered the war canoes before the point of Pegtmhquawom, near the outlet of a deep bay on the South shore of Lake Superior. When the voices of the war chiefs announced the time of preparation to an eager multitude, a deafening skout arose to heaven, and awoke the echoing spirit of the forest. The rattling of the mysterious Waskeinzke (Deer's Whoof), and the beating of the drum were heard. The tramp of the furious Ojibways ana Hurons shook the earth as they danced around the blaze of their council fires. In the morning, at dawn, the war canoes fi:om Shah- gahwahmik (the pomt) were in sight ; near Kewaowon two hundred of them approached ! The Sahsahquon (war cry) and song were heard in the distance from over the waters. Never had the wa- ters been agitated by so groat a floet of canoes. The muscular arm of the warriors propelled the canoes with rapid speed on their way. In fonner times the old Chief, Wah-boo-jeeg, led the 88 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF wwrior bands in poraon, but Imng qinto iigod, ho com- mitted tho charge to liin son, Naiquod. Tho old Chiof ©xprosscMl his approbation of tho oxptulition against the Iro ■w^.^ ^ i<^ ^ Sv # s^ 90 THE OJIBWAY NATION. added, "with your war clubs— make a straight path to the wigwam of the pale face, and demand the land of the weeping Huron. I wiU sit upon the edge of this rock, and await your return.'" The old man sat down, and xhe canoes moved East- ward, in search of the foe. The Western shore of Michigan was also thronged by the canoes of the Men- omonies, Pottawatamies, Sacks and Foxes, — the South- era Hurons came with other tribes across the St. Clair, and overran the South. Tradition informs us that seven hundred canoes met at Kewetawahonning, one party of whom was to take the route to Mahamooseebee, the second towards Wah- weyagahmah, (now Lake Simcoe), the third was to take the route towards the river St. Clair, and meet the Southern Hurons. I will here remark that they had several reasons for waging war against the Iroquois. — First, for having broke the last treaty of peace by the murder of some of their warriors^; second, to clear the way of trade between the Ojibways and the French, (the Iroquois then lived along the Ottawa river), and third, to regain the land of the Western Hurons, and, if possible, drive the Iroquois wholly from the peninsula. The warriors who took the Mahamooseebee, had sevHral engagements v^ith them, but outnumbering mmii THi OJIBWAY NATION. 91 them, they easily routed the Iroquois. Those who had gone to the St. Clair had likewise a fierce battle ai the mouth of a river called by the Algonquins, Sahgeeng, and afterwards being joined by the Southern Hiuons, overran the whole of the South of the peninsula. The most bloody ba ttki? were fought on Lake Simcoe, at a place called Ramma, at Mud Lake, Pigeon Lake, and Rice Lake : the last that was fought took place at the mouth of the river Trent. Foity years had nearly elapsed since the Hurons had been routed, but they had not forgotten the land of theii birth— tiie places that were once so dear to them. The thought of regaining their former possessions inspired them with a courage that faced every danger. They fought like tigers. The first battle between the Ojibways and the East* em Iroquois or Mohawks, was fought at a place near where Orillea is now situated, about one-quarter of a mile Northward. The Mohawks collected in great numbers here, and awaited the attack of the Western Hurons and Ofibways. They resisted stoutly for three days — at the close of which, tradition informs us, they sued for mercy, which was granted, and the few survi- vors were allowed to go to Lake Huron, where they re- mained during the rest of the war. n TRADITIONAL HISTOAy OP The second battle of any account was fought at Pigeon Lake, where the Iroquois had made a strong fort, remains of which are to be seen at this day. At this place great numbers of the Ojibways were killed. For a time the result was doubtful, but finally the Ojib- ways took the fort by storm, and but few of the Iroquois were spared. The third battle was fought near Mud Lake, about twelve miles North of Peterboro. Not a male person was spared, and the next day another village that stood on the present site of Peterboro and Smithtown, was attacked, and an immense number slaughtered. I will not attempt to narrate the many barbarous acts which took place on both sides, for himianity shudders at the bare thought of them. They spared none. It is said that they fought the last few who resisted, on a shoal in the river with arrows, strings and other mis- siles ; that their blood dyed the water, and their bodies filled the stream. From both banks of the river the wail of woe and grief arose firom the orphan children, whose loud '-ries and sobs were heard far distant. Here side by side the hostile warriors rolled in blood and agony, while thfe' eagles, buzzards, and crows, flying round and rounS,* added their screech to the noise of the combatants, and THE OJIBWAY NATION. 93 by their actions testified their joy that a day of geiseral feasting had arrived. Then* "Slaughter heaped on high its weltering ranks." Death made a throne of the bodies of the slain, and arm in arm with his hand in hand, friend Despair as- cended and ruled the day. The fourth village which they attacked was at the mouth of the Otonabee, on Rice Lake, where several hundreds were slain. The bodies were in two heaps : one of which was the slain of che Iroquois j the other of the Ojibways. Panic-struck ^he Iroquois collected their remaining forces in Percy, now Lewis's Farm, where for two days and nights they fought like wild beasts. Their shrieks and shouts were heard on each side of the river Trent, so madly did they rush upon destruction. Of this band of warriors, one alone was saved. The women and children were spared to wander in solitary anguish, and mourn over husbands and fathers whose bones were before them,— sad memorials of desolating war. At this day arms of various descriptions are to be found, such as war-clubs, axes, spears, knives, arrow- heads and tomahawks sea tered with human bones. The fifth and last battle was fought on an island HP' ! I 94 TEADITIONAL SISTOET OF near the mouth of the river Trent, whajre most of the canoes had collected. At 9arly dawn the warriors landed, and with one wild, fierce rush, commenced their work of havoc and extermination. Yells and groans were heard on every side,— hand to hand they fought, and those who attempted to fly were pursued into the water and there slain and scalped. When the news of these victories reached the Mo- hawks, they were incredulous, but soon lea'-ned that the Iroquois were entirely broken up and the country subdued. The war-whoop of the trading Indians and their host abounded. Reveling and feasting celebrated the down- fall of the Iroquois. In vain the Iroquois, who remained, sent to the French, suing for peace. The petitions were not heeded, and they vainly atternpte ' to regain by scattered skirmishes a foot-hold on the land they were destined soon after to abandon forever. They returned from Canada, and their conquerors allotted them places of habitation. The Shawnees oc- cupied the SouAem, and the Ottaways and Ojibways the Northern parts. • Peace was then restored, and the confines of Niagara and St. Lawrence reaped its benefits. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 96 This took place about 1666, and continued for six years, when the French undertook to lay the founda- tion of a fort near the foot of Lake Ontario, called in the Algonquin language, Kah-tah-nah-queng, (Catara- que). Several attempts have since been made by the elder brethren to renew their vengeance against the French, Ottaways and Ojibways, also to regain their fonneir possessions, but they were unable to succeed, for the whole of the western tribes had combined against them, and they were utterly subdued by overpowering num- bers. Recently the Mohawks, a part of the Six Natioiis, have settled in Grand River, and others in Bay Q-uinty, back of Adolphustown, from the American side, they having been engaged with the British in the wars of that nation. It is somewhat remarkable that those who now live near Adolphustown, Canada West, still adhere to old customs and usages, though the Rev. Mr. Givins has done a great deal towards introducing among them the arts of civilized life. These nations used to send their warriors on the wa- ters of the iSa-gOrnaw of the north, Ottawa river, Lake Huron and Sandusky, away west to the prairies of Illi- 1(5," «« 96 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP nois and the waters of Green Bay, as also to the shores of Lake Superior. On the east to the White Mountains' of Vermont,— down the Delaware river and the upper branches of the Ohio. Their war path was drenched with the blood of their enemies all around them. They were, in fact, the Turks of the American Forest. By degrees they have fallen before the rapidly increasing numbers of their enemies. What war has not done, strong drink has, until now they are a weak and puny race. The pale face says that there is a fate hanging over the Indian bent on his destruction. Preposterous !— They give him liquors to destroy himself with, and then charge the great Good Spirit as the author of their mis- ery and mortality. The arm of the Iroquois warrior wields the war-club no more. A few of his children are now peacefully foUovdng the plough in Canada and in Western New- York, while others of them mingle with those tribes- against whom the war-cry of their Nation was once raised. They now live in amity and peace, and hail the davmmg of a better day. \ CHAPTER IX. THEIR Legendary stories and historical TALES. " 'Tis a story, Handed from ages down ; a nurse's tale, Which cilhdren open-eyed and mouthed devonr, And thus as garrulous ignorance relates. We learn it and believe ," The Ojibways have a great number of legends, sto- ries, and historical tales, the rel ing and hearing of which, form a vast fund of winter evening instruction and amusement. There is not a lake or mountain that has not connect- ed with it some story of delight or wonder, and nearly every beast and bird is the subject of the story-teller, being said to have transformed itself at some prior time into some mysterious formation — of men going to Uve in the stars, and of imaginary beings in the air, whoso rushing passage roars in th^ distant whirlwinds. wmm 98 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP M I have known some Iiidiuns who would commence to narrate legends and stories in the month of OctobeJr and not end until q[uite late in the spring, sometimes not till quite late in the month of May, and on every evening of this long term tell a new story. • Some of these stories are most exciting, ahd so intense- ly interesting, that I have seen children during their relation, whose tears would flow quite plentifully, and their breasts heave with thoughts too big for utterance. Night after night for weeks have I sat and eagerly listened to thdse stories. The days following, the char- acters would haunt me at every step, and every moving leaf would seem to be a voice of a spirit. To those days I look back*with pleasurable emotions. Many of these fanciful stories have been collected by H. R. Schoolcraft, Esq. It is not my purpose to imnecessarily extend this work with a large number of these. I will, however, in this connection narrate a fe\^, in order to give you some idea of the manner in which my people amuse themselves in their wigwams, and promise to send you, at some future day, a good handfull from the forest. These legends have an important bearing on the character of the children of our Nation. The fire-blaze is endeared to them in after years by a thousand happy THE OJIBWAY NATIOIC. 99 recollections. By mingling thus, social habits are fonn- ed and sti-engthened. When the hour for this recrea- tion arrives, they lay down the bow and the arrow and joyously repair to the wigwam of the aged man of the village, who is always ready to accommodate the young. Legends are of three distinct classes, namely, the Amusing, the Historical, and the Moral. In the Fall we have one class, in the Winter another, and in the Spring a third. I can at present have only time and space to give specimens of the second of these. LEGEND FIRST. THE STAR AND THE LILY. An old ch'eftain sat in his wigwam qmetly smoking his favorite pipe, when a crowd of Indian boys and girls suddenly entered, and with numerous offerings of to- bacco, begged him to tell them a story. Then the old man began : — " There was once a time when this world was filled with happy, people^ when all nations were as one, and the crimsop:Mab: 'piwhi iah IttJt-bel^ tl [roll. Plenty of game '^jras to f thQ • Ibrest" -an^ :onj 4he, f>lams. None » * Lnow v/here it should live, and what form it should take. Places weie named. On the top of giant trees, or in flowers. At length it was told to choose a place itself, and it did so. At first, it dwelt in the white rose of the mountains ; THE OJIBWAY NATION. 103 but there it was so buried that it could not be seen. It went to the prairie, but it feared the hoof of the buffalo. It next sought the rocky cliff, but there it was so high, that the children whom it loved most could not see it. ' I know where I shall live,' said the bright fugitive, « where I can see the gliding canoe of the race I most admire. Children ! yes, they shall be my playmates, and I will kiss their brows when they slumber by the side of cool lakes. The nations shall love me wherever lam.' These words having been said, she alighted on the waters where she saw herself reflected. The next morning, thousands of white flowers were seen on the surface of the lakes, and the Indians gave them this name — ' Wah-be-gwon-ms,' (White Lily.) Now," continued the old man, « this star lived in the Southern skies. Its brethren can be seen far off in the cold North, hunting the great bear, whilst its sisters watch her in the East and West. « Children ! when you see the lily on the waters, take it in your hands, and hold it to the skies, that it may be happy on earth as its two sisters, the morning and even- ing stars, are happy in heaven." While tears fell fast from the eyes of all. the old m?ii laid down and was soon silent in sleep. 104 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP Since that, I have often plucked the white Hly, and garlanded it around my head— have dipped it in its* watery bed— hut never have I seen it without remem- bering the legend of the descending star. ■if: m «'.i,i„ LEGEND SECOND, HISTORICAL — THE LONG CHASE. The Indian warrior of days long past, thought that distance should^ever be considered when ae went forth to war, provided he was certain of winning the applause of his fellows. Fatigue and hunger were alike looked upon as minor matters, and were endured without a murmur. The long continued wars which once existed between the Ojibways and the Iroquois, gave rise to the follow- ing legend, which was originally related to me by an Ojibway Chief, whose name was'Na-nah-boo-sho. A party of six Iroquois runners had been sent by their leading Chiefs from Ke-wa-we-won, on the Southern shore of Lake Superior, to examine the position of the Ojibways, who were supposed to be on the island called Moo-ne-quah-na-lcaune-ning. The spies having arrived opposite thj i&land on which their enemies had encamp- 106 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP warriors of the Crane and Buffalo tribes prepared them- selves for a conflict. The war-whoop echoed to the sky— and the rattling of bows and arrows was heard in every part of the island. In about one hour the main shore was lined with about eight hundred canoes, the occupants of which were anxiously awaiting the appearance of the spies. These desperate men, however, had made up their mind to ply their oars to the utmost, and as the day was breaking, they launched their canoes from a woody cove, shot round the islanc?, and started in the direction of the Porcupine Mountains, which were about sixty miles distant. As soon as they came in sight of the Ojib- ways, the latter became quite frantic, and giving theur accustomed yell, the whole multitude started after them as swift as the flight of birds. The waters of the mighty lake were without a ripple, c jr than that made by the swiftly gliding canoe, and the beautiful fish moved among their rocky haunts in peifect peace, unconscious of the chase above. The Iroquois were some two miles ahead, and while they strained every nerve for life, one voice rose high m the air, bearing an invocation to the spirits of their race for protection. In answer to their prayer, a thick fog leii upon the water and caused great confusion.— THE OJIBWAY NATION. 105 ed, (which was about three miles from the main shore) built a war canoe with the bark of an elm tree, launched it at the hour of midnight, and having implored the god of war to smile upon them and keep the lake in peace, landed on the island, and were soon prowling through the village of the unconscious Ojibway. They were so cautious in all their movements, that thek footsteps did not even awaken the sleeping dogs. It happened, however, that they were discovered, and that too by a young woman, who according to an an- cient custom was leading a solitary life previous to be- coming a mother. In her wakefubiess, she f-.w them pass near her lodge, and heard them speak, yet could not understand their words, though she thought them to be of the Na-do-way tribe. When they had passed, she stole outof her own wig- wam to that of her aged grand-mother, to whom she re- lated what she had seen and heard. The aged woman only reprimanded her daughter for her imprudence and did not heed her words. "But, mother," replied the girl, « I speak the truth ; the dreaded Na-do-ways are in our village, and if the warriors of the Buffalo race do not heed the story of a ^W f^-^.i:-!- _;„! 4.u_: _;-i ^i__' - - . _ _ _ Qin, Micij. wuiiieii aau iheu children miiat perish." The words of the girl were finally believed, and the I 108 THE OJIBWAY NATION. and it was determined that they should be tortured at the stake. They were, accordingly, fastened to a tree, and surrounded with wood, when just as the flaming torch was to be appUed, an aged warrior stepped forth from the crowd of spectators, and thus addressed tfie assembly : — "Why are you to destroy these men? They are brave warriors, but not more distinguished than we are. We can gain no benefit from their death. Why not let them Uve, that they may go and tell their people of our power, and that our warriors are as numerous as the stars of the Northern sky ?" The Council pondered upon the old man's advice, and in the breasts of each there was a struggle between their love of revenge and their love of glory. Both were victorious. One of the spies was released, and as he ascended a narrow valley, leading to the Porcupine Mountains, the fire was applied to the dry wood j»led around the form of the other, and in the darkness of midnight and amid the shouting of his cruel enemies, the body of the Iro- quois prisoner was reduced to ashes. The spot where the sacrifice took place has been riven by many a thunderbolt since that eventful hour, for the god of war was displeased with the faint-heart- I 106 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP warriors of the Crane and Buffalo tribes prepared them- selves for a conflict. The war-whoop echoed to the sky— and the rattling of bows and arrows was heard in every part of the island. In about one hour the main shore was lined with about eight hundred canoes, the occupants of which were anxiously awaiting the appearance of the spies. These desperate men, however, had made up their mind to ply their oars to the utmost, and as the day was breaking, they launched their canoes from a woody cove, shot round the islan^, and started in the direction of the Porcupine Mountains, which were about sixty miles distant. As soon as they came in sight of the Ojib- ways, the latter became quite frantic, and giving thek accustomed yell, the whole multitude started after them as swift as the flight of birds. The waters of the mighty lake were without a ripple, o or than that made by the swiftly gliding canoe, and the beautiful fish moved among their rocky haunts in peifect peace, unconscious of the chase above. The Iroquois were some two nules ahead, and while they strained every nerve for life, one voice rose high in the air, bearing an invocation to the spirits of then race for protection. In answer to their prayer, a thick fog fell upon the water and caused great confusion.— iio TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP 1 by ihe visitation of some great misfortune upon any one who should chance to see it. \ These monstrous birds were supposed to have their nects somewhere, and great curiosity existed to know its location, as well as to know somewhat of the nature of the bird ; but no one seemed fortunate enough to dis- cover the resort of these great birds which were called Ah-ne-me-keegf (Thunders.) There lived on the northern shore of Lake Superior an Indian warrior who from his childhood had been noted for being d wise and sedate man ; it was suppo- sed by many that he would some day go on a great ex- ploit, as none was like him for courage, wisdom and pru- dence. As he was returning from one of his hunting expeditions, the night came on sooner than he expected it would, and darkness gathered around him while he was a great distance from his home. On his way he was obhged to traverse the ice on lake and river. The moon shone as clear and perfect as it had ever shone to light a traveller's path. On the warrior's back was a beaver, and in his hand the tried and trusted spear, with which he had captured it. As he was crossing the last lake the shadow of some great object passed before him, and he soon saw approaching a great bird, which in a moment caught him and all he had, and arose. The THE OJIBWAY NATION. 107 One of the Ojibway warriors laid down his paddle, seized his mysterious rattle (made of deer's hoofj and in a strange, wild song, implored the spirits of his race to clear away the fog, that they might pursue their en^ mies. The burden of their song was — " Mon-e-dco ne bah bah me tah wah K'i) shig ne bah bah me tah goon, Ne bee ne wah wah goom me goon, Ne ke che dah — awas, awas." Which may be translated as follows : — " Spirits ! whom we have always obeyed. Here cause the sky now to obey ; Place now the waters all in our power, We are warriors— away, away." As the last strain of music departed, the fog rolled away, and the Iroquois spies were seen hastening to the shore, near Montreal River. Then came the fog again and then departed, in answer to the conflicting prayers of the two nations. Long and exciting was the race. But the Great Spirit was the friend of the Ojibways — and just as the Iroquois were landing on the beach, four of them were pierced with arrows, and the remaining purpose of deternuning what should be done with them. 113 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP Ke-ne-ke-nik (tobacco), taking one or two wliiffs he held it in his hond, and pointing with its stem to the four comers of the heaven, he offered up a piayer, which he beheved was heard. He then got inside of the young thunder skin, sewed himself in it, and rolled down the rocks. As he tumbled from rock to rock, the feathers of the skin would flash with fire. After descending about half way to the bottom of the precipice, the skin in which he was bound bore him on its wings, and after a long flight, alighted with him near the spot from whence he was taken tp days before. His wife and children were in mourning for his loss, for they had seen him taken from the ice, and were convinced th^t he had been taken by some mysterious spirit. As might be .supposed, when he retiuned he surprised them by bring- ing to his children the hearts of the yoimg thunders. — He broiled them, and as he did so, the fire made a crackling noise.* The next summer, the mountains West of the Me-she- be-goo-toong, on the borders of Lake Superior, were con- tmually enveloped in flames and heavy clouds, for it is there that the remainder of the thunder birds rested. Since mankind have gone in great crowds, these birds * Indian children are now told that when the fire makes a noise, STc DrOIiiug' III iC. a1_ _ 1 A_ _J» _. .1^ Jl \ 108 THE OJIBWAY NATION. and it was determined that they should be tortured at the stake. They were, accordingly, fastened to a tree, and surrounded with wood, when just as the flaming torch was to be applied, an aged warrior stepped forth from the crowd of spectators, and thus addressed the assembly : — "Why are you to destroy these men? They are brave warriors, but not more distinguished than we are. We can gain no benefit from their death. Why not let them live, that they may go and tell their people of our power, and that our warriors are as numerous as the stars of the Northern sky ?" The Council pondered upon the old man's advice, and in the breasts of each there was a struggle between their love of revenge and their love of glory. Both were victorious. One of the spies was released, and as he ascended a narrow valley, leading to the Porcupine Mountains, the fire was applied to the dry wood piled around the form of the other, and in the darkness of midnight and amid the shouting of his cruel enemies, the body of the Iro- quois prisoner was reduced to ashes. The spot where the sacrifice took place has been riven by many a thunderbolt since that eventful hoiu-, fOT the god of war was displeased with the faint-heart^ THE OJIBWAY NATION. 109 edness of the Ojibways for valuing a man more highly than the privilege of revenge ; and the simimer of the next year that saw the remains of the himiane Ojibway buried on the shore of Lake Superior, saw also the re* mains of the pardoned spy consigned to the earth on the shore of Michigan. Thus rnds the legion of Shah-gah-wah-mik, one of the Apostle Islands, which the French named La Pomte, and which was originally known as Mo-ne-quon-a-kon- ing. The village stood where the old trading estab- lishment was located, and among the greenest of t?ie graves now seen in the hamlet of La Pointe is that of the Indian girl who exposed herself to reproach for the purpose of saving her people. TALES. LEGEND THIRD. THE thunder's NEST. The foUowmg legend will impart some instruction relative to the Indian idea of thunder. Once upon a time when no wars existed among men, the onli'^ thing they feared was a great bird seen flying through the air during moonlight nights. When it was seen in the day time its presence was usually followed ^ iio TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP \ by ihe visitation of some great misfortune upon any one who should chance to see it. \ These monstrous birds were supposed to have their nects somewhere, and great curiosity existed to know its location, as well as to know somewhat of the nature of the bird ; but no one seemed fortunate enough to dis- cover the resort of these great birds which were called Ah-ne-me-keeg, (Thunders.) There lived on the northern shore of Lake Superior an Indian warrior who from his childhood had been noted for being 4 wise and sedate man ; it was suppo- sed by many that he would some day go on a great ex- ploit, as none was like him for courage, wisdom and pru- dence. As he was returning from one of his hunting expeditions, the night came on sooner than he expected it would, and darkness gathered around him while he was a great distance from his home. On his way he was obliged to traverse the ice on lake and river. The moon shone as clear and perfect as it had ever shone to light a traveller's path. On the warrior's back was a beaver, and in his hand the tried and trusted spear, with which he had captured it. As he was crossing the last lake the shadow of some great object passed before him, and he soon saw approaching a great bird, which in a moment caught him and all he had, and arose. The THE OJIBWAY NATIOIT. Ill bird carried him westward, far above the earth, yet not so far as to prevent him from seeing it, and the doings upon it. After travelHng a great distance, they came in view of a high hill, which was barren of trees, but bore one bold barren rock. As they neared it, the bird endeavored to dash him upon its side, but the old Indian so placed his spear that he was not injured in the least degree. At length he was thrown upon the place where the young birds were. He heard fierce muttering thun- der overhead, and found himself left to the mercy of the wild birds. Soon after, they began to peck his head, when he, thinking tjj^em helpless, ventured to make battle with them. The Indian arose, and soon found they were too much for him. Whenever they winked, a flash of lightning would pass from their eyes and scorch him so severely as to bum his hands and face. The birds were quite small, and not able to execute much, and therefore by perseverance he gained the mastery over them with his spear. He dragged one of them to the edge, rolled it over the precipice, and took the skin from the other. On looking round, he discovered that he was near the North-west end of Lake Superior ; he then threw the other carcase from him, and after filling his pipe with 112 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP I Ke-ne-ke-nik (tobacco), taking one or two whiffs he held it in his ho id, and pointing with its stem to the four corners of the heaven, he offered up a piayer, which he behoved was heard. He then got inside of the young thunder skin, sewed himself in it, and rolled down the rocks. As he tumbled from rock to rock, the feathers of the skin would flash with fire. After descending about half way to the bottom of the precipice, the skin in which he was bound bore him on its wings, and after a long flight, alighted with him near the spot from whence he was taken tp days before. His wife and children were in mourning for his loss, for they had seen him taken from the ice, and were convinced tj^it he had been taken by some mysterious spirit. As might be supposed, when he returned he surprised them by bring- ing to his children the hearts of the yoimg thunders.— He broiled them, and as he did so, the fire made a crackling noise.* The next summer, the mountains West of the Me-she- be-goo-toong, on the borders of Lake Superior, were con- tinually enveloped in flames and heavy clouds, for it is there that the remainder of the thunder birds rested. Since mankind have gone in great crowds, these birds * Indian children are now told that when the fire makes a noise, »!._ 1 i_ »«....» «A ^vuug .UUUUV10 aic kfiwiiiug 111 lit THE OJIBWAY NATION. 113 are seldom seen, but are often heard in the skies, where they fly higher than they once did. Once they lived on human flesh, but now they subsist on the wild game of the forest. They wink, and the fire flashes from their eyes. Their nests are now built on the Ah-sen- wah-ge-wing (Rmky Mountains), in the far West, and at times they are heard passing through the air towards the East, on their way to the sea, for they Hve upon fish and serpents, since they have been subdued by man. LEGEND FOURTH. W THE TWO COUSINS. There lived amongst the hills of the North, two most intunate friends, who had appeared to have loved each other from the years of their earliest childhood.— In summer they lived by a beautiful lake. In autumn on the banks of a noble river. In personal appearance they were very near alike ; they were of the same age and statue. In their early days a good old Indian v/o- man attended to their wants, and cared for their wig- wams ; togetherthey strolled among the greenwoods, and shared the results of their ramblings. Years flitted by. """ ■ — *"^> vfiiwii tiicy used large bows and arrows. 114 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF One day the old lady took them by her side, and told them that the Nation to which they belonged held a fast, and that she wanted them to fast that they might become great hmiters. And they did fast. As spring advanced, they killed a great many wild ducks, and kept the old woman of the wigwam busy in taking caie of their game. In the latter part of the year they killed a great num- ber of beaver, with the furs of which they clothed their grand-mother and themselves. In their journey one day, they made an agreement to this effect, that if the gods should make knoWn any manifest favor to the one he should inform U|e other. In the fall, they were far from the rivers, but yet moved towards the North, where they knew the bears most resorted. During that winter they killed a great many, as also during the ensuing March. At the close of one of their hunting expeditions, they turned their feet towards home, at which they arrived af. a late hour. As they approache ' , h / heard the somid of several voices beside that " (! r i iHnd-mo- ther. They listened, and discovered that strangers were in their wigwam. They entered, and beheld two yoimg and beautiful damsels seated in that part of the "nmn ir? whir.h thfiv ae^nf^raWxr rpsterl Hnrir.or tliA niorlit TRAOITIONAT, HISTOilY OF ll6 The hunters and the young women appeared very strange and modest. At lene^h the old lady said to the yoong men :— - "Noo-se-se-took ! My children, I have called t^ese two young women from the South, that they may aid me in taking care of all the meat and venison you may bring home, for I am getting old and weak and cannot do as much as I used to. I have put them by your sides that they may be your companions." '^^nen the last words were spoken, they looked upon each other, and soon left, to wander by themselves in the forest. They there consulted together as to whether they should comply with her request. One said he should leave the wigwam. The other said that if they left, there would be no one to supply their aged grand-mo- ther ; and they finally agreed to remain in the wigwam and pay no regard to the new comers. They slept side by side every night, and agreed that if either should wish to love one of the voung strangers he would inform the other, and that they would then separate forever. In February they obtained a vast amount of game ; the bears having returned to their winter quarters were easily found and captured It was observed that one of the young men gazed 116 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP very intently at one of the strangers, and the next morn- ing as they went out, he asked the other whether be did not begin to love the young damsel who sat on his side of the birchen fire. He replied negatively. It was true that one of the cousins appeared to be deeply absorbed in thought every evening, and that his manner was quite reserved. After a fortmiate hunting day, as they were wending their way home with their heavy burden of bear and deer, one accused the other of loving the yoimg woman. " Tell me," saiil he, " and if you do, I will leave you to yourseb'es. If you have a wife, I cannot enjoy your company, or take the same delight with ywi as I do when we follow the chase." it' His cousin sighed, and said—" I will tell you to-night as we lie side by side." At night they conversed together, and agreed to hmit, and if they did not meet with success, they would sep- arate. The next morning they went to the woods, — they were not a great distance from each other during the hunt. The one who was in love shot only five, while the other returned with the tongues of twenty bears. The former was all the time thinking of the game, having notliing else to divert his mind. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 117 On their return, the lucky man informed the grand- mother that he should leave the next morning, and that what he should kill on the morrow must be searched after, as he should not return to tell them where he had killed the game. His cousin was grieved to find that his mind was made up to leave, and began to expostu- late with hun to change his determination; but he would not be persuaded to do so. Tho next day came. The young man who was to leave, bound a rabbit skin about his neck to keep it warm, and having used on himself red and yellow paints, left. His cousin followed close in his rear, en- treating him not to leave him. " I will go," said he, « and Uve in the North, where I shall see but few perions, and when you come that way, you will see me." They walked side by side, until the departing cousin began to ascend— and as he did so, the other wept the more bitterly, and entreated him most perseveringly not to go. The cousin ascended to the skies, and is seen in the North, Ke-worden-aJi-mung (North Star), still hunting the bear ; while the other wept himself to nought before iiC eouia ttixTva home, and now he answers and mocks every body. He lives in the craggy rocks and deep 116 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP very intently at one of the strangers, and the next morn- ing as they went out, he asked the other whether he did, not begin to love the young damsel who sat on his side of the birchen fire. He replied negatively. It was true that one of the cousins appeared to be deeply absorbed in thought every evening, and that his manner was quite reserved. After a fortmiate hunting day, as they were wending their way home with their heavy burden of bear and deer, one accused the other of loving the yoimg woman. " Tell me," sai^ he, " and if you do, I will leave you to yourseb'es. If you have a wife, I cannot enjoy your company, or take the same delight with y»u as I do when we follow the chase." His cousin sighed, and said — " I will tell you to-night as we lie side by side." At night they conversed together, and agreed to hunt, and if they did not meet with success, they would sep- arate. The next morning they went to the woods, — they were not a great distance from each other during the hunt. The one who was in love shot only five, while the other returned with the ty\i'vw> f%%r^A ^^ 1 _^_. jt _^ 1 _ ■■■--""-■ -------<'j «liti iilSVi iiU iiiiovVCAd SUu. liiuC£3 every body. He lives in the craggy rocks and deep 3oner. — It was walked as soon rranged Qt man. B stood, jaid he, ast was It about be the 'he fire tie pris- )ice be- hought ay !»— 3 killed lonar to enduru die in 118 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP woods, and his name is Bah-swa-way (Echo). The young maidens lived for a long time in the South, under ambrosial bowers, awaiting the return of their lovers, until one fell in love with another, and the other is wwting for the return of her lover, where " She looks as clear as monxing roses, Newl7 washed in, dew." AN HISTORICAL TALE. THE EFFECTS OP LIQUOR. A PEW years after the extermination of the Iroquois from the peninsula which is formed by the three lakes, Huron, Erie and Ontario, a free and uninterrupted inter- course existed between the French of Montreal and the Ojibways of Lake Superior, which brought into the In- dians' possession implements of steel, and that bane of the civilized world, " fire-water." , The people had already commenced to inhabit the islands along the river St. Marie, when a quantity of hqucr was landed at a point near Grand De Tour, be- tween St. Marie and Mackanaw. The Indians from the upper lakes, as they camped, began to use this Uquor quite freely, in order to see its curious effects upon them. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 119 Among these were two families who had Hved and hmited the moose together, and had from childhood roamed the wide forest without one word of difference between them. They also wished to experiment with nevr\^^.^, which when some drank would cause them to enter into curious antics, others sang war songs, others were jovial, while a few challenged the spectators to combat with their weapons of war. During this experhnentmg, the two inthnate friends had a quarrel, which resulted in the death of one of them. The murderer seeing what he had done, fled to the woods, to a spot near which they had lived, and there concealed himself. The deed was soon known all over the village. As the murderer had fled, it was agreed by mutual consent and in accordance w:th their law of retaliation, that the brother of the murderer should be executed in the guilty one's stead. That evening was to be the time of execution, and orders were given that two fires should be built about twenty- five feet apart. A post was placed between the two fires, on which he was to rest himself. The victim prepared himself by deliberately painting ...«ii,-^ii -.-vitii vaiiuuD -ouiuis. vTiicii lay evemng came, there were twelve warriors, with bows well strung, 120 THE OJIBWAY NATION. and ^ood arrows, wlio were to fire at the prisoner. — The people with eager curiosity looked on. It was announced that all was ready. The victim walked calmly from his lodge to the place where he was soon to represent his brother. The warriors were arranged at a distance of thirty steps, and the innocent man stood at the post, where his brother should have stood. *' Dcai't shoot me till I give you the signal," said he, as he waved his hand toward heaven. His breast was painted black, with the exception of a white spot about the size of a dpllar in its centre, which was to be the point to which the arrows should be aimed. The warriors and the victim were ready. The fire blazed, and amid the stillness of the evening, the pris- oner was heard singing the death wail : " Ne-bali bah-moo-say Ke-zhe-goon-ai, Ne ge cnog a ye shaw-wod." Before the last stanza was sung, and as his voice be- came weak, he turned to the crowd, where he thought his brother might be lurking, and said — " Ha hay !" — then continued — " Brother, I am now ready to be killed in your stead. I will not dishonor the clan I belong to by endeavoring to shun this fate. If you can enduro the idea that hereafter the Nation will look upon us as a race of cowards, live ! but I would choose to die in isoner. — It was walked iras SK)on irranged )nt man re stood, said he, 3ast was ot about 3 be the Phe fire the pris- oice be- thought lay !" — >e killed along to enduro n us as 3 die in (i ' THE OJIBWAT N.^T^O»r. Iw your stead." As he finished tht' lasi Ui**''^ oi 'im aeath ^'•ng, his brother ran from die woods to his side, in d I ;\m not a cowai 1. »' ; ui r > tho woods to get wvhar. ?hat I miyhf not Ixi kil^-l ii!:if» r? do(?. 1 can soc>n ^■.v,aa<'^ ■ -'-V. ■ ' ..- . ju(1ir." Ho ■tepped aside, iutjui ittsM kerwiii hy- t-reasr. ; bteaking ,v>hf'S, he foraied & "^ u aifre of his ! 'Then leaaiiig li«;>' Inii^Hb nt^-aimt. the post, heb'> ' ;,- U'^r-U ootv '.' . , .:o died, .'ar : ' fbresi il bared rrsist to die warrirrs. T<*'<;lv pierced it, — 'J'his 'Vadiiiouai •■"■/ was i:f:.a:-i'..eu came Dy -i^i-mh-keHafi, in %h< yoa; ISIM. while ^vj^. ranr^p.-.d near isinnd o? -ip SauJt St Mane,. '*^' »i*^%s rayprjrou. af^*i«T»ed n »• of liiaia , ^Cji^ . ■ 90 ill a shs- THE OJIBWAY NATION. *?* 121 your stead." As he finished the last lines of the death song, his brother ran from the woods to his side, and £ said — " I am not a coward. I ran to the woods to get sober, that I might not be killed Uke a dog. I can soon be ready, and you shall see how a brave can die." He then stepped aside, and Waekened his breast ; breaking the ashes, he formed a white spot in the centre of his breast. Then leaning his back against the post, he be- gan his death song. As its last doleful note died, far away in the forest glen, he lifted both hands, and bared his breast to the warriors. Twelve arrows pierced it, and be fell, the second Indian victim of intemperance. Note. — ^This traditional story was related to me by Ne-gak-be-atty in the year 1834, while we camped near Drumwood's Island on our way up the Sault St. Marie. It was my purpose some time since to have published a volume of Indian stories, and tziist that I shall be able to do so in a short time. • CHAPTER X THEIR LANQUAGE AND WRITINGS. lililiij " Here are a few of the most unpleasant words That ever blotted paper." Shakspeabe. I The Ojibway language or the language of the Algon- quin stock is, perhaps, the most widely spoken of any in North America. The Atlantic tribes partook of this idiom when they were first discovered. The snows of the North bounded the people who spoke this language on that side, while in the South as far as the Potomac and the mountains of Virginia, down the Ohio, over the plains of Illinois to the East of the upper waters of the Father of Rivers, Nations resided three or four hundred years ago who could speak so as to be understood by each other. A person might have travelled nearly one thousand miles from the head of Lake Superior, and yet not journey from the sound of this dialect. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 123 In consequence of this universality of their language, the Nation has had a wide-spreading influence. Many of the Nation have traveUed from the main body to other lands : thus passing in contact with other Nations they have adopted their customs, and have so intermix- ed the two languages, that the original Ojibway is not now so generally spoken, within a thousand mUes of the Ojibway or Great Lake, as formerly. Mr. H. R. Schoolcraft, who has Studied the language more than any other person, and to some purpose, has often saJi through the press as well in private conversa- tion, that there is in it that which few other languages possess ; a force of expression, with music in its words and poetry in their meaning. I cannot express fully the beauty of the language, I can only refer to those wha have studied it as well as other languages, and quote their own writing in saying, "every word has its ap- propriate meaning, and with additional syllables give additional force to the meaning of most words."* After reading the English language, I have found words in the Indian combining ' ore expressiveness. There are many Indian words which when translated into English lose their force, and do not convey so much meaning in one sentence as the original does in one word. It would require an almost infinitude of English words • 124 TRADITIONAL BISTORT OF to describe a thunder-storm, and after all you would have but a feeble idea d" it. In the Ojibway language, wf say "Be-wah-aamrmoog." In this we convey the idea of a continual glare o{ lightning, noise, confusion — an awful whirl of clouds, and much more. Observe the smoothness of its words : — Ah-nung-o-kah, Bah-bah-me-tum, Che-baum, De goo wah skah, , Enah-kay-ya1|, Gah-gah-geeh, How-wah-do-seh, I^ pemmg, Jeen quon, • Kah-ke-nafa, . Mah-iialib.tft.ni8, Nah-nah-gum-moO) O-nah-ne quod, Pah'pah-say, Qaah-nauge, Sah-se-je-won, , Tah-que-shin, . Wah-be-goo-ne, Yah-no-tuai, , Ze-bee-won. The stany heaveni. Obedience. Soul. The rippling wave. The way. Raven. Stone carrier (Mi.)> Heaven. Earthquake. AIL Sheep» Singing. Pleasant weather. Woodpecker. Pretty. Rapids. He or she comes. lily. Unbelief. Stf roam a TRADITIOVAL HISTORY OP 125 UpOD examination it will be found that there are sev- eral letters not sounded, to Tvit : F, L, R, V, X, though Carver mentions in his vocabulary the use of the letitr L in several instances. Thia no doubt he did because he lacked a perfect understanding of the language. The same may be said of the letter R. We have none of the mouthing as of the thick sound of the letter L, nor any of the gutteral accompaniment of the letter R. To the contrary, all the softness of the vowels are sounded without many of the harsh notes of the consonants, and this produces that musical flor; of \* ords for which the language is distinguished. It is a natural language. The pronunciation of the names of animals, birds and trees are the very sounds these produce ; for instance, Hoot Owl, O-o-meseh / Owl, Kwhkoo-ko-ooh ; River, *S?e-6e ; 'Bia.^i&B, Smh se-je- wan. "^Sfee" is the sound of the waters on the rocks.— "xScoA-^e" the commotion of waters, and from its soimd occurs its name. The softness of the language is caused, as I have be- fore said, by the peculiar sounding of all the vowels ; though there is but little poetic precision in the forma- tion of verse, owing to tlie want of a fine discriminating taste by those who speak it. A language, derived, as this is, from the peculiarities # ■ • 126 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF 1 of the country in which it is spoken, must, necessarily, Jjjk partake of its nature. Our orators have filled the forest with the music of their voices, loud as the roar of a waterfall, yet soft and wooing as the gentle murmur of a m untain stream. We have had warriors who have » stood on the banks of lakes and rivers, and addressed with words of irresistible and persuasive eloquence their companions in arms|| The Ojibway language has not yet been reduced to a perfect written form. An attempt to do this was made by the lamented Summerfield, who in his degree of usefulness would not have dishonored his name had he lived. Close study was followed by a consumptive dis- ease, which terminated his life before his contemplated work was fiflished. In his attempt he followed too much the English idiom in forming a grammar of the Ojibway language. The records of the Ojibways have a two-fold mean- ing ; the hieroglyphic symbols of material objects repre- sent the transmission of a tradition from one generation to another. This refers more particularly to their reli- gion, which is itself founded on tradition. Picture wri- ting is most prevalent, and is used altogether in their medicine and huntiner son "p.. suggest sentences to be sung : w, _ _ja"i»!illl(t THE OJIBWAY NATION. 131 a long and prosperous life will be the result of obeying that law. The records contain certain emblems which transmit the ancient form of worship, and the rules for the dedication of four priests who alone are to expoimd them. In thfem is represented how man lived happy in his wigwam, before death was in the world, and the path he then followed mJarked out an example for those of the present time. During my travels over the whole extent of the Na- tion, I have been informed of a great many facts respect- ing these sacred depositories of which most of my breth- ren are ignorant The Chief of Lac Coart, Oreille, ("Moose Tail,") in the spring of 1836, related to my uncle John Taunchey', of Rice Lake, 0. W., an account of one of these deposi- tories near the mouth of "Round Lake." He said he had been chosen as one of the guardians about five years previous, and that the guardians had for a long time selected as the places of deposit the most unsuspected spot, where they dug fifteen feet, and sunk large cedar trees around the excavation. In the centre was placed a large hollow cedar log, besmeared at one end with gum. The open end is uppermost, and in it 0*1*0 1-\ln/%^rl 4-1^^ y£V#%j^yyl g M-ff^-M l-x^^yvj-y ^«< ^..-.rWl *1 — A^, of geese or swan, which are changed at each examina- 126 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP (1 of the country in which it is spoken, must, necessarily, mm' partake of its nature. Our orators have filled the forest with the music of their voices, loud as the roar of a waterfall, yet soft and wooing as the gentle murmur of a m imtain stream. We have had warriors who have » stood on the banks of lakes and rivers, and addressed with words of irresistible and persuasive eloquence their companions in armi||. The Ojibway language has not yet been reduced to a perfect written form. An attempt to do this was made by the lamented Summerfield, who in his degree of usefulness would not have dishonored his name had he lived. Close study was followed by a consumptive dis- ease, which terminated his life before his contemplated work was fiftished. In his attempt he followed too much the English idiom in forming a grammar of the Ojibway language. The records of the Ojibways have a two-fold mean- ing ; the hieroglyphic symbols of material objects repre- sent the transmission of a tradition from one generation to another. This refers more particularly to their reli- gion, which is itself founded on tradition. Picture wri- ting is most prevalent, and is used altogether in their medicine and hnntincr snm l-T£11*£k t%T/»£k n#V111./^o -vvtI^^aI^ suggest sentences to be sung : THE OJIBWAY NATION. 127 V This is one of their war sons, which might read in English thus : I. I will haste to the land of the foe, With warriors clad with the bow. 11. • I will drink the blood of their very heart ; I will change their joy mto sorrow's smart , Their braves, their su-es will I defy, And a Nation's vengeance satisfy. m. They are in their homes, now happy and free j No frowning cloud o'er their camp they see ; Yet the youngest of mine shall see the tall Braves, scattered, wandering, and fall. The warrior is represented by the figure of a man with a bow about him, and arrows in his hand ; with the plume of the eagle waving over his head, indicative of his acquaintance with war hfe. The next figure represents a watching warrior, equally brave, but the heart is represented as dead. The curve of his mouth shows that he is shantine- t^v^^ «— ♦ « = ^- a person with long hair, an indication that the best of the i • 128 THE OJIBWAY NATION. f enemy's warriors were to fall, and their wail must be heard like the wail of a woman. The wigwam with its smoke curling upwards, indicates a coimcil fire and the defiance of an attack. The other wigwams are seen without fire ; and the black one signifies silence and death. When I was young I was taught this, and while sing- ing I could, in imagination, see the enemy, though none were within a hundred miles. In heir war songs animals are li'^ewise represented in various attitudes. A rattle is made of deer's hoofs which is shook during the singing. This rattle was sometimes used for the purpose of transmitting news from one nation to another ; but in most cases shells were used for this purpose. I have been present in Canada when a Ftring of beads has been received from the head waters of Lake Superior. A pro- found silence ensued, then followed a revelation of the message, and at its close a prolonged grunting sound from the vast assembly signified the people's assent. There is a place where the sacred records are depo- sited in the Indian country. These recor<1s are made on one side of bark and board plates, and are examined once in fifteen years, at which time the decaying ones are replaced by new plates. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 129 This secrecy is not generally known by those people who have searched with interest the Indian, and traced him in all his wanderings to get an idea of his religion and his worship, which however absurd they may have seemed, have nevertheless been held in so rigid respect that he has formed for it a cloak of almost impenetrable mystery. He concluded that all Nature around him was clothed in mystery—that innumerable spirits were ever near to forward a good object and retard a bad one, and that they existed as a chain connecting heaven with earth. His meJicine bag contained all those native things of the forest around which, in his opinion, the greatest mystery gathered ; as the more of mystery, the more of the Great Spirit seemed to be attached to them. A whale was an object of much importance, because it was dedicated to the Supreme Being, and to approach it, or look upon it irreverently, would offend him and his children. They therefore never drew near it but with the most profound silence and veneration. With this great awe of spiritual things in his mind, he feels reluctant to reveal all that he knows of his worship and the objects and rites which perpetuate it. Most Indian Nations of the West have places in which thpV (iprVki^if tVta -Ha/miu^n v»l.:^U -.-=. -J ^- ^ - •_• ted their worship. The Ojibways hare three such de- i 130 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP positories near the waters of Lake Superior. Ten of the wisest and most venerable of the Nation dwell near these, and are a ^pointed guardians over them. Fifteen years intervene between each opening. At the end of this tune, if any vacancies have been caused by death, others are chosen in the spring of the year, who, about the month of August, are called to witness the opening of the depositories. As they are being opened, all the information known respecting them is given to the new members ; then the articles are placed before them, ,4-fter this, the plates are closely examin- ed, and if any have begun to decay they are taken out ; an exact fac simile is made and placed in its stead. — The old one is divided equally among the wise men. It is very highly valued for having been deposited ; as a sacred article, every fibre of it is considered sacred, and whoever uses it may be made wise. It is considered efficacious for any good purpose it may be put. These records are written on slate rock, copper, lead, and on the bark of birch trees. The record is said to be a transcript of what the Great Spirit gave to the In- dian after the flood, and by the hands of wise men has been transmitted to other parts of the country ever since. Here is a code of moral laws which the Indian calls " a path made by the Great Spirit." They believe that ilii THE OJIBWAT NATION. 131 a long and prosperous life will be the result of obeying that IsLvr. The records contain certain emblems which transmit the ancient form of worship, and the rules for the dedication of four priests who alone are to expound them. In thfem is represented how man lived happy in his wigwam, before death was in the world, and the path he then followed marked out an example for those of the present time. During my travels over the whole extent of the Na- tion, I have been informed of a great many facts respect- ing these sacred depositories of which most of my breth- ren are ignorant The Chief of Lac Coart, Oreille, ("Moose Tail,") in the spring of 1836, related to my uncle John Taunchey*, of Rice Lake, C. W., an account of one of these deposi- tories near the mouth of "Round Lake." He said he had been chosen as one of the guardians about five years previous, and that the guardians had for a long time selected as the places of deposit the most unsuspected spot, where they dug fifteen feet, and sunk large cedar trees around the excavation. In the centre was placed a large hollow cedar log, besmeared at one end with gum. The open end is uppermost, and in it QT*A r\1n#%A/9 4>W ^k «ftyVi ^«y^-M^« Great Spirit Canoe. c:3 Come* The whole story would thus read : « Hark to the words of the Sa-ge-mah." « The Great Medicine Lodge will be ready in eight days.** »• Ye who live in the woods and near the Lakes and by streams of water, come with your canoes or by land to the worship of the Great Spuit." In the above, the wigwam and the medicine pale or worship, represent the depositories of medicine, record and work. The Lodge is represented with men in it j the dots above indicate the number of days. These picture representations were used by the Ojib- ways until the introduction of European manners among them. When this occurred, they neglected in a great degree their correspondence with other nations, except by special messengers, and became very cautious in giving information respecting their religious worship to the whites, because they, the whites, ridiculed it. It is THE OJIBWAY NATION. 135 worthy of remark in this place, that however ridiculous the simple rites and ceremonies by which the untutored Indian showed his faith in the Great Spirit may have appeared, they were dear and sacred to him, and ridi- cule should never have been used to disabuse his mind of his long, formed opinions. It was a fruitless way to reclaim him. by the attempt to do so by ridicule ; and man could never by such means imbue his mind with Jthe principles of true worship. In times of danger or in the progress of a war, beads and shells were used for the purpose of conveying a message, and this custom is yet in vogue. These beads and shells were colored, and each had a meaning, according to its place on the string. Black indicated war or death— White, peace and prosperity— Red, the heart of the enemy would represent— Par/iaZ white or red, or both intermixed, the beginning of peace*' or the commencement of war. Numerals are marked on the shell. The knot gives information of its starting point, or the name of theper^ son sending it. In stringing the shells or beads, the end of the sentence is strung first, so that the first word of the message is in the person's hand. This manner of correspondence is the most common. i iiicu liuiiUicu ycaio ago Vivo iieiawares sent com- 136 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP munications in this way to the Shawnees in Sandusky- Lake Erie ; and they to the Ojibways in Superior and Huron. This mode was practised by Pontiac in his appeals to the Indians of Michigan, Huron, and the prairies of the West, during the wars. The Indians say that these beads cannot give false stories, for it is not possible for the man who takes it to alter or add to them, during his journey. CHAPTER Xr. THEIR GOVERNMENT. " Each state must have its pallaces : Kingdoms have edicts ; cities have their charters ; Even the wild outlaw in hia forest walk Keeps yet some touch of civil discipline." POMt. The rulers of the Ojibways were inheritors of the power they held. However, when a new country was conquered or new dominions annexed, the first rulers were elected to their offices. Afterwards the descend- ants of these elected chiefs ruled the Nation, or tribe, and thus the power became hereditary. On the death of the chief ruler, should the son be under age, the bro- ther of the deceased rules in his stead, until the youth becomes a man, when after the display of much cere- mony, he takes his seat at the head of the Council of ♦ hn N=*-!rtrs These young rulers are apt to be more cautious in the 138 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP exercise of their governing power than those who pos- sess more mature age with its more mature vanities Having been trained, and trained well by the aged wise men, they enter upon their duties conscious of their re- sponsibilities, and remembering the advise they have received from their elders. Councils were only convened by the Chiefs who pre- sided on important occasions. Those who sat at these councils, did so according to their age and wisdom.— Among these a free discussion was allowed, the youngest generally remaining silent Hsteners to the wisdom of the aged. A Chief had always two braves at his side— one was always near him day and night. Their duties were various. At times watching the lodge of the Chief— at others, sent on important errands for the Nations. They were frequently ordered not to stand still on theii way, or sit down to rest untU they had deUvered their mes- sage and received an answer. Being commanded to go on one of these errands, the young brave utters « hah," signifying his assent to do all that is required of him. He then takes the brace of beads, turns suddenly about and proceeds on his way- Day after day, night after night, he journeys on till he loaches his flasfmn+irtr* e.«/1^y»£.« *l._ -i . /•! •_^« • /« TIM OJIBWAY MATIOW. 139 I knew a young man by Ae name of John Loper. He was the best runner my father had, and waa a man of great energy and activity. He travelled with us when we removed to the north towards the Ottawa River. In the dead of winter the track of his snow shoes might have been seen far and near. In the spring of the year we often sat together in the open woods, he relating his adventures and I listenmg *o his account of havuig crossed swollen streams on cakes of ice or logs of wood, hokling fast to his only hope of life with his clothes aU in rags, and his body so torn and bruised by the brush-wood and briars, that his mocca- sins were filled with blood. John died in 1839, much lamented. Since then the Ojibways have not seen aman possessing so much enej^ or one so determined upon surmounting all obstacles that lie in his path as he was. This person acted the part of a commissary when any thing was to be divided in the vill ...ge. Formerly they received nothing for such services, but now they receive a stated salary and a provision for their expenses. They traverse the Ojibway country in all directions, and during the winter inform the people that they must meet together at the first change of the « flower moon" (May) :i4o THE OJIBWAY NATION. at the place named by the Chief. All matters of impor- tance are decided by the Chief. He pronomices all marriages, and his word settles all difficulties of every name and nature. No appeal can be made from his decisions, as he is the highest. Any one found guilty of a misdemeanoi is brought befo-o the Chief, who reprimands him before the crowd. When a murder is committed, the Chief can act as he pleases in regard to the offender, but should he not in- terfere, the relations of the deceased take the law in their own hands, and execute death upon the murderer. Those who murder never attempt to run away or con- ceal their guilt, but repair to their wigwam. If the Chief leams that the crime was provoked, he shields and protects the criminal : if not, he is put to death. His life is at every moment in danger should he live. Theft is punished by making the thief publicly known and being clothed as such. In this way adultery is pim- ished in the case of a man : in that of a woman, she has her hair cut from ear to ear, which is a mark of disgrace. It does not devolve upon any Chief in particular to make or form a war party, but any of the braves can muster together a band of volunteers. Those who have a desire to do so, can join these parties, the number of each party being regulated entirely according to the TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP lAt: bravery of the individual who forms it. Among the Indians there have been no written laws. Customs handed down from generation to generation have been the only laws to guide them. Every one might act different from what was considered right did he choose to do so, but such acts would bring upon him the censure of the Nation, which he dreaded more than any corporal punishment thatcouldbe inf '-ted upon him. This fear of the Nation's censure acted as a mighty band, binding all in one social, honorable compact. They would not as brutes be whipped into duty. They would as men be persuaded to the right. Of late years, law has borne with it very many evils. We can judge somewhat of the character of a community by its buildings. Prisons, penitentiaries, and poor- houses are Dad signs. Before law was introduced, the Indians had none of ihese. Whatever we had was shared alike. In times of gladness all partook cf the joy; and when suffering came all alike suffered. I believe communities can be governed by the pure rules of Christianity, with less coercion than the laws of civilized nations, at present, impose upon their subjects. This iiov/ever cannot be done unless each is rssolved upon a manly forbearance of those minor evils which in M 143 THE OJIBWAY NATION. all cases precede great ones. A vast amount of evidence can be adduced to prove that force has tended to bru- talize rather than ennoble the Indian race. The more a man is treated as a brother, the less demand for law. The less law there is, the more will man be honored thus. One of the most favorable indications in the Algon- c^uin tribes of their ultimate adoption of a pure Christi- anity is the simplicity of their government, and of their life and manners. To this the eye of the missionary should be dir|3cted, and all his actions be conformed to this happy state of affairs. Of late, the General Councils of the Christian Ojibways have been convened and carried on in the same manner as the public meetings of the whites are conducted. The last General Council, which consisted of Ojibways and Ottawas, was held at Sangeeng. The Chiefs came from St. Clair, Huron, Ontario, Simcoe, Rice, and Mud Lakes. The object of this convention was to devise plans by which the tract of land then held by the Sangeeng In- dians, could be held for the sole use of the Ojibway Nation ; to petition the government for aid in establish- injr a Manual Labor School ? to a^scertain the views and feelings of the Chiefs in relation to forming one large sot- THE OJIBWAY NATION. 143 tlement among themselves at Owen's Somid, where they might live in future, and to attend to other things of minor importance. There were forty^ight Chiefs present fiom Canada West alone. Chief Sawyer took the chair,and thewriter had the honor of heing Vice President. Chief John Jones of Owen Sound, was appointed to deUver the open- ing address, in which he was to give an outline of the subjects to be discussed. The meeting was called to order ; and after singing and prayer, the former by the members of the council, Ae latter by Chief Sunday, in which all united, Chief Jones arose. After casting a piercing glance over the assembly, he spoke as follows :— « Brothers ! You have been called from all parts of Canada, and even from the North of Georgia Bay. You are from your homes, your wives and your chil- dren. We might regret this separation were it not for the circumstances that call you here. Fellow Chiefs and Brothers ! I have pondered with deep solicitude our present condition ; and the future welfare of our children as well as of ourselves. I have -- -^--ii.^ uccpiy a.iiKi ttiixiuusiy m order to arrive at a true knowledge of the proper course to be pursued in order to 144 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP secure to us and our descendants, and even to others around us, the greatest amount of peace, health, happi- ness and usefulness. The intecests of the Ojibways are near and dear to my heart ; for them I have passed many a sleepless night, and have oftentimes been wearied with an agitated mind. T*]-^ ^ople of these Nations, lam proud to say, are my brethren ; many of them are bone of my bone ; and for them, if needs be, I could willingly, yea cheer- folly sacrifice my life. Brothers, you see my heart.* Fellow Chiefs and War- riors ! I have looked over your wigwams through Can- ada, and have arrived at the conclusion, that you are in a warm place : your neighbors, the whites, are kindling fires all around you.f One purpose for which we have been called together, is to devise some plan by which we can live together ; and become a happy people, so that our fires may not go out (Nation become extinct) but may be kindled in one place, which will prove a blessing to our children. Brothers ! Some of you are living on small parcels of ♦ Here the speaker held out a piece of white paper, emblematic of a pure heart. k Aft\^ lAWhT being burnt for that purpose. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 145 land, and others on Islands. We now offer you any portion of the land which we own in this region; that we may during the remainder of our days, smoke the pipe of friendship; live and die together, and see our children reared on one spot and join there in their youth- ful sports. We ask no more from you. We feel for you. We feel for your children's sake, and therefore we make this proposition. Brothers ! There are many subjects worthy of your consideration, but the most important are 1st. Whether it would be better for the whole Ojib- way Nation to reside on this, our own temtory ? 2nd. Would it not be well to devise ways and means for the establishment and support of Manual Labor Schools, for the benefit of the nation ? 3d. Ought a petition to be drawn up and be present- ed to our Great Father, (Governor General) for the pur- pose of fixing upon a definite time for the distribution of the annual « presents" and the small annuities of each tribe? 4th. Is it desirable to petition our Great Fathei^to appoint a resident Indian Interpreter, to assist the agent at Toronto 7 "^"^ ~ ■\'*""' ■'-"iisuaii jjait 01 iiie ISation) have abandoned our former customs and ceremonies, ought & i 1 .MJJ 146 THE OJIBWAY NATION. we not to make our own laws, in order to give charac- ter and stability to our Chiefs, as well as to empower them to treat with the Government under which we live, that they may, from time to time, present all our griev- ances, and other matters to it ? f My Chiefs, Brothers, Warriors ! This morning, (point- ing upwards) look up and see the blue sky ; there are no clouds ; the Great Spirit is smiling upon us. May he preside over us, that we may make a long, smooth and straight path for our children. It is true, I seldom see you all ; but this morning I shake hands with you all in my heart. Brothers ! This is all I have to say." On taking his seat eighty-four Chiefs responded "Hah"! an exclamation of great applause. Several Chiefs addressed the Council, highly appro- ving of the plans proposed, and expressing their grati- tude for the liberal offer of lands CHAPTER XII. THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEF. " The generous Author of the Universe, Who reins the winds, gives the vast ocean bounds, And circumscribes the floating world their rounds." " Sees God in clouds or hears Him in the wind." The Ojibway Nation believed in a Great Good Spirit, and in a Bad Spirit. They had also « gods innumera' ble,» among which was « the god of wax," « the god of hunting," and « the god of the fowls of the air." The skies were filled with the deities they worshipped, and the whole forest awakened with their whispers. The lakes and streams were the places of their resort, and mountains and vallies alike thek abode. All the remarkable spots in the country were considered their favorite resorts. These were the peaks of rocky cliffs ; -.e Ci-its of craggy mounts. Water-falls were thought- to be their sporting bcenes. \l )LiO THE OJIBWAT NATION. 15 Ji at the place named by the Chief. All matters of impor- tance are decided by the Chief. He pronounces all marriages, and his word settles all difficulties of every name and nature. No appeal can be made from his decisions, as he is the highest. Any one found guilty of a misdemeanoi is brought befo-3 the Chief, who reprimands him before the crowd. When a murder is committed, the Chief can act as he pleases in regard to the offender, but should he not in- terfere, the relations of the deceased take the law in their own hands, and execute death upon the murderer. Those who murder never attempt to run away or con- ceal thek guilt, but repair to their wigwam. If the Chief learns that the crime was provoked, he shields and protects the criminal : if not, he is put to death. His life is at every moment in danger should he live. Theft is punished by making the thief publicly known and bemg clothed as such. In this way adultery is pim- ished in the case of a man : in that of a woman, she has her hair cut from ear to ear, which is a mark of disgrace. It does not devolve upon any Chief in particular to make or form a war party, but any of the braves can muster together a band of volunteers. Those who have a desire to do so, can join these parties, the number of each party being regulated entirely according to the TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP 141 bravery of the indiyidual who forms it. Among the Indians there have been no written laws. Customs handed down from generation to generation have been the only laws to guide them. Every one might act different from what was considered right did he choose to do so, but such acts would bring upon him the censure of the Nation, which he dreaded more than any corporal punishment thatcouldbe inf '-ted upon him. This fear of the Nation's censure acted as a mighty band, binding all in one social, honorable compact. They wouldnot as brutes be whipped into duty. They would as men be persuaded to the right. Of late years, law has borne with it very many evils. We can judge somewhat of the character of a community by its buildings. Prisons, penitentiaries, and poor- houses are Dad signs. Before law was introduced, the Indians had none of these. Whatever we had was shared alike. In times of gladness all partook cf the joy ; and when suffering came all alike suffered. I believe communities can be governed by the pure rules of Christianity, with less coercion than the laws of civilized nations, at present, impose upon their subjects. This aov/ever cannot be done unless each is resolved upon a manly forbearance of those raioor evils which in 143 THE OJIBWAY NATION. all cases precede great ones. A vast amount of evidence can be adduced to prove that force has tended to bra- talwe rather than ennoble the Indian race. The more a man is treated as a brother, the less demand for law. The less law there is, the more will man be honored thus. One of the most favorable indications in the Algon- quin tribes of their ultimate adoption of a pure Christi- anity is the simplicity of their government, and of their life and manners. To this the eye of the missionary should be dirjected, and all his actions be conformed to this happy state of affairs. Of late, the General Councils of the Christian Ojibways have been convened and carried on in the same manner as the public meetings of the whites are conducted. The last General Council, which consisted of Ojibways and Ottawas, was held at Sangeeng. The Chiefe came from St. Clair, Huron, Ontario, Simcoe, Rice, and Mud Lakes. The object of this convention was to devise plans by which the tract of land then held by the Sangeeng In- dians, could be held for the sole use of the Ojibway Nation ; to petition the government for aid in establish- ini? a Manual Labor School ; to ascertain the views and feelings of the Chiefs in relation to forming one large sot- THE OJIBWAY NATION. 143 dement among themselves at Owen's Sound, where they might live in future, and to attend to other things of minor importance. There were forty^ight Chiefs present from Canada West alone. Chief Sawyer took the chair,and thewriter had the honor of being Vice President. Chief John Jones of Owen Sound, was appointed to deUver the open- ing address, in which he was to give an outlme of the subjects to be discussed. The meeting was called to order ; and after singing and prayer, the former by the members of the council, the latter by Chief Sunday, in which all united, Chief Jones arose. After casting a piercing glance over the assembly, he spoke as follows :— " Brothers ! You have been called from all parts of Canada, and even from the North of Georgia Bay. You are from your homes, your wives and your chil- dren. We might regret this separation were it not for the circumstances that call you here. Fellow Chiefs and Brothers ! I have pondered with deep solicitude our present condition ; and the future welfare of our children as well as of ourselves. I have ;ply cuid auxiuusiy in order to arrive at a true knowledge of the proper course to be pursued in order to 5.* o 1.0 I.I liilM |2.S |5o "^^ nmi *^ 1^ 112.2 S i^ II! 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1 J4 ^ _ 6" — > ^'J"'.^ v^ '>' v^ <:^ / Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 m 1 \ \\ rv ^N •^^ ^^^ ^%f^ Wo & w w^ ^ 180 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP building for religious service and school, a room for aa infant school, a hospital, and several mechanical estab- lishments. CHIPPEWAS AT RICE LAKE. POTJDABF. COPWAT tt CKOW, CHIBrS. These settlers belong to the same tribe, the Mississa- gas, or Ghippewas of Rice Lake, who, in 1818, surren- dered the greater part of the tract now forming the New- castle District, for an annuity of £740. They have been reclaimed from their primitive wandering life, and settled ill their present locations within the last ten or twelve years. The Rice Lake Settlement is on the Northern side of the Lake, about twelve miles from Peterborough. The number of Indians was one hundred and fourteen. — Theppossessed about fifteen hundred acres of land, which were divided into lots of fifty acres each; of these eleven hundred and twenty acres were granted in April, 1834, to trustees, who were "to hold the same for the benefit of the Indian tribes in the Province, with a view to their conversion and civilization." The re^ maining four hundred and thirty were afterwards pur- chased by them with their own funds. They had rather more land cleared than had the Indians of Aln- THE OJIBWAY NATION. 181 wick,— about four hundred acres ; but the cultivation was not so good. The village contair^ed thirty housei^, a number of bams, a school house, and a chapel, to which was a bell. At this village the head Chief re- sided. For some time these Indians were under the charge of an officer appointed by the Indian Depart- ment, who assisted in their settlement, but at the time of the report they had no special Superintendent. CHIPPEWAS AT MUD LAKE. KOGEE, IROK tn MCBUE, CHIEFS. The Mud Lake Indians were settled on a point of land on the Mud or Chemung Lake, sixteen miles Northwest of Peterborough. They were ninety-four in number,— possessed twenty dwelling houses, with three stables— and occupied a grant of sixteen hundred acres in the township of Smith, made to the New Eng- land Company for their benefit, in April, r'^7, of which two hundred acres were well improved. These Indians were for some time under the manage- ment of the late Mr. Scott, an agent for the New Eng land Company, and were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. A chapel was in progress of erec- tion at the village, where there was at the time a Mis- sion-house and a school. HI mm im TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF CHIPPEWAS AT BALSAM LAKE. CBAKB, CBIEY. The Indians of Balsam Lake, numbering ninety, were settled within the Township of Bexley, on a point of land jutting out into Lake Balsam, which is the most Northerly of the chain of Lakes, nmnmg Northwest acioss the back townships of the district of New Castle. The reserve which was granted to them by the Eng- lish government, comprised twelve hundred and six acres. Of thes^ two hundred were cultivated. The village was small ; composed of about a dozen houses, with out-buildings and a commodious school-house, in which divine service was performed by a resident Meth- odist Missionary. In 1843 these Indians became dissatisfied with the climate, and with the quality of the land at Balsam Lake, and purchased six hundred acres on the banks of Lake Scugog, and were makmg "preparations to remove from their old settlement to thdir rew locality. This vol- unteer movement of theirs evinced how rapid an improve- ment was going on in their minds ; and showed that the spirit of enterprise existed among them, inasmuch as it was made on account of the superiority of the land near Lake Scugog for agricultural purposes. THE OJIBWAY NATION. CHIPPEWAS OP RAMA. TELLOWHEAD, IfA-KAH-UE-SKUNG &! BKJ SHULIHa, CHIEn. These Indians formerly occupied the lands about Lake Simcoe, Holland River, and the unsettled country in the rear of the Home District. General Darling reported of them in 1828, that they had a strong desire to be admitted into the ranks oi Christian people, and to adopt the habits of civilized life; and that ki these respects they might be classed with the Mississagas of the Bay of Quinte and Rice Lake, but were at that time in a more savage state: In 1S30, Lieutenant Govemor Sir J. Colbome collect- ed them on a tract of land on the Northwest shore of Lake Simcoe, where they cleared a road from that lake to Lake Huron. This tract numbered nearly ten thou- sand acres. They consisted of three tribes of Chippe- was, under Chiefs Yellowhead, Aisance, and Snake ; and a band of Pottawatomies, from Drummond Island ; their number was about five hundred, under the care of Mr. Anderson, who was appointed to take charge of their settlement. They made a rapid advancement. 184 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP CHIPPEWAS OP BEAUSOLIEL ISLAND, MATCHADASH BAY, LAKE HURON. AISAKCE tc 7AMES EA-DAH-GE-GWOV, CHIEFS. This band was the same which was settled by Sir John Colbome, at Cold Water. Their village, which was not far from their former settlement, was commenc- ed in 1841. It contained nearly twenty houses. The settlers numbered two hundred and thirty-two; and had under their own cultivation one hundred acres of land. < The majority of these Indians were Roman Catholics. They had no place for worship or school. The Ro- man Catholic priest of Penetanguishene made them occasional visits. CHIPPEWAS OP SNAKE ISLAND, LAKE SIMCOB. J. SNAKE, CHi^F. This body of Indians was one of the three bands established at Cold Water and the Narrows, and separ ated from them on the abandonment of those settlements. In 1842 they occupied one of the three Islands on Lake Simcoe, which had been set apart for the tribe many years previous. They were over one hundred in THE OJIBWAY NATION. number, and occupied twelve dwelling houofp. They had other buildings, and a school-house. The children were instructed by a respectable teacher, and Divine service was conducted by a resident Missionary of the Methodist persuation. They had about one hundred and fifty acres unde^ cultivation, and were rapidly improving in habits of in- dustry and agricultural skill. Their Missionary, who had been acquainted with them for about three years, stated that the majority of them were strictly moral in their character,-that most of the adults were decidedly pious-and that many of «iem for consistency of chaj-acter, would not suffer by a comparison with white Christians of any denomina- tion. «iii CHIPPEWAS OP SANGEEN (lAKE HURON). r METEGOXTB, ALEXANDER fc AH-TAH-B ANCE, CHIEF* It was from these Indians, and their brethren, since settled at Owen's Sound, that Sir Francis Head, in 1836, obtained a surrender of a vast tract of land lying North of the London and Gore Districts, and between the Home District and Lake Huron, containing one million six hundred thousand acres. He reserved at 186 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF the same time, for the Indians, the extensive peninsui% lying between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, North of Owen's Sound, and supposed to contain four hundred and fifty thousand acres. CHIPPEWAS OF Bia BAT, IN OWEN's S0UN3>, LAKE HURON. JOHN JONES k WAH-BAK-DEICK, CHIZra. These Indians were formerly either wanderers in the Sangeeng tract, surrendered by Sir Francis Head, or lived in scattered wigwams on the shores of Big Bay. An agreement was then made with them, by which it was proposed that they should either repair to Maniton- lin, or to that part of their former territory which lies North of Owen's Sound ; upon complying with which, it was promised, " that houses should be built for them, and proper assistance given to enable them to become civilized and cultivate the land." CHIPPEWAS AND OTHERS, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BEDFORD. Within a few years previous to 1842, some strag- glers from the Rice Lake tribe had settled in the town- ship of Bedford, about twenty-five mUes North of the THE OJIBWAY NATION. im town of Kingston, About that year they wei« joined bv a band of eighty^ne Indians from Lower Canada, b^ longing to the part of the « Lake of Two Mountaii^." By instructions issued in 1843, these Indians were transferred from the Roll of Lower Canada to that of the Upper Provmce, and in the course of that year they received their annual Government presents for the first time in that Province. iMMI CHAPTER XrV. MISSIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. The Mission of the Episcopal Church at the Sault St. Marie, was given up soon after the Rev. Mr. Murray left the country, on account of the removal of the In- dians from their town to an Island in Lake Huron, by order of Sir Francis Broadhead. This dignitary gained notoriety among the Indians and the whites of Canada, on account of his attempt to remove the Indians to " a lone barren isle," where those who did go suffered greatly by the bleak winds of tho lake. The soil, what there was of it, was not good enough to raise potatoes, or any vegetables for their support, — its chief productions being large rocks and small stones. Mr. Murray, it appears, was a man of untiring ener- THE OJIBWAY NATION. 189 gyand perseverance. He labored for a number of years as a devoted Missionary, and was finally obliged to leave by the impolitic acts of government In the month of September, 1834, 1 had the pleasure of seeing this gentleman. Ho was reading an account of his labors to a crowded auditory of Indians, who li». tened with deep, unfeigned interest, to the relation of the improvements they had made under the care of " the good white man." One of the most distinguished individuals of the Ojib- was, is Shin-gwahrkomce. He is a Chief of much celebrity,— noted for his bravery, activity, and persever- .ance. His person is a little above the medium size, and well proportioned. His head well formed ; and, to a phrenological eye, pleasing. His general appearance is highly commanding. He fought with the British during the last war, and was engaged at the storming of Mackanaw, and at the battle of Chippeway. It is said that he retains numer- ous scars, and such like mementoes of the war of 1822. The Indians who then lived on the English side of Sault St. Marie, have removed to Manetowahning, on the North shore of Lake Huron, where a Mission has been established by the Episcopal Church. There are also Roman Catholics on the Island, They are by far mmm 190 TRADtTlONAL HISTORY OF the moet nmnerous of the Missionaries among th« Ojibways. The Methodists have established their Missions at the Northwest end of haka Superior. Fort William is one of the fortresses of the Hudson Cay Company. One of the young men who was edu- cated in Cazenovia, is now the principal minister theie. His name is Henry Steinhaux, and he is doing a good work in teaching school and acting in the capacity of Missionary tft the Indians of that place. Norway Hoyse is another place in the interior of the country, towards the water of the Red River, where there is a Mission. Peter Jacobs is the most eflBlcient laborer in that country. He has been for a long time very zealously engaged in teaching his less fortunate brethren the first rudiments of education. A very amusing story is told of Peter Jacobs, the in- cidents of which occurred at a camp meeting near Bel- ville, about the year 1828. , • I must mention that, during tlie previous summer, several himdred had embraced Christianity. Peter atten- ded the meeting following this conversion. The white people also attended the meeting, and so imiversal was the diffusion of the Good Spirit, that the pale face and the red man knelt together in prayer to that Great Being "WiW' THE OalBWAY rTAJflCN. 191 who makes no diotinction, but betwaen good and evil. The ground was covered with people ir a devotional attitude. Peter knelt with them. His companions were in ecstacies with the presence of Divine favor.— Peter soon learned the fact that the Great Spirit despw- ed not even the trembling prayer of thsed to us than they have been of late, yet the name of " Children" is applied to us. The govern- ment and its agents stvle us, " Mv Ghildren=" The Indians are of age — and believe they can think and act THE OJIBWAY NATION. 193 for themselves. The term, « My Children," comes with an ill grace from those who seem bent on driving them from their fathers' house. As yet, the Ojilway Nation in Canada West have not to my knowledge received any encouragement pecuniarily from the government for education. What they have attained has been received by their own ef< forts. I remember several years ago of being sent to the then Governor of the Province, in Montreal, for aid in our school. All that we received was a nod— which oiu: gracious father deigned to give. It is more provoking now wiih us, since we have suffered in name from the acts of the last war, with the British and the Americans. Our fathers fought for the British during these struggles. Now, since these are passed we have been left to ourselves,— and until the government require our services, shall remain uncared for. Your British subjects may say, ' Do we not give you blankets, and clothe you and your children V But what amount of land has not our people given to the government since they became so poor ? And if the benevolent of the United States had not given us education, many of us would have been still wandering in the woods of Canada without the means of religious education. We don't want merely blankets 194 TRADITIONAL BISTOEY OP to cover the body, — ^we want Light ! We want Edu- cation ! For several years I have been denied receiving any presents from the British government, — consisting of a blanket, a shirt; and leggins — because I had been too much with the Americans, the enemies of the British government. I would rather never see a blanket again. Think how small for a man to be bought with a blanket ! The whole of the Indian population of Canada West is improving rapidly. The bands are uniting, and will not in future be so isolated as formerly. The writer in 1844 and 1845, endeavored to convince his brethren of many advantages they would derive by being in large communities. Through his influence the Chiefs of Owen's Sound, and Sahageeng, made their offer to the scattered bands of Indians throughout the ^Western country. - At the General Council, to which allusion was made in a previous chapter, it was suggested that a meeting of the small villages be made at the following places — Bice Lake, in New Castle District; in Muncytown, London District ; and in Owen's Sound Bay, in the Eastern part of Lake Huron. This meeting the Indians have already commenced. IHE OJIBWAY NATIOir. 195 Several villages have been abandoned, and their tenants departed to the places above specified. In the winter seasons sleigh rides are popular, and visits to neighboring tribes, in large bodies, are quite frequent. Christmas and New Year's dinners are, with the Ojib- ways, occasions of much merriment. The village of Abiwich is one side of the Lake, and that of Rice Lake opposite. The distance between them is about seven mUes. Chief John Sandy orders his warriors to give a dinner to the other tribe on Christ- mas—and they in return give a dinner to Sandy^s tribe on New Year's day. In 1848, 1 was present, at my father's village. Rice Lake, when 6ne of these dinners took place. In point of order, social mirth, and real enjoyment, it was equal to any aldermanic festivity among the whites. CHAPTER XV. THE EARLY DISCOVERT OF THE NORTHWEST — THE FIRST TRADERS AND ADVENTURERS. The eariy discovery of the Northwest has been a subject of considerable interest — and as there is much valuable information in the following, which we take from one of the Minesota Territory papers, prepared by the Rev. Edward D. Neill, the research which is here found will be apparent. If the missionary field was blessed with more such men, it would augment its in- terests in the mind of the literary world. It is to be hoped that he will continue t6 give such information from time to time for the general good. " The journals of the first missionaries to the Hurons were perused with like enthusiasm by the kings, queens, statesmen, merchants, artizans, and peasants of Papal •ri—-^ mi- _ 1 _^ J. i? •!__ iU_ X iiU iv/ VvJXia VI XUIIxiJlXiUv/ VVCj./i/ iXC/UiV UVvJi Hi^ JL.4U.XV/LfV/. sufferings of the priests, and the reported conversion of THE OJIBWAY NATION. 197 SO many to the faith. The enterprizing merchant encouraged the missions that were opening so many new avenues of trade. Before proceeding to a sketch of the explorers and explorations in Minesota during the seventeenth century, let us rapidly glance at the progress of discovery in the countries adjacent. As early as 1634, the Indians had learned to bring their furs to Ctuebec, and received European manufactures in exchange. In September of that year, two priests, BreboBuf and Daniel, determined, to accompany a party of Hurons to their forest home, and teach them the doctrines of the Christian religion. They were the first Europeans that erected a house in the neighborhood of Lake Huron. Seven years after, a bark canoe, containing priests of the same order, passed through the river Ottawa, and coasted along the shores of Lake Huron, to visit, by in- vitation, the Ojibways, at the outlet of Lake Superior. After a voyage of seventeen days, they arrived at the Falls of St. Mary, where they found assembled two thousand of that tribe, who now dwell in the North- eastern portion of our Territory. While here, they obtained much information, calcula- tori fn infltanno fVax vaoI rvf 4\\ck .Qrw^iA^Tr j\-P Tachio qy\A tlioi-r patrons in Europe. Here, for the first time, civilized 198 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF man learned that the Nation of Dakotas, amid whose lodges we reside, was in existence. The Ojibway^ in- formed the missionaries that the Dakotas lived eighteen days' journey farther to the West. Thus, says Brancroft, in his eloquent chapter on Jesuit Missions, * did the religious zeal of the French, bear the cuss to the banks of the St. Mary, and the confines of Lake Superior, and look wistfully toward the home of the Sioux in the Valley of the Mississippi, five years before the apostle Elio^ had addressed the tribe of Indians that dwelt within six miles of Boston Harbor.' Either accompanying the missionary, devoted to a life of poverty, or m his immediate rear, followed the trader, devoted to a life of gain ; so that a chapel was hardly surmoimted with a cross, before a trading house stoo(^by its side. In the year 1654, two adventurous young men, connected with the fur trade, followed a party of Indians in their hunting excursions for two years, and were probably the first white men that ever penetrated the Dakota country. Upon their retum to Q,uebec, they gave such gloT\Tng accounts of the lands they had seen, the lakes they had crossed, the Nations they had become acquainted with, among whom were the Sioux or Dakotas, that both THE OJIBWAY NATION. 199 ' trader and ecclesiastic burned with desire to go up and possess the land. Even the Bishop of Quebec wag ready to be the pioneer in planting the symbol of his faith among the newly discovered tribes. But it was at length decided that the aged Mesnard, who had ob- tained dearly purchased experience among the Indian* of Western New- York, should carry the religion of Rome to the shores of Lake Superior. With an ardor that every one must admire, he loitered not after his appointment, but leaving the pleasant society of his associates, he pushed onward to his field of labor, to use his own language, trusting 'in the Providence which feeds the little birds of the desert, and clothes the wild flowers of the forest,' and expecting that his friends would shortly add him ' to the memento of deaths.^ Hoping against hope, he reached the shores of Supe- rior in safety. After residing on the Southern shore of the Lake about eight months, he surted on a journey for the Bay of Che-goi-me-gon. But one person accom- panied him, and while his companion was making, as it is supposed, what is called the Keweena Portage, Mesnard was lost in the forest. Whether he died from starvation, exposure, or the tomahawk, has never been discovered. There is a tradition that his cassock and prayer book were kept as amulets for many years by 200 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP the Dakotas. The melancholy disappearance of this aged soldier of the church, did not deter Claude Allouez, also a Jesuit, from visiting the shores of Lake Superior, in the year 1665. At that early date, there were rumors that there was a large mass of copper on the Southern shore, but his search for it was unavailing. Pushing beyond Ontan- agon, the adventurous man did not stop until he reach- ed the Island of La Pointe, the ancient residence of the Ojibways, who were then as often times now, planning a war party against their enemies, the Dakotas. He then must be regarded as the first white man of whom we have authentic account, who first trod the soil on the confines of Minesota. According to the Ojibway tradition, the first white men at La Pointe were traders, who had been confined by the ice, and were found in a starving condition, eating their cloth and blankets. Yet, that priests were here at a very early period, is very certain from the fact that a small silver crucifix of antique workmanship, has been lately ploughed up in that vicinity. At that period the territory of the Dakotas extended quite to the shores of Superior ; and Allouez in his intercourse with them, was the first to learn of the existence of a great river which he calls the 'Messipi.' Dnrintr his t\XTn -irpars rosirlormo i»i iVto f^nr^Vwrraot Uex THE OJIBWAY NATION. 201 founded the Mission of the Holy Spirit, and passed his time in teaching the Ojibways the ' Pater Nbster' and 'Ave Maria ;' in endeavoring to awaken their shimber- ing consciences by pictures of hell and the judgment day, and in obtaining information from the Sioux or Dakota Nation. His labors were so successful, that he returned to Quebec to solicit assistants, but his heart remained with the Ojibways, and in two days he was on his rtftum route, accompanied by a fellow-laborer, named Nicolas. In 1668 he was cheered by the arrival of two others, named Dablon and Marquette, the latter of whom was destined to become known by posterity. Marquette, during his missionary tours in the vicinity of Lake Superior, had heard so much of the ' great river Messipi,' that he determined to take the first favorable opportunity to discover it. On the 10th of July, 1673, in company with a French Envoy, and five others, they left the Mission at Green Bay, ascended the Fox River, made a portage, and de- scended the Wisconsin. After paddling the birch canoes for seven days, without meeting man or beast, they reached its mouth and floated on the bosom of the 'Father of Waters.' Fearing nothing, excited by the very danger of the adventure, 202 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF ' Day tfter day tbsy glided adown the turbulent river ; Night after night, by their blazing fires, encamped on its borderi. Now through rushing chutes, among green islands where plume-like Cuttcj-trees nodded their shadowy crests, they swept with the current, Then emerged into broad lagoons, where silvery sand-bars Lay in the stream, and along the rippling waves of their margin, Shining with snow-white plumes, large flocks of pelicans waded. They were approaching the region where reigns perpetual summer.' Nor did they cease descending, until they left the Wisconsin eleven hundred miles above them. Return- ing by the way of the Illinois river to Chicago, they proceeded by Lake Michigan to Green Bay, where they anived about the last of September. This voyage ox- cited much conversation and speculation, in old as well as new France. At this time there dwelt in Canada, a native of Rouen, named La Salle, who not only possessed an adventu- rous disposition, but was also a man of foresight, deter- mination, and finished education. While a student at a Jesuit College in France, he was distinguished for his proficiency in mathematics. At the time of Marquette's return from the Mississ- ippi, he was living at his trading post at the junction of the St. Lawrence with Lake Ontario, where the town of Kingston stands. Around Fort Fronienac, for that was the name of the post, there were gathered a few French families and priests. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 203 The more La Salle dwelt upon the discovery of Mar- quette and JoUet, the greater his eagerness to complete what had been commenced, and to discover what he beUeved to exist, a short route to China and Japan from the head waters of the Mississippi. To obtain the patronage of Louis XIV., he sailed for France, and in the year 1678 received permission to make discoveries in the Western part of New France, to build forts wherever they were necessary, and the exclusive right to the trade in Buffalo skins, which were just beginning to be known and valued in Europe. Among the priests at Frontenac, was a native of Flanders, a Franciscan of the msditative order, styled Recollect. From early life, he evinced a roving dispo- sition, and the stories of the sailors who used to enter the harbors of Calais and Dunkirk, where he had re- sided, are said to have created a strong desire in him ' to see the new world. His name was Louis Hennepin ; vain, boasting, and ^ ambitious, he suffers by comparison with the meek, un- ostentatious, and comparatively truthful Marquette.— While La Salle was absent, the Franciscan passed his time in missionary tours among the Iroquois, and is said to have visited the Dresent cjimtsi} nf the .q*„*^ .^r New-York. When La Salle returned from France, he 204 TRADITIONAL HliTORY OF despatched a small vessel to Niagara river, ladeu with materials for building a ship suitable for navigating the Lakes. Among the passengers was Hennepin, who with eight others landed and travelled some thirty leagues through the woods, to hold a council with the Senecas, whose good will they obtained. On the 20th of January, 1679, La Salle joined the party, encamped on the shores of the Niagara rl . jr, and strained every nerve in making preparations for a great Western voyage. In a week, a dock yard was not only selected, but t^e keel of a ship laid. The builders plied the adze and the hammers vigorously, though in fear that the Indians would apply the torch to their work and the tomahawk to their scalps. When they began to murmur, Father Hennepin began to exhort, and as he says, ' allay their fears.' * In six months, the vessel was ready for launching. It was named the Griffin, in compliment to Count Fron- tenac, the Governor of Canada,,whose armorial bearings were adorned by two griffii. . i was defended by a few guns, and ornamented ^ y a^ .e and a griffin on its prow. 6y means of ropes, the vessel was towed from the Niagara River to Lake Erie, much to the astonishment of the natives. On the 7th of August, 1679, La Salle, THE OJIBWAY NATION. 206 Hennepin, and some thirty others, entered the ship and spread *heir sails to the breeze. The watew of Lake Erie bore the vessel most gallantly, and in three days they were within the vicinity of the spot, where now stands the city of Detroit. Passing through the Lake, which they named St. Clair, in honor of one of the saints of the Church of Rome, they entered Lake Huron. Here they encountered one of those terrible storms, which even the experienced sailor of modem days dreads. All but the pilot, who according to Hennepin, was destitute of religious feeling, began to pray to the Patron Saint, Anthony of Padua. But not a hair of their heads was injured ; the waves at last fell to sleep, and upon the 27th of the month they safely moored in one of the har- bors of Mackinaw Island. ** Here Hennepin, and the other ecclesiastics, celebrated mass, and La Salle, wrapped in a scarlet cloak edged with gold, visited the assembled Indians. This being a desirable point for trade with the tribes, a fort was built. Leaving Mackinaw, they entered Lake Michigan, and anchored at an island at the mouth of Green Bay. In two weeks time the Griffin was freighted with furs to the amount of twelve thousand dollars, and sent back to Niagara, which point she never reached, and as it w^ttS Buppgsed, was wrecked in another storm. "^ 206 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP Leaving Green Bay in four birch canoes, La Salle and his followers coasted along the Eastern boundary of Wisconsin, and at last pitched their tents in the neigh- borhood of Milwaukie river. Fatigued and without a supply of food, they were much disheartened ; but the Indians in the vicinity proved friendly, and administered to their wants. After being exposed to many perils by land and by water, they landed on the first of November at the mouth of the river St. Joseph in Michigan. Late iii the season they started from thence for the Illinois river; but before they reached that stream, provisions again grew scarce. In their extremity. Providence assisted ; for, says Hennepin, a stray Buifalo was found sticking fast in a marsh, which served for food. After a journey of three hundred miles, they at last reached the Illinois, and descended to an Indian village situated near the present town of Ottawa. Winter being at hand, the inhabitants were on their annual hunt ; but the travel- lers, pressed with hunger, could not refrain from help- ing themselves to some of the com. They continued to proceed down the river, until the first of January, 1680, when they halted, and had a new vear's celebration, consistins of reliffious services — •■ ■• t.' tj by Hennepin and other priests. iiii THE OJIBWAY NATION. 2or The ceremonies being over, they entered Lake Peoria, at the lower end of which they discovered an encamp^ ment of Indians. After the red men had recovered from then- astonishment, they invited the strangers to their cabins, and passed the day in feasting. La Salle told them that he had come to impart a Imowledge of the true God, and to supply them with fire arms, in the place of the awkward weapons they had been accustomed to use. The night after he made this speech, a Chief of a tribe residing on Fox River, stole into the camp, and calling the Chiefs together, told them that he had been informed that the Frenchmen were allied with their old enemies, the Iroquois. This false intelligence communicated to the Indians by La Salle's enemies, produced much consternation. The next morning, in the place of cordiality, the travellers found only coldness and suspicion. The commander inquired the cause of the sudden change, and he was then told the whole tale. A man of uncommon tacl» and address, he soon regained their confidence. He now began to inquire about the Mississippi, and spoke of his plan of building a boat, after the white man's fashion, to sail upon that stream. The principal men attempted to dis^ade him, by saying, ' that the banks I in 51 [ I 208 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP of the Mississippi were inhabited by a gigantic race of men, who killed all travellers ; that it was filled with crocodiles, serpents and monsters, as well as falls and rapids, and that there was a dreadful whirlpool at its mouth.' The discernment of La Salle convinced him that this was what we vulgarly term a * hoax,' and he arose and told the spokesman, that his sayings were stamped with improbability. These stories, however, caused six of the company to desert and others to complain. As it was now too cold to travel with comfort, the erection of a fort was commenced not far distant from the town of Peoria Here, in the interior of the North American Continent, two years before the Quaker Penn purchased of the In- dians the spot where the city of Philadelphia now stands, might be heard the sound of the saw, the blow- ing of the forge, the stroke of the sledge, and the ring ^f the anvil. In less than six weeks, and in the midst of winter, this exploring band had erected a log fort, which they named Crevecoeur, and the hull of a vessel 42 leet long and 12 broad, which was to have been em- ployed in navigating the Mississippi. The necessary cordage and rigging being absent, the ship could not be completed. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 2C But La Salle was still intent upon discovering a short route to the ' wealth of Ormus and of Ind,' and therefore ordered Father Hennepin to proceed on a voyage to the sources of the Mississippi. This was not unwelcome intelligence to the forward Franciscan ; and on the last day of February, 1680, with one canoe laden with goods, and two companies,' Picard du Gay and Michel Ako, he began his long and dangerous journey. In seven days he had reached the mouth of the IIU- nois ; but on account of the floating ice, he had to wait • some time before he could ascend the ' Meschasipi,' as he termed the river upon the banks of which we dwell. • By the nth of April, he had paddled as far as the Wis- consin river, in the vicinity of which he met a flotilla of canoes, filled with Issati or Dakota Indians, called Issati or Issanti, as it is supposed, after their ancient residence at MiUe Lac. With them he passed through the Lac des Pleurs, shortly after called Pepin, which name it still retains, which he thus describes. ' About thirty leagues above Black River, we fomid the Lake of Tears, which we named so, because the savages who took us, as it will be hereafter related, consulted in this place what thev shnnld ^a •ar.-fi. *u^i .---^ ■ ■"-''■ niv/ii. prioUijiers, aim those who were murdering cried all night upon us. 210 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP to oblige by their tears, their companions to consent to our death. This lake is formed by the " Meschasipi," and may be seven leagues long and five broad.' As the Dakotas were generally very kmd in the treat- ment of their white captives, very little credence can be given to the tale of the Father's captivity. After nineteen days' travel with the Indians, he dis- covered a cataract, which he says ' indeed of itself is terrible, and hath somethmg very astonishing.' He re- ported the falls to be sixty feet in height, which is quite moderate for the man who published those at Niagara to be six hundted feet. Near the cataract was a bear- skin upon a pole, a sort of oblation to the spirit in the waters. After carving the cross and the arms of France on a tree, and calling them after the Patron Saint of the ex- pedition, the eloquent divine, Anthony of Padua, he abandoned his canoe and journeyed by land to the resi- dence of the Indians, on a stream, which, in honor of the founder of his order, he called St. Francis.* Their manner of welcoming a stranger at that time, seems to have been very peculiar. Says Hennepin, ' at the entry of the Chief's cabin, who had adopted me, cne of the barbarians, who seemed to be very old, pr(jsented me • Now called Elk River. THE OJIBWAT NATION. Sll with a pipe to smoke, and weeping over me all the while with abundance of tears, rubbed both my hands and my head. This was to show how concerned he tjras to see me so harrassed and fatigued. And indeed I had often need enough of two men to support me, when I was up, or raise nw when I was down. There was a bear's skin before the fire, upon which the young- est boy of the cabin caused me to he down, and then with the grease of wi'M-cats, anointed my thighs, legs, and soles of my feet.' The first of white men then, who looked upon the Falls of St. Anthony, was not a Jesuit, as Steinmetz, misled by Kip's eloquent preface to the 'early Jesuit Missions in North America,' asserts ; but a Franciscan of the Recollect branch. While Hennepin was dwelling upon the banks of the St. Francis, he was agreeably surprised by the arrival of a party of French traders from Lake Superior, under the direction of a Sieur de Luth, and probably among the first who had ever penetrated so far into the interior of the Dakota country. About the last of September, 1680, the whites left the Indian village, and descending the Mississippi as far as the Wisconsin, they proceeded by way of that stream, and Gi-^^^n RoTr t^ O"-^^- Hennepin did not tarry long in that city, but went to 212 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP France, and in 1683, publishea a book of travels under the title of ' A Description of Louisiana,' as all of the Valley of lie Mississippi was then called. Had the restless Franciscan remained contented with the reputation acquired by the discovery of the Falls of St. Anthony, posterity would have viewed his exagger- ations and misstatements with a kindly eye, and re- membered his name with pleasure. But in an evil hour, he was tempted to claim the honor of not only discovering the source, but the mouth of the Mississippi ; and to sustain the claim, he contra- dicted what he had previously asserted, and committed one of the meanest plagiarisms on record. After the renowned La Salle had met an untimely end, by the hand of a coh'-pirator, La Clercq published the letters of Fathers Zenobe and Anastase, giving a description of the scenery and productions of the lower Mississippi. Hennepin, with the aid of these missionary letters, and a fertile imagination, prepared a book entitled ' New Discovery of a vast Country situated in America, be- tween New Mexico and the Frozen Ocean.' Li this he is daring enough to state, that he paddled a canoe with the aid of two men, from the Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico, and back, more than two thousand five hun- dred miles, in forty-nine days. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 213 Anticipating the query from some inquisitive French- man, * why did you not say something about the dis- covery of the mouth of the Mississippi, in your first work, published more than ten years since V he frames a most awkward and insufficient apology. After stating that La Salle was envious and jealous of him, he re- marks that he was also unfriendly, because during his first voyage to France, when a gay company of young women commenced dancing upon the deck of the ship, he had reprimanded them for their gaiety ; La Salle, who was a fellow passenger, interposed and said there was no harm in dancing, and that the Franciscan had overstepped the bounds of his authority. Warm words ensued, and we are called upon to believe that by this frivolous incident, a root of bitterness was planted in his bosom which was never eradicated. None of his excuses sustained Hennepin's reputation; and shortly after we find him, in his old age, leaving France. Crossing the Channel, he published in Lon- don another edition of his real and fictitious discoveries in the Valley of the Mississippi, and staunch Romanist as he professed to be, entered into the pay of England's Protestant King, William IIL, who was anxious to be the rival of Fra"c« i" r>n\nnirwi^^ ^u^ i i ^z? .1 _ »■•• ,,. -,vfiviii^nig fciiv- iJUXIiio Ui llio itiiS- sissippi, and willing 'to leap over twenty stumbling blocks rather than not effect it.' 214 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP As a town in the State of Illinois, has already taken the name of Hennepin, which would have been so ap- propriate for our neighboring and beautiful village of St. Anthony, we take leave of the discoverer of those picturesque Falls, which will always render that town equally attractive to the eye of the poet and capitalist, by suggesting, that the island which divides the 'laugh- ing waters,'* be called Hennepin, who though, as Ban- croft says, ' a boastful Uar,' was nevertheless a ' daring discover.* Eight years after Hennepin announced the discovery of the Falls 6{ St. Anthony to his friends in Canada, another exploration of the Valley of the Upper Missis- sippi was undertaken by Baron Lahontan. About the last of September, 1688, with a large party of French and Indians, he departed with his heavily laden c-^noes from the fort at Mackinaw, and proceeded by the usual and natural route by Green Bay, Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, to the Mississippi, upon whose waters he floated on the 23d of Octcber, Ascending this stream, he says t^at on the 3d of November, he entered into a river that was almost without a current, and at its mouth filled with rushes. He remarks moreo\ ;r, that he ascended * The Dakota Fni^ians call the Palls of St= Anthony-. " Eara," from Irara, to laagh. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 216 it for more than five hundred miles. Upon its banks dwelt three Nations : the Eokoros, Essannapes, and the Gnacsitares. On account of its great length, having been employed sixty days in its ascent, he named it Kiviere Longue. As there is no stream in existence that answers to the description, many have been inclined to look upon the account of Baron Lahontan, in the same light as they view the stories of Baron Munchau- sen. Others, more credulous, have credited him with the discovery of the Minesota or Saint Pierre River.— Nicollet supposes that' the Riviere Longue of Lahontan was Cannon River, which enters the Mississippi near the head of Lake Pepin, and that this stream was then an outlet of the Minesota. A reference to the map, shows that there is but a short distance between the sources of Cannon River, and the Le Sueur and other tributaries of the Mar.kato or Blue Earth Rivers. Bradford in his ' Notes on the North West,' agrees with Nicollet. He remarks-' there is very clear evi- dence, from geological indications, that the whole Upper Mississippi was at one time submerged ; and it is highly probable, that in the gradual subsidence of the waters which may not have taken place in 1690 or 1700, to the extent it has now attained, a ereat lake may hav- covered all that area. 216 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP The supposition that he passed through Cannon River is not improbable. The sources of Cannon River are within four or five miles of an Eastern branch of Blue Earth River, and the intervening ground is a perfect level. The communication may at the time of the voy- age have been complete, or been made so by a freshet, and he would thus have passed through the Blue Earth into St. Peter's River.* Keating supposed that the Hoka or Root River, was the one referred to by Lahontan, and remarks, ' it is impossible to read the Baron Lahontan's account of this river, without being convinced that the greater part, if not the whole of it, is a deception.' "When doctors disagree, it would be vain for us tr attempt to decide. * * Having procured a copy of Lahontan's book, in which there is a roughly made map of his Long River, I was struck with the resem- blance of its course as laid down, with that of Cannon River, which I had previously sketched in my own field book. I soon convinced myself that the principal statements of the Baron in reference to the country, and the few details he gives of the physical character of the river, coincide remarkably with what I'had laid down, as belonging to Cannon River.' Thus the lakes and swamps corresponded : traces of Indian villages mentioned by him might be found in the growth of a wild grass that propagates itself around all old Indian settlements. His account of the mouth of the river is particularly accurate. ' We entered the mouth of this Long River, which is a sort of large lake filled with cane brakes, in the midfit of which we d.iscovpred a narrow channeK which we followed up.'— (Nicolett's Report. THE OJIBWAT jtTATION. 217 Lahontan having navigated the streams in this region, (perhaps the St. Peter's River,) descended the Mississippi as far as the junction of the Ohio. Upon his retimi, he stopped at Fort Crevecceur, on the Ilhnois, the post from which Hennepin had departed in 1680, on his exploring tour to the sources of the Missis sippi. Though La Salle had been cruelly murdered by a member of his exploring party, his friend, Count Fronto- nac, the Governor of Canada, continued to prosecute with vigor, discoveries, and the establishment of commercial relations with the Indian tribes in the Mississippi valley. In 1695, he deputed a Monsieur Le Sueur, to build a fort on an island in the Mississippi, in order that peace- ful relations might be maintained with the Ojibways and Dakotas. Returning to Montreal, a Chief from each of these then, as now warlike tribes, accompanied him. While in that city, the Dakota Chief, the first that had ever been there, with much ceremony, presented to the Governor as many arrows as his Nation had villages, and entreated t^at his tribe might enjoy the same privileges of trade as other Indian Nations. Le Sueur brought back the news, that there were mines of lead and copper in the Sioux country, and has- tened to France to lay the information before Louis XIT. 218 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF Entirely successful in his application for a grant to work the mines, he left Europe in 1697 ; but just as he came in sight of Newfoimdland, the ship in which he was sailing, was captured by the British, and the pas- sengers carried as captives to Portsmouth. The next year he was released, and returned to Paris. Receiving a fresh patent, he started anew to explore the mines, beUeved to be not many miles distant from the spot on which we dv-'ell. After he arrived in Canada, it was impossible for him to execute his plans, and he returned a third time to the mother country. The conmielicement of the year 1699, found a distin- guished Canadian in the naval service of the French . Government. His name was Iberville, and with several ships and a company of colonists, he went forth to estab- lish a settlement on the Mississippi. They built a fort eighty miles Northeast of New Orleans, and here in 1700 we find Le Sueur, who appears to have possessed indolhitable perseverance. By the order of Iberville, Le iSueur, with a company of ninety men, proceeded to explore the mines in the Dakota country, of which he had given an account five years before. On the first of September, 1700, he had reached the mouth of the Wisconsin. Fourteen da3rs alter this, iiu was at thu cutnuico of the Chippewa, on u THE OJIBWAT NATION. 219 branch of which he had said he had discovered a lump of copper weighing sixty pounds. Passing through Lac des Pleurs, which at that early date had begun to be called Lake Pepin, he reached, on the 16th of Septem- ber, the mouth of a river, whero a Monsieur 3t Croix was drowned, and in memory of whom, it received the name it now bears. Three days after this, he entered the Minesota or St. Peter's River, which was not men- tioned by Heimepin, the sight of it as he ascended the stream, being obscured perhaps by the island which is at its mouth. Carver inform^' us tnat when he visited this country in 1766, there were on tlie Eastern side of Lake Pepin, the ruins of a trading post, that had been in early days, under the supermtendence of a captain St. Pierre, and after him, probably, did Le Sueur caU the Minesota River.* On the first of October, Le Sueur had ascended the Minesota to the mouth of the Mankato or Blue Earth River, about one hundred and fifty miles above Fort Snelling. He there erected a trading post or fort, which did not give satisfaction to the Kapoja and other bands ♦Since the above was written, we find the following statement in Nicolett's Report :— « As for my part, I have no hesitation in assign, ing its origin to a Canadian, by the name of St. Pierre.' 220 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF I :!i of Dakotas in our vicinity. They claimed that the fort should have been on their lands, at the confl. ence of the Minesota and Mississippi, where Mendota, the post of the Fur Company, is now situated ; because they were the first with whom the French had traded and furnished with fire arms. The fort was called L'Huillier, after a scientific Parisian, and is said to be marked upon a map published at Amsterdam in 1720. ^ Having completed the necessary buildings, on the 26th of Octobet, with three canoes, he proceeded to the locality where the Blue Earth was found. After pass- ing the winter in digging, he returned with several thousand pounds of this bluish green earth, to the mouth of the Mississippi, from whence four thousand pounds were transported to France, where it appears to have been of the same value as the sand of the Virginia colo- nists m England, a century previous. In the vicinity of the Blue Earth, were said to be mines of copper ; but geologists and others, who have lately explored the country, while they describe the blue pigment used by the Indians, say not a word about any metalic deposits on the Blue Earth River or its tributaries. With Le Sueur, the French explorations in Minesota appear to have ceased. It is stated that the white resi- THE OJIBWAY NATION. 221 dents were obliged to leave the country in 1720, on ac- count of the hostility of the Dakotas. Though this may have contributed to their departure, yet no doubt many traders were impoverished by the bursting of the cele- brated Mississippi Company, projected by the infamous swindler, John Law. The professed object of this asso- ciation was the aggrandizement and cultivation of the colonies of France in North America ; and the French Government enhanced its delusive credit, by assigning to it the whole Territory of Louisiana, of which this country was a district." I- CHAPTER XVI. ' FURTHER NOTICES OP THE NOTHWEST. '<■■ ' **. The first British traveller to the Falls of St. Anthony, in the introduction to his book of travels, expresses the opinion, ' that at some future period,' the then unculti- vated wilderness would become the abode of a civilized people, and * that stately palaces, and solemn temples with gilded spires reaching to the skies,' would 'supplant the Indian huts, whose only decorations are the barba- rous trophies of their vanquished enemies,' and hopes that he may be gratefully remembered by the future inhabitants, as one of those who first visited and des- cribed the country now called Minesota. In the place of the skin-lodge of the Dakota, and the oblations to the Spirit supposed to dwell in the roaring waters, we wit- ness this evening, (assembled in a hall dedicated to the purposes of education and unsectarian religion,) an audi- ence, descendants of the old, blue-eyed, energetic Saxon, THE OJIBWAY NATION. 223 clad in robes which their Atlantic forefathers would have esteemed princely, and dwellers in comfouable houses, situated upon beautiful eminences which the Architect of the Universe has been 'smoothing down' for centuries, and preparing for the abode of a Christian people. As it is the chief design of your association to impart useful information, it is proposed as an introductory lecture, to give a review of the principal French, British and American travels to the Falls of St. Anthony, \ • After noticing the tour of Father Hennepin, Mr. N, remarked that the next visiter to the Falls, of whom we have any account, is Jonathan Carver, a c; ptain of a company of Provincial troops during the war between Great Britain and France. After the conquest of Can- ada, and the peace of 1783, he passed some time in an exploring tour through the Northwest; filled with the same idea that pervaded the minds of Hennepin and La Salle, the discovery of a short passage to the Pacific Ocean. He was convinced, and the late settlement of the Pacific coast has? shown that he was correct, that the establishment of a colony on the Western coast of America, ' would not only disclose new sources of trade and piomote many useful discoveries, but would open a passage for conveying intelligence to China and the 224 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP English settlements in the East Indies with greater expedition than a tedious voyage by the Cape of Grood Hope or straits of Magellan will allow of.' Leaving the city of Boston in June 1766, he proceed- ed by way of Albany and the Lakes to Mackinaw, which was the Northernmost British post. On the 3d of September, he departed from this fort, and on the 18th arrived at Green Bay, the site of the old French Mission and Fort, where in the latter part of the previous cen- tury, men educated I.i the schools of France and accus- tomed to the poliched society of the Courts of Europe, used to assemble and talk over their discoveries and travels. While in this vicinity, he visited an island in- habited by Ottawas, and though deplormg the eflfect of spirituous liquors upon the savage, made a present of some to the Chief, with which the tribe made them- selves drunk. Leaving Green Bay, he proceeded up the Fox River till he came to a town of the Winnebagoes, situated on an island at the eastern end of Lake Winnebago. He asserts that a female presided over this tribe, and des cribes her as * a very ancient woman, small in stature and not much distinguished by her dress from several young women that attended her. Her attendants ^em- ed greatly pleased whenever I showed any tokens of Ill i THE OJIBWAY NATION. 225 respect to their Queen, particularly when I saluted her, which I frequently did to acquire her favor. On these occasions, the good old lady endeavored to assume a juvenile gaiety, and by her smiles showed she was equally pleased with the attention I paid her.' Car^^er, like most travellers of olden times, has many curious conceits, and supposes that the Winnebagoes were originally from Mexico, being driven North by the conquests of the Spaniards. He bases his opinion upon the following data: 'their unalienable attachment to the Sioux, the peculiarity of their dialect, and their in- veterate hatred of the Spaniards.' After making a port- age, he descended the Wisconsin. On the 9th October, he entered a town of the Sauk Indians, where he saw great quantities of lead brought from the mines which are now so extensively worked in Wisconsin. On the 15th of October, he reached the Mississippi. Near the mouth of the Wisconsin he found the town of ' Prairie des Chiens, or Dog Plains.' This village he thus describes : ' it contains about three hundred families. The houses are well built after the Indian manner. It is the great mart where all the adjacent tribes and even those who inhabit the most re- mote branches of the Mississippi, trade.' Having bought a canoe, he proceeded on the 19th of m! 226 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF October, in company with a French Canadian and a Mohawk up the Mississippi. After some difficulty with a band of Pillagers, he arrived, on the first of Novem- ber, at Lake Pepin. On the East bank of this Iiake, he observed the ruins of a French factory, where it is said Captain St. Piei , ; rrsided, and carried on a very great trade with the Naudowessies, (Sioux or Dakotas.)— ., While taking a walk a few miles below Lake Pepin, he found some elevations that had apparently been thrown up for miUtary defence. He says, * notwithstanding it was now covered with grass, I could plainly discern •that it had oiice been a breast-work of about four feet in height, extending the best part of a mile. I have given as exact an account as possible of this singular appearance, and leave to future explorers of these dis- tant regions to discover whether it is a production of nature or art.* Featherstonaugh, a United States geologist, about fifteen years ago, visited the spot, and came to the con- clusion that it was a work of fcirt, thrown up by some imknown Nation. Not far distant from the River St. Croix, Carver met a band of Sioux, and while encamped with them, a party of Chippewa warriors came to wage war. The Sioux being alarmed, begged the Captain's assistance. He THE OJIBWAT NATION. 2zr then visited the Chippewas, from whom he received a friendly reception, and succeeded in persuading thei« to retire. About two miles below St. Paul, he sawa remarkable cave, called by the Indians the dwelling of the Great Spirit. The entrance was about ten feet wide and five feet high. About twenty feet from the entrance was a lake, the water of which was transparent. He found in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss. For many years the mouth of this cave has been filled up with gravel and sand ; but in July, 1837, after"" much digging, Nicollet succeeded in making an entrance, and saw Indian marks on the wall. Not far distant from the cave was an Indian burying place, and this fact will help us to account for some of the mounds on the farm of Mr. Weld. Just below the cave resided the Kaposia, or Little Grow band of Indians, who now live four miles below St. Paul, on the Wesi side of the river. He also gives an interesting, if not a reliable account, ^ of the burial ceremonies that were performed at this cave in the vicinity of St. Paul, and the pmport of the harangues madf» in *ha Ai^.-^^^.r.-.A Having abandoned his canoe opposite the mouth of ^fiii'f 228 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP the St. Peter's River, on account of the ice, he travelled by land to the Falls of St. Anthony, at which place he arrived on the 17th of November, 1766. In company with him was his Mohawk servant, and a young Win- nebago Chief. He says he heard the roaring of the waters at a distance of fifteen miles. As soon as the Winnebago reached the point below the village of St. Anthony, which overlooks the Falls, he began to ad- dress the Great Spirit, supposed to reside in yon waters. He told him that he had come a long way to pay his adorations and offerings to him ; after which, he threw his pipe, tobacco-pouch, bracelets, beads, ear-rings, and all that he esteemed valuable, into the boiling waters. Carver states the Falls to be two hundred and fifty yards wide, and the perpendicular fall to be thirty feet. In the middle of the Falls, was an island as at present, and half way between the side on which we stand and the island, there was a rock, lying at the very edge of the Falls, in an obhque position, that appeared to him to be about five or six feet broad, and thirty or forty feet long. With the sun'ounding scenery he was as delighted as the most enthusiastic citizen of St. Anthony could de- sire. His description is as follows : * The country around them is extremely beautiful. It is not an unin- iiiiiiinii! THE OJIBWAY NATION. 229 terrupted plain where the eye finds no relief, but com- posed of many gentle ascents, which in the summer arq covered with the finest verdure, and interspersed with little groves that give a pleasing variety to the prospect. On the whole, when the Falls are included, which may be seen at the distance of four miles, a more pleasing and picturesque view cannot, I believe, be found throughout the universe.' Accompanying this description, with which none of you will find fault, there is in the London edition of his work a beautiml copperplate engraving of the Falls,— which in beauty, to say the least, is equal to many engravings of the same that have been offered to the public within the last ten years. At the time of his visit, the island below the Falls was full of eaglet nests, the rapids rendering them secure from the attacks ofman or beast. After a careful mspection of the Falls, he continued his journey to the point where his predecessor, Hennepin, stopped, to the River St. Francis. Carver believed that this country was destined to be settled ; he even parti- tioned the lands of Wisconsin and Eastern Minesota into subordinate colonies. These he divided by dotted* • ••-vti;,~_i„v:, uiai iuture auveaiitrers might readily, by referring to the map, choose a commodious I 230 TRADITIONAL HISTORV OF an{l advantageous situation. Tract No. I, or Eastern Minesota, is thus described : * The country within these limits, from its situation, is colder than any of the others, yet I ain convinced that the air is much more temperate than in those pro- vinces that lie in the same degree of latitude to the east of it. The soil is excellent, and there is a great deal of land that is free from woods in the parts adjoining to the Mississippi, whilst on the contrary, the Northeastern borders are well wooded. Towards the heads of the River St. Croix, rice grows in great plenty, and there is abundance ot copper. Though the Falls of St. Anthony are situated at the Southeast corner of this division, yet that impediment will not totally obstruct the navigation. As the River St. Croix, which runs through a great part of the Southern side of it, enters the Mississippi just be- low the Falls, and flows with so gentle a current, that it affords a convenient navigation for boats. This tract is about one hundred miles from N. W. to S. E., and twenty from N. E. to S. W.' Living more than a quarter of a century before Evans and Fitch and Fulton made their mcipient attempts to apply steam to the propulsion of boats on the Delaware and Hudson rivers, he could not conceive how vessels could ascend with ease above the Forks of the Ohio ; il' ill tAe ojibway nation. j^t yet he looked for the time which we are destined to see, when by canals, or 'shorter cuts, a communicati<^a may be opened by water with New- York by way of the Lakes.' On Carver's return from the Falls, he ascended the St. Peter's River, and wintered. Concerning his resi- dence there, we can say but httle, as many of his state- ments are incredible j especially that which says that he learned the Sioux, one of the most difficult of the Indian languages, in a few months, so that he could deliver speeches in that tongue. Descending the St. Peter's in the spring, after attend- ing a great council of the Sioux just below St. Paul, he " proceeded with a deputation of their nmnl.r by the way of the Chippewa River and Lake Superior to Mackinaw. Returning to Great Britain, he communicated the n- formation he obtained to several gentlemen of wealth and intelligence. In the year 1774, Richard Whitworth, a member of Parliament, a Colonel Rogers and Carver had determined to proceed to America and built a Fort at Lake Pepin, and then ascend the St. Peter's and Missouri Rivers, until they discovered the River Oregon, whose sources they supposed were on the other side of the r^e dividing the waters of the Gulf of Mexico from ' ^ those of the iPacific Ocean. On that coast another p! 'm ■' llii (Kill 232 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP post vras to have been established, and from thence they expected to be able to reach the countries of Asia by flome short passage. These plans, however, were all frustrated by the war between the American Colonies and the mother country. That Captain Carver made many statements not consistent with truth, cannot be denied ; yet no one can read his book without acknow- ledging that he was a man of vigorous intellect and keen observation. When we remember, that le European nations expected every traveller to tell some wondrous tale upon his return, and believed it more readily on account of its improbability ; that the age had not quite passed when ' feathers could be produced which had dropped from the tail of a phoenix ; that ostriches were to be seen which unlike the birds of the present day, had not pecked their way into the world through an egg shell, but had been born alive ; that bones were plentiful, of giants, with whom Goliath was a dwarf; that petrified babies were not rare ;' we ought not to be surprised that he describes a thunder storm in the vicinity of Mendota, 'so violent that the earth shook and the lightning flashed along the ground in streams of sulphur ;' nor that he should print a speech which he says he delivered in the Dakota language, after a resi- dence of a few months amoag the Natioji. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 2S3 After the explorations of General, then Lieut. Pike the United States Government in 1823 determined tl^at *an expedition be immediately fitted out for exploii ag the River St. Peter's, and the country situated on the Northern boundary of the United States between the Red River of Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior.' The commander of the expedition was Major Stephen Long. The party left Philadelphia and proceeded via Fort Dearborn (the site of the city of Chicago) to Prairie du Chien, where they arrived on the 19th of June. On the 2d of July, the party passed the narrowest place of the Mississippi, and landed for a few moments six miles below St. Paul, to examine a stone which was then held in high veneration among the Indians on account of the red pigment with which it was covered, hence now called Red Rock. ' It is a fragment of sien- ite, which is about four and a half feet in diameter. It is not surprising that the Indians should have viewsd this rock with some curiosity, and deemed it wonderful, considering that its character differs so materially from the rocks which are found in that neighborhood, man who lives in a country where the highest hills are wholly formed of sand-sione and secondary limestone, will necefii?arilv be gtnmL- -a"**^ ♦^a ■«jx-»"i' -^ ^ of tL :< first specimen of the granite that comes under his iii: lf!lP! 234 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP notice, and it is not to be wondered at that one who "sees God in all things" should have made part of a stone an object of worship.'— (Long's Expedition.) Above Red Rock, they visited the cemetery which had been mentioned by Carver more than a half century previous, and saw scaffolds supporting rude coffins At a little distance below St. Paul they passed the vil- lage of Kaposia, as before stated on the East side of the river, and called ' Petit Corbeau,' after the Chief who resided there. This tribe now live on the other side, and IS the mission station of Dr. Williamson. The In- dians that are, so constantly in the streets of St. Paul, reside there. The cave discovered by Carver below St. Paul, the party of 1823 did not visit, but the little cave above that town, which we have inappropriately marked on our maps ' Carver's Cave,' a place which Carver never saw, and was never discovered until 1811. On the night of the 2d July, Long and his party reached Fort Snelling, which work had been commen- ced about four years before. On the 6th of July, members of this party walked to. the Falls of St. Anthony, which they began to ford.— Some of the company, however, found great difficulty in stemming the current, and reached this side of the rapids much exhausted. THE OJIBWAY NATION. ass By Major Long's measurement, the perpendicular faU of water was found to be about sixteen feet. A quarter of a century ago, the United States had two mills in operation here, which were watched by a sergeant's guard. In the narrative of Major Long's expedition, we not only find for the first time, the legend of Winona, who, thwarted in marrying the object of her love, dashed her- self to pieces from the loft, bluff on Lake Pepin, which wiU always be called Maiden's Rock, but he also gives the following legend of the Falls, which he learned from an Indian : 'An Indian of the Dakota or Sioux Nation, had united himself early in life to a youthful female, whose name was Ampato Sapa. With her he Uved happily for several years. Two interesting children gathered around .heir lod-e fire, from day to day, and they loved to think that they were « their Uttle ones." The man was skilled as a hunter, and drew around him many families. Desirous of being more intimately connected' with hir., some of thym suggested that a man of his skill ought to possess more than one wife, to wait upon him and his friends. They assured him that if he would increase the nm«>vT "** it^'=< ^"•"-- xu.x i , j increase his influence, and soon be recognized as a Chief. 236 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF Ambition overcame his affection, and he secretly took a second wife. Being desirous to introduce his new bride to his lodge in a way that would not displease his first love, he said to the mother of his children, « You know that I can love no woman so fondly as I doat upon you ; with regret have I seen you of late subjected to toils which must be oppressive to you, and from which I ' : would gladly relieve you. I have therefore resolved • ■ upon taking another wife, but she shall always be sub- •j»2t to your control, as she will always rank in my , . Affections second to you." 'With deep 'grief did his first wife listen to these words. She pleaded all the endearments of their past life ; she spoke of his former fondness for her, and bade him beware of introducing another woman into the . ;lodge. Finding that he could not persuade her to be contented, he mformed her that he had already procured . another woman to share the lodge with her. * Distressed at this information, she watched her op- portunity, stole away from the cabin with her children, and fled to a distance, where her father was. With him she remained until a party of Indians went up the river to hunt. In the spring, as they returned with their furs, they encamped near these Falls. In the morning the band left, but she lingered near the spot. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 237 Having launched her light canoe, she entered with her children. Paddling down the rapids, she began to sing her death song. ' ' ' Her friends saw the movement, but they were too late to prevent. Her voice grew less and less distinct as she approached the edge of the Falls. For a mo- ment, the canoe paused at the brink, enveloped with spray, then with a sudden plunge it darted down, carry- ■ ing all of its contents to instant death. * The Indians believe that in the morning a voice 1^. heard, singing a doleful ditty along the edge of the Fall, ., and that it ever dwells upon the inconstancy of her hus- ' band. Some even assert that her spirit has been seen wandering near the spot, with her children wrapped to her bosom.' We have thus given you a brief review of the princi- ■ pal French, English, and American travels to this widely " celebrated spot. A few months has worked great changes in the vici- nity of these * roaring waters.' , ., Less than two years ago, a divine of European as well as American reputation, visited this place, and felt that he was in a far distant land. Were he to repeat his visit, on avf^rv aQTranth Ao-,r ♦U«,,~u I.- — -'-u- . - ■■■■ '-""J} "-"Vugii iiu iiiigiit mjj, hG^x the doleful ditty of Ampato Sapa, he would listen I ill: uii 238 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP to the songs ' of a Saviour's dying love/ mingling with the majestic chorus of ' many waters ;' he would wit- ness to-night, an audience not less intelligent than those gathered on similar occasions, 'in the smiling villages of the East ;' and a library, as yet small, in which how- ever the last new novel is not conspicuous, but the works of Burke, Carlyle's and Headley's Cromwell, Arnold's History of Rome, and the Essays of Talfourd, Stephens and Ghanning. Though the citizens of the most Northern village in the Valley of the Mississippi, you show to the world that extremes be often in close proximity ; that the dwellers on the borders of an Indian country can com- ; mune with the noblest and best of minds, through their works, and appreciate, as well as any in the world, the voice of a living ministry, and the truths of the Sacred Writings.'* CHAPTER XVn. THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS IN GENERAL. Being desirous of doing all that I can towards bet-' tering the condition of my brethren, I here subjoin foUr letters, originally addressed to the « Saturday Evening Post" of Philadelphia, on the subject of Indian Civiliza- tion,—the plan which I have presented before different Legislatures, and recently m a Memorial presented in both Houses of Congress for their action. I am happy to say that there is a universal approval of this plan throughout the Union ; and it is my design to request the General Government of this country that they may sooner or later take these Indians under their care, and have the credit of dealing justly with her long abused red races. If Congress does not do any thing in the present first session of the thirty-first Congress, I shall go again-and just as often as they meet I shall Dress this subi*''^* y^afr^^o, +1,^.^ . ^.-i _.^ ., . . , * •»■ --i---i'- vii>-iii, uiiiii suiiiciniiig is clone. The remarks here penned may be also applied in the 240 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP case of our Nation, who are now becoming demoralized yearly by alcoholic drinks. I desire the reasons here given to be weighed by dll impartial readers, and if any lack of soundness in our arguments be found, let it not be laid to the weakness of the cause we advocate, but to the writer's deficiency for such a work. INDIAN CIVILIZATION. Mr. Editor, — Your readers will have noticed by the papers throughout the Union, the plan I have pre- sented before the American public of my endea /ors to save a remnant of the scattered Indian tribes of the Northwest. I will endeavor to give a short outline, in three or four letters, of the matter as follows : 1. Why the Indians have not improved, and why they have decreased in numbers when coming in con- tact with the Europeans, since the first commencement of their intercourse until the present. 2. The fears I entertain that they never will hold a peaceable possession of any great portion of the West. 3. The plan I advocate, and its practicability. 4. The benefit it must be to the American Govern- ment, and to the Indians. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 24i' I. In this letter : Why they have not improved, and V)hy they have decreased in numbers. To give a statement of all the disadvantages they have had to encounter would not be in accordance with my present object, nor with the necessity imposed on me with reference to your columns ; yet I will mention a few. In their intercourse with the frontier settlers they meet the worst classes of pale faces. They soon adopt their foolish ways and their vices, and their minds b«. ing thus poisoned and preoccupied, the morality and education which the better classes would teach them are forestalled. This is not to be wondered at when it is generally known that the frontier settlers are made up of wild, adventurous spirits, willing to raise themselves by the downfall of the Indian race. These are traders, spirit-sellers, horse thieves, counterfeiters and scape- gallowses, who neither fear God nor regard the laws of man. When the Indians come in contact with such men, as representatives of the American people, what else could be expected of them ? It is not strange, that, seeing as he does the gross immorality of the whites whom he meets, and the struggle between the pale face for wrong and the red man for right, which begins when thfiv firsf: mnAf txvxA av^Ar* -.^4. ..»x:i j.. .1 . 1 J. ,j ^^ii^ -oiiuo iius, uiitii uiio uics, inar ne re- fiises to follow the footsteps of the white man in the 242 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP attainment of science. The majority having never been in the society of the good, religious and refined, they know but little of the advantages of civilization. There has been another class of men who have kept pace with the frontier, whose fathers and friends were killed in the wars in the more Easterly States some years ago by the Indians ; these having such implaca- ble hatred against the poor Indians, do all they can to enrage one race against the other, and if possible involve the two in war, that they may engage in their favorite work of depredation. II. Their love of Adventurous Life, Their fathers having been Nimrods, in a literal sense, they have followed in their footsteps. Not that I would have you suppose that there is no such thing as teaching the American Indian the peace- ful arts of agriculture, for he has already proved himself teachable. The suddenness with which the American people have come upon them, has prevented them from gradually acquiring the arts of civilized life ; and leav- ing local employment, they have hunted for a living, and thus perpetuated that independent, roaming dispo- sition which was their early education. III. The agitation of mind they experience in the be- Uef that Government will want their lands and they be removed to the West. THE OJIBWAY NATION. il^> None but an Indian can, perhaps, rightly judge of the deleterious influence which the repeated removals of the Indians has wrought, since they began in the days of Jefferson, and have been continued by succeeding admin- istrations, until now. Fear has prevented the Indian fbm making any very great advancement in agricul- tural science. Having seen the removal of other Indian tribes, they have been conscious of the fact that the Government may and doubtless will want more land, and they be obliged to sell at whatever price Government may see fit to give, and thus all improvements they might have made would become useless to them. In some instances, the Missionaries have done well in subduing the wild and warring dispositions of the In- dians, but these lessons have been lost by the ifemoval of the Indians Westward, and should he say aught, he is represented by the agents in an antagonistical atti- tude towards his own Government, and the Indian has been the sufferer. IV. The want of Schools of the character that are re- quired for the Educatim of the Indians. I mean schools where the whip may be dispensed with as the motive power of acquiring education, and where rational beings are to be taught in a rational « 244 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP manner. This whipping to learn is brutish and degra- ding — J. might add, savage. Gentle persuasion is that cord which has done the most for me and others. Many a school-teacher who has gone into the Indian countiy, had just as much right to become a teacher to the Indians, as I have to sit in the place of " Old Rough and Ready." You will tell me, no doubt, that the Indians have been taught the advantages of education — that some even have gone and attended, not only the common school, but schools of a high order, colleges, and have returned to tns forest again — have put on the blanket and roamed the woods. This has not always been the case. I might name a great many, who, to my know- ledge, have done and are now doing wejl for themselves and for their people. The reasons for their returnmg back again, were the absence of a good moral training, and their not having learned any trade with which to be employed on their leaving the schools. Having no emplo5rment, and no income, they found themselves in possession of all the qualities of a gentleman, without the requisite funds to support themselves. Some of their teachers where they went, knowing only Christianity in theory, and not by a practical know- THE OJIBWAY NATION. M'' ledge of the persuasive influences of us truths in the mind and soul, how could they teach them what they are destitute themselves ? Open the pages of inspira- tion—and as fast as the clouds of ignorance shall roll away, let the warm rays from Him who smiles from the sky, into the soul. The mind of the Indian, well pol- ished, shall then shine like the pure pearl from the deep. The cause of Education and Christianity must be to him what the wings are to eagles, both must he exercised before he can arise aloft. Teaching the Indians in their own language what httle some have learned, is one of those errors in which the majority of Missionaries have fallen, unintentionally, all over the coimtry. I have endeavored to persuade them to teach our people English, and their course after- wards tells me — We know better than ymi rfo— and, therefore, a great amount of tune, and a tremendous amount of money has been exp ied in translating and publishing a few books. We have been able to read these, but not one sentence of English. Our language perpetuates our own ideas of civilization, as well as the old usages in our Nation; and, consequently, how limited our field of acquiring knowledge ! On the other hand, by giving them an English education, you intro- duce them into the endless field of English literature. 946 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP and from the accumulated experience of the past, they might learn the elements which would produce the greatest amount of good to our Nation. The English language, it is true, is very hard to learn, but since it is to be the universal language in all lands, the sooner you give them this the better. I conclude this part of my letter by stating that the most requisite things for the Indian are these three — a mechanical or an agricultural education, a high-toned literature, and a rational moral training. Give him these — you make him exalted. — Deprive him of these— you make him degraded. V. The great quantity of Land which they have re- served to themselves for the purpose of hunting. This wild field, filled with a variety of game, perpet- liates their natural propensity of living by the use of the bow and arrow ; instead of following the plough 'iand having the hoe in hand. When they can have a piece of land they can call their own, and so limited that the scarcity of game will oblige them to till the soil for a subsistence, then they will improve, and the sooner this state of things is brought about will be the better. VI. The mode generally adopted by the Missionaries in introducing Christianity among the Indian Tribes. I know I shall be censured here — I can only appeal to the experience of the past, and leave every one to de- THE OJIBWAY NATION. nr cide for himself. The Indian, not knowing abstract truths, cannot possibly understand the foundation of die many doctrinal views which he is desired to learn and adopt. Forms of worship, varied as they are, have been urged on him, and in being perplexed, his mind thus is prejudiced to Christianity. Veneration and devotion make up the Indian's heart. Take him as he is, and lead him, and he will soon see the right from the wrong. We want also educated men. It has been the idea of some that any tiling will do for the Indians. Other reasons might be given, did space allow ; now, I proceed to give, in conclusion, a few of the reasons why their numbers have been lessoned. 1. The Diseases introduced hy Europeans. s The Indian Nations had no small pox or measies.-,- The small pox has destroyed thousands since it ha* been introduced into this country. Entire families have perished. Many an ill-fated tribe have followed their ancestors down to the grave, haggard, diseased, wretched and loathsome, by the disease which hnps pace with the debauchery towards the West, These diseases, not many of them being known be- fore, they knew not how to check their disastrous pro-, gress. 248 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP ™»*«»»* 2. Wars which they ham made on each other since t/ie introduction of fire-arms. Before this, the weapons they used against one an- other were not so disastrous as the rifle has been since. With the gun they have been as expert as they were with the bow and arrow. Champlain, in the year 1609, supplied the Algonquins of the North with the weapons of war, that they might successfully wage war with the Six Nations. The Dutch supplied the Six Nations with the same materials. The Spaniards of the South and others, might be cited, which history relates. They receiving those weapons of war from a civil- ized and Christianized nation, guaranteed a free use of them. 3. Wars which have raged in this cmintry between the whites. During these wars the Indian has been called from the woods to show his fearless nature, and for obeying, and showing himself fearless, it is said of him that he is "a man without a tear." He h?'? been stigmatized with the name—" a savage,"— by the very people who called for his aid, and he gave it. In the midst of these mighty contests, the Indian has been put in the front ranks, in the most dangerous positions, and has conse- j^uc"iiiiy ucen irio greatest io§er. THE OJIBWAY JATION. 2^9 I 4. And lastly- Tko introductim of spirituous liquors. This has been greater than all other evils combined. Intemperance and disease. The fire-water has done its work of disaster. By it the glad shouts of the youth of our land has died away in wails of grief ! Fathers have followed their children to their graves. Children have sent their wail of woe choing from vale to vale. And around the cheering fires of the Indian, the white man has received the gain of avarice. Peace and happiness entwined around the fire-side of the Indian once. Union, harmony, and a common brotherhood cemented them all But as soon as these vile drinks were introduced, dissi- pation commenced, and the ruin and downfall of a noble race has gone on— every year lessening their numbers. Wave after wave of destruction has gone on— the raven- wings of the angel of death have covered their fires, and still unsatisfied, it screams for more victims— all, all,— yes, all for « model New England rum:' The ministry of this country, and the sluggards in the cause of hu- manity, say now : There i? a fate or certain doom mi the Indians, therefore we need do nothing far them. How blasphemous ! First you give us rum by the thou- sand baiTels, and, before the presence of God and this enlightened world, point to God, and charge him as Oio murderer of the mifortunate Indians. 260 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP "Oh, Mercy, oh, Mercy! look down from above. Great Creator, on us Thy sad children with iove." Yes, save us from such orthodoxy ! The laws of na- ture deranged in the Indian, both morallyand physically, has been the consequence of his sinking condition. I have already taken too much of your space. I must conclude. My next will be the fears I entertain they wUl not hold their lands to any great extent this side of the Rocky Mountains. Exduse all errors, for I have by a railroad accident been thrown on my bed. Am, sii^, yours, in the cause of humanity. K. INDIAN CIVILIZATION. — NO. 11. Mr. Editor,— In this letter I vill give you the grounds of my fears why the Indians will never have a permanent hold upon any part of the Western country, unless by special act of Congress. 1. Their position upon the press of emigration. — In this way for years the fires of the Indian lodge have been removed West. Their rights have been trampled upon by the settlers, and this, with 'other annoyances, have ever unsettled the minds of the Indians— the con- THE OJIBWAY NATION. f^l sequence has been, and will be, that they will remove, step by step, to escape this annoyance. The present beUef of the Western and South-western Indians, that they nevej will be again moved, and that the land that they now occupy is to be their own for- ever-what sort of a guarantee do they have of their continuing on their lands unmolested ? Will not the same plea which was given to remove the New-York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Georgia Indians-will not the same plea of necessity (and, as some say, an act of kindness to them) be urged on those on the other side of the Father of Waters as has been urged this side ? If not this, enterprise—yes, Yankee enterprise, will re- quire railroads to be laid out, canals to be opened, mili- tary roads cut through the land of the Indians in. the West, and their land must either be bought from them or taken. And when this is done, or commenced to be done, they will cease to work their lands, since such labor would not be for their benefit, but for those who must occupy it when they leave it. The delightful fields of the Indians in Georgia were the great objects which the white men desired. 2. The quantity of land they have reserved to them- selves, has retarded their progress in the acquirement of agricultural science. Thfey have lived on the game ill 262 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP , which roamed in their woods, which has called off their attention from the soil. They will still neglect the .cultivation of the soil, since it is easier to hunt for game for a living than to toil in the field. This quantity is a detriment to us — we do not want so much land. But, what we have, give it to us forever. 3. The quality is another. There is a rich spot of land this side of the desert below the Rocky Mountains, the only rich land, and the Indian has been placed on this like a barrier. The land so occupied, ifivot culti- vated, the pale face will reason himself into the idea that the Great Spirit intended to make the whole of North America a farm yard, and thereby justify himself for taking to till what the Indian could not improve. 4. Necessity will oblige him to sell. They have, within my knowledge, reasoned this way. Our fathers sold their lands to the Government, and lived on the proceeds of the sale, and soon the Government will want to buy this land, and our children will live on the annui- ties as we now do on ours. So, they will fare no worse than we have. In this way they become impoverished, and they to sustain soul and body a few years of linger- ing misery, must sell their land piece by piece, until all is gone and they must suffer. * THE OJIBWAY NATION. S53 Much greater and certain evils are yet to be appre- hended, arising from another source, which is this : 5. The scarcity of game for food, must cause suffer- ing among the Indians, and a world of trouble to the frontier settlers. Where will the Indian go to get any thing to feed his children, but to the frontier for the cat- tle of the settlers for food? and this will cause war and bloodshed. The game is being killed more and more every year. It is computed by recent travellers in the buffalo coun- try, that this game alone is killed at the rate of one hundred thousand every year, by trappers and the In- dians, for their hide and tongues, which are sold to traders on the Upper Missouri. Game of all kinds is disappearing this side of the Rocky Mountains. Twelve years ago we could go seventy-five miles "West of Dubu- que, Iowa, on the Mississippi, for game of every kind up to buffalo ; now, I travelled last summer four hundred miles West of the above mountains towards the Missouri River, and found no game of any kind ! When, by force of circumstances, the Indian is obliged to live on the cattle of the frontiers — as soon as the first bullock is killed, the cry will be heard, " The Indfans are coming on us." The answer will be, " To arms, to arms," and the soldiery of the United States must be sent to go and 254 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP destroy a few dying and gasping Indians. The boom of the cannon and the rattle and peal of the drum will sing the dirge of the once free and powerful sons of America. Desperation will drive the Indian to die at the cannon's mouth— for it is then he will think of the land of his forefathers, which will nerve him to the field of war ! — ^mustering his armies on the peaks of the cliffs of the West, they will shout to each other. On one hand, far off below, the dying fires of his race lie scat- tered, and the graves of his ancestors desecratad — his children scattered where he has been driven. On the other hand he will see the races of the Pacific driven to the Eastward firom the Valley of the Columbia. It is there I expect to see what our forefathers hava not yet witnessed. My blood runs cold when I think of it. — Great God, save us from realizing the horrors of an ex- terminating war ! 6. Their isolated condition in detached numbersj will be the means of preventing the acquirement of know- ledge. When there is no stimulus to improve, there will be no idea of learning much. In small bodies, they re- tain all the feelings of their forefathers, and will continue this way. The American Government has addressed us like different Nations, instead of addressing us as an Indian Natibfi. and as one family ; they have in this THE OJIUWAY NATION. 86?, way perpetuated our differences towards each other. — The same law which governs th masses of people of all nations (civilized) among the pale faces, in some degree would thcL keep them at peace with each other. The law of necessity — the law of a conmion interest — the law of love, are so many influences which ought to jave operated on them before ; since, then, these are wanting, the teudb which have been kept up must necessarily exist for some time. The tribes, being weakened by their hostilities, can never prosper. But collect tiiem m a large body by themselvesj and com- mence rationally to adopt a system of pupilage which will be well adapted for the young ; and one good man would be like a light-house in a storm, who would warn and guide the rest. In mv next I will give the plan of concentrating the Northwest Indian tribes and its practicability. I am, sir, yours, in the cause of humanity, **#•■ 266 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF INDIAN CIVILIZATION. — NO. III. Mr. Editor : — In my last, I gave you some reasons* why I think the possessions of the Indians are still pre- carious. In this, I propose to give an outline of the pro- ject of civilizing the Northwestern Tribes and its prac- ticability. My plan is to get a grant of land from the Congress of the United States, about one hundred and fifty miles square, as a perpetual reserve for all the Northwest Tribes this side of the Rocky Mountains — where the half-civilized on the frontiers might live permanently to enjoy the fruits of their labor, and immediately form a government of their own, from the crude state in which they are, and gradually introduce the most simple laws to govern them, as they may need. 1. A Governor to be appointed by ihe President of the ^ United States, to be a white man, and the Lieutenant- Governor to be an Indian. 2. A Secretarj' io be a white man, or an Indian, if any is found capable to fill the ofiice, who shall trans- mit all the laws of the Indian territory to the Congress of the United States every year. 3. That the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor shall convene all the Indian tribes within the said territory, THE OJIBWAY NATION. 267! I that they may organize such form of Govermnent as may be for their interest. The Chiefs of each tribe to become the delegates from their nmnber, and this to be every three years. 4. That all white people who travel through this re- served land, must travel with a special license from the Agent of the American Government who may reside here. And, that all the white people who may reside as Government officers, missionaries and school teachers, must reside by such license, to be issued on^e a year ; and all who have no license, must be looked upon as intruders. 5. That a court of law be instituted, composed half of white people and half of Indians, who shall decide all grievances between the two races, the Indian and the pale face, instead of harassing the Government with them. 6. That the gathering of the Indians be voluntary on their part, and by giving them inducements, they need not be compelled by arbitrary means to leave their own lands. 7. That a military post be placed near the centre of the Indian Territory, and manned, to give security to individuals who may travel or reside there ; but more to keep off the white savages, who deal in fo-e water. 8. That the Indian Government be represented in 258 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF Washington by a Commissioner, to be appointed by the fir , iOTR] Council of the Indian Confederacy in the mean- lim .>, i^iitil the state of intelligence among them should require a more intimate connection with the Federal States — then, if deemed proper, to form one of the States of the Union 9. Schools to be supported by a general fund, which will accumulate as they cede their present lands to the Government, and those schools to be connected with the education of the plough, and the tillage of the soil. Next of importance is the location. The place I have named is the unsettled land known as the West of Mine- sota, next to the banks of the Missouri. The great Sioux River, from its junction to its source, to become the Eas- tern boundary — from the source of the Sioux River, draw a line Westward to the Missouri River, to become the Northern boundary. Next, the channel of the Missouri River to the place of beginning, would constitute a terri- tory large enough for all such purposes. The reasons why I have named this as being the most suitable for them are the following : 1. The great national highways, which will soon be opened by the demands of enterprize of the West, must be South of this, and thereby would not come in contact with the Indian population. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 869 2. The dimate is most suitable for their natures. 3. It would also be favorable to them in a commercial point of view, between the two greatest valleys and river, the Missouri and the Mississippi. 4. The distance West would be far enough to cause the removal of all the various Indian tribes to be gradual. 5. The central location of this country would be favor- able for the removal of the different tribes from the sur- rounding country of 500 or 600 miles. The question naturally rises in the minds of all who may have studied the mterest of the Indians, whether such a scheme is practicable. I think it is. 1. The interest of the Indians being in the hands of the American Govenmient, that interest could be used for the promotion of the good of the Indians, and by an annual distribution of the annuities of the Indians in the central portion of the territory, would attach them to their homes and country. 2. The treaties which are to be made, would so far become easy for them to be moving on this territory, and as the Indians are to be removed any how, why should it be more unpalatable to the Government to re- move them to this tract, as they have always made out to move the Indians West whenever they have needed their lands ? 260 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP ■ I Ml t 3. The social character of the Indians. They would rather Uve in towns, or near each other, particularly when they are civilized. The oftener they could see one another, the more rapidly their jealousies would cease to exist. Their children, growing up together, would soon acquiie a mutual attachment and regard for each other's welfare. 4. The languages of the Northwest tribes are so far similar, that they soon would learn to undej-stand one another. The Ojibway language, or the Algonquin dialect, is sppading all over the country of the North- west. The traditional stories which are related by our forefathers, indicate that our common stock was one. — Ari\d to reunite the scattered families, and preserve the few, would soon become an object in their minds. 5. By giving encouragement to those who would go there to settle, there would be no difficulty in getting them there, for the educated portion of them would be the first who would settle in^ that country ; and they are the ones 1 would encourage, for they would be the ones who would form such a Government as would best suit the Indian's wants and condition. 6. By a proclamation of the President of the United States, calling upon all the Northwest Indian tribes, and telling them that a home, a permanent home is provided, THE OJIBWAY NATION. 261 they soon would obey it, and go, if not in collective y^ • . least individually. Var must then cease to exist. There will be no gau I or any territory to fight for. They soon must I'^.v. that ill destroying one it is to strike a blow at o^, and the public opinion will triumph, and frown down any such acts of misdemeanor of the inhabitants. 8. Gradually the Chiefship, which is hereditary, would cease to exist, for this is one of the greatest bar- riers to their civilization. By giving the rule and authority to the well educated, their improvement would be rapid ; but, heretofore, the elder Indians have ruled, and their prejudicial views of education, have ever un- fitted them to become a fit medium of instruction to their people. And hi this way many will then study hard to fit themselves to become the rulers of the Nation. 9. The comparcUivelypeac^ihle condition of the North- west Indian tribes at present is favorable. The wars which raged in years past, are not now in existence.— The spirit of war is dying away at the approach of civilization "Westward, and the more peaceable acts of civilized life are being practiced by them. t 10. The great number of young men that are among the various Indian tribes, who are ready to carry for- ward any benevolent measure which may be supported 262 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP by the Government of the United States. The New- York Indians are now so far civilized as to have a Re- publican Government of their own. There are young men in that Nation who would do honor to any position in the arrangement of a Government for the Indians. — The Chippeway Nation has a great number of well educated young men. The Stockbridges, Oneidas and Shawnees, all these have been blessed with a partial civilization. Many other reasons might be gr\ren besides the above. I will close now, and in my next I will speak of the benefits whitih must accrue to the American Gwem- ment and to the Indiaiis. I am, sir, yours, in the cause of humanity, K. INDIAN CIVILIZATION. — NO. IV. Mr. Editor: — ^Having stated the reasons why I deem my scheme practicable, I will, in conclusion, allude to the advantages that would accrue, not only to the United States, but to the Indians.. To the American Government. 1. This system would simplify the Indian department. THE OJIBWAY NATION. !l; 2. They would not have so much perplexity in ad- justing difficulties. 3. The outlay in, Indian agencies would be lessened. 4. Establish a court of justice in the Indian territory, and no trouble would be had with them, as the difficul- ties would be legally settled. For sometimes it has been the hasty means used to suppress the encroach- ments of the Indian on the white man which have caused the disgraceful wars which this country has seen. Such would be obviated. 6. The expense of fortifying the Western country from the encroachments of the Indians would be dis- pensed with, and even now they are not actually re- quired. But if the government must build forts, and establish military posts, let there be one, in the center of the new Indian territory, to give efficiency to the laws of the Indian government, to protect the peace and per- sons in that country. Go in the spirit of the illustrious William Penn, that noble personification of Christianity, and you will have no trouble with the Indians this side of the Rocky Mountains. 6. The outlay for transporting the Indians would cease to be a burden. I believe the Indians would now go of their own accord, did they know that the land could be thus occupied by them. 264 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP 7. The buying of the land from the Indians over and over would not then have to be done. 8. The peaceful and friendly relations that must then exist would be one of the strongest bonds of union in time of peace, and cause them to be neutral in time of war. 9. Besides the above considerations, there are higher motives which ought to prompt the members of Con- gress — motives arising in the consideration that they are only forw arding the great design of Heaven, to im- prove the races of this country. By intelligepce enlarge the arena of hUman freedom, and your leading the In- dian may be like the noble eagle's first flight with its young to the sun. The advantages to the Indians. 1. By having permanent homes, they would soon enjoy the fruit of their labor. ' Poverty would be un- known, plenty would reign, and cheerfulness aid them in their work. 2. Seminaries of learning would be permanently loca- ted ; every stone you laid for the foundation of a school would tell. The repeated removals of the Indians have retarded the progress of moral and physical training among them, and caused many good men to become discouraged in their alms-giving for their improvement. THE OJIBWAY NATION. 265 It has not been so much the fault of the Indian as it has been the error of judgment in the distribution ol these means. 3. The appropriation by the United States, for the education of the Indians, of $10,000, would then be a benefit to those for whom it is intended. Let the Gov- ernment endow a college in the central part of the In- dian country, and it would have an influence for good to the end of time. 4. And besides this, what an amount would accmii.o- late, were all the school funds which the Indians have even now, given by the Government in its generosity for their annuities, and which now many Indian tribes know not what to do with, thus appropriated. Concen- tration of means and of eflfort on the part of the benevo- lently-disposed, must necessarily, in the process of time, do a great deal of good. 6. In treaties which are to be made, if a poUcr could be pursued in such a way as to get the annuities of the Indians to be paid in part toward the national education of the whole colony, much of what s nc 3d€ ^ reference to means would be so augmented is -o give whole dis- tricts of country the benefit of an enlighter ?»d education. But, say you, How will you reconcile the different denominations of Christians ivho raav go there to teach? ** b 266 TRADITIONAL HISTORY OP Having no predilection to divisim and discord, I would not have one dollar of the money which the generosity of the Government should give, go toward perpetuating discordant elements. No ! I want to make the great family of the Indians One, should I live long enough-— owe in interest, one in feeling, one while they live, and owe in a better world after death. 6. Emulation among themselves would spring up; and each would labor for the others' good—a spnit of rivalry would soon be seen were a premium to be given to those who should raise the largest amount of agricul- tural produce. ' 7. The result of all this would be a rapid increase of intelligence among the Indians, and steps would soon be taken to have a representation in Congress. It is hoped that, without making any special plea for the red men, that sense of justice which dwells in the heart of every true American will lead the members of Congress to give the above reasons a passing consid- eration. KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. t . . < « " • . f c <^' t » t V 1 LI « « 4 * * tt fl e < I a * • t a i it * i tf t * • 4 • i *' < ■ « « I A LIST OF BOOKS PCBUBHBD BT BENJAMIN B. MUSSEY MB COMPANY, VO. 28, COBNHIIl, AND 86, BRATTL3 STBZET, BOSTON. MUSIC BOOKS. THE MODEM HARP, Or, BOSTON SACRED MELODIST.— A CoUection cf Church Music, comprising, in addition to many of the most Popular Tones in common use, a great variety of new and original Tunes, Sentences, Chants, Motets, and Anthems, adapted to Social and Religious Worship, Socief es. Singing Schools, &c. By Edwakd L. White and John E. Gould. This Book, in the short sp.icc of twelve months, has passed through no less than sixteen editions, and is now used in all the best Choirs and Societies in New England, and is universally considered as one of the best books of Church Music now in use. "So far as we have been able to examine this work, we should judge it to be superior to any modem work that we have aeen.^ — iSkowheqan Democrat. " In bringing this work before the public, no tune or pains have been spared to render it not only a popular, brt a useful Collection. More than the usual number of new Tunes occupy a space in it, and most of this new Music is of a high character, and possesses the true attributes of Church Music. There is also H be found an nnusual i, umber of Sentences, Select Pieces, Chants, &c., suitable for the opening and closing of divine worship, among which the entire service of the Protestant Episcopal Church is given in the order of performance. " The whole Collection is judiciously arranged, and will undoubtedly ake a rank second to none of the numerous publications of Church iiosic now in use." — Atlas. This Book 18 composed mostly of Music now to the American pnbHa aad embraces every variety of metre now in use, with numerous Sea- gj^' Chants, Motets, and Anthems, suited to particular occasions."— [Extract of a Later from Rev. M. K. Cross, of Palmei-, Mast.] "I am free to acknowledge that I have been very highly gratified with toe musical taste and talent exhibited bv the authors: It ^ms tome that a laiTger proportion than is usual in books of this kind, will be found suitable and edifying for common choirs and congregations. The selec toon of wordt, set to the Music, is very chaste, and well adapted to devo- tional puiposes; which gives an additional interest to the work. I am uappj to learn that it is soon to be introduced in our own congregation." M. K. CROSS. THE OPERA CHORUS BOOK, Consisting of Trios, Quartets, Quintets, SoIob, and Choruses, Belected and arranged from the most popular Operas of Von Weber, Rossini, Meyerbeer, Bellini, Benedict, Donizetti, Mercadante, Auber, Balfe, Ver^, and Bishop. By Edward L. White and John E. (Jould. [ We sefert the JbUowing from numerous Notices of this Work ' " Salem, November Ist, 1847. fcion wJ;JS\^;*f??''^~^i'^^ ®'^-^ ^*^® examined the newpublica- ^IZ^^i^f ^**«1?: «o™« ^'^™ your press, called the ' Opera (5horu8 ^ooK, and do not hesitate to commend its design and execution. The SrffT^T ^<*".™ade and well arranged, and are, almost all of them, gems of high musu^l value. The field from which they were gathered^ S^T^i, f '^ I'"'' ''''° "'^P^^''^^- I* " "<^1^ '» f^i and it is to be Ji^litiint t^?hTsi?k?e."*''"' ''" '"^ ^^^^™«' •" *^ '"^-^^^ ^^« Your friend and servant, h. K. OLIVER. «r"th« n?J7«?T *fe'' e^'dence of much patience, care, and industir, nf S^nL^/ •''^.w r"^' r^ ^« q"««ti<«» 'f »™ong ail the volumes ^nnf« ^^"T *** ''*^® ^**" published in this country, there will be SiW?. To« ^'- ^*'rrT°'V®f «'*'°^« ^ *« admiration of the musical public than this. The Work abounds in those delicious gems of the AlnnJhU!^Lu '"t'? « beautiful enough to tempt our readers to the purchase of the whole collection." — fiostow Daily Whig. [From Thomas Power, Esq.] " Boston, Dec. 2!s>th, 1847. ^I,onn«^w^l'^'7^^''u^ examined, with some care, the 'Opera Sv nn?«.-?„^' .f '^'"''^ ^°'' ^'^ '*'« publishers, I cheerfuUy give yoH my opmioo of its particular merits. As the study and practice of fieoalar Part Music has beei. pursued with increased zeal and raccesft within a few years, it has been a leading object to find accessible advan« ced works of a good character. The practice of the old standard Gleei, however excellent, has lost its novelty, and some of its interest. A higher grad> >f compositions has been required ; and the graceful and clmrming cux/ruses of the modem Opera have given an increasing desire for that class of compositions. " In selecting from the standard works of the day, a knowledge of the requirements of performers, and a good Jnugment as to what shall meet these requirements, were imperative. The collection of the Ofkra Chorub Book has been made with good discretion, combining what ia in advance of the current standard, and, at the same time, atfording to social parties, for which it seems to be particulai-ly prepared, the easy meand of studying gems of some of the best masters. " Whatever motive of ambition or interest suggested the idea of this Collection, the Book is exactly what is wanted at this time ; and it will be taken as a favor to the musical public, inasmuch as it cannot fail to be a great acquisition for practice, and a means of creating a better taste. A book got at with such good properties, cannot fail to be well receiTed." Respectfully yours, THOMAS POWEK. THE TYROLIEN LYRE, A Glee Book, consisting of easy pieces, arranged mostly for Soprano Alto, Tenor, and Bass Voices, with and without Piano Forte Accompaniments, comprising a complete collection of Solos^ Duets, Trios, Quartets, Quintets, Choruses, &c., for the use of Societies, Schools, Gubs, Choirs, and the Social Circle. By Edward L. White and John E. Gould. The sale which this Work has already met, is evidence that its meriti are well known to the public ; but we extract the following from " T%e World of Music :^' — 'It contains many subjects from different popular Operas, very beautifully elaborated, among which we recogaize many gems of melody from Rossini, Auber, Bellini, Balfe, &c. Also some sterling Glee compositions from Bishop, SpofForth, Danby, &c^ and a large number of those Tyrdieo melodies which Malibran and the ' Riuner Family ' used to eleevify th«r hearers. The Work will not only be a pleasant social companion, but will be found extremely useful for Choirs, Schools, &C." " It is a lai^e and well executed volume of two hundred and thirty pages, containing easy pieces, arranged mostly for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass Voices, with and without Piano-Forte Accompaniments, comprising a complete Collection of Solos, Duets, Trios, Quartets, Quintets, Chorusea, &c The names of Edwabd L. Whith and JoHil R GoDiiD, by whom the Music ie composed, selected, and arranged, is % sufficient recommendation of its excellence." — (Mtm Bnmck JBiti:l^^,^^SSkf^^ . THE BOSTON MELODEOX , VOL. I. A Collection of Secular Melodies, consisting of Songs, Gleet, Rounds, Catches, &c., including many of the most popular Piecei of the day; arranged and harmoniaed for Four Voicefl. By Ed- ward L. White. THE BOSTON MELODEON, VOL. U. A Collection of Secular Melodies, consisting of Songs, GIee% Rounds, Catches, &c., including many of the most popular piecei of the day, arranged and harmonized for four voices, vol. 2, by E L. White, The above Books have been before the public some two years, inring which time, more than 23,000 of them have been sold, and their rept? tation is too well known to require any commendation. THE WREATH OF SCHOOL SONGS, Consisting of Songs, Hymns, and Chants, with appropriate Music, designed for the use of Common Schools, Seminaries, &c. To which ire added the Elements of Vocal Music, arranged according to the Pestalozzian System of Instruction ; with numerous Exercises, intended to supersede (in part) the necessity of the Black-board. By Edward L. White and John E. Gould. "This Work is just the thing for Schools, Juvenile Concerts, &aj consisting of Songs, Hymns, and Chants, with appropriate Music, de- signed for the use of Common Schools, Seminaries, &c., to which ia prefixed the elements of Vocal Music. In many of the Public Schools out of the city, as well as in, Music has recently constituted a part of the studies of the pupils. This we are glad to see, as many advantages may be derived from such a course. And the experiments, as yet, havs proved quite satisfactory. For such purposes, we have seen no better work than the ' Wreatk op School Songs.'" — Otoe BrancA. "Wheath of School Songs."— "The above is the title of a New Music Book, just from the press, and is peculiarly calculated to mterest the young singer and make him acquainted with the Elements of Music." — JBastem Mail. " It is a charming little volume, and we recommend it to all who hav« fcmilies." — Signcu. LI. Qgfl, Gleei, iilar PiecM I. ByEo- . u. iga, GIee% liar pieces I. 2, by E «rs, dnriug their repu- rGS, tte Music, To which ording to Bxercises, ck-board. ;erts, &c.j Music, de- I which is c Schools a part of d vantages yet, hav2 no better nch. itle of a mlated to Elements yho havt BAKER'S ELEMENTARY MUSIC BOOK, Comprising a variety of Songs, Hymns, Chants, &c. Designed for the use of Public and Private Schools. By Benjamin P. Bakrr. " This little Work is designed for Children, as Its title indicates. Mr. Baker is an accomplished and successful Teacher of Music in our Public Schools; and his experience in teaching Children to sing, has enabled him to prepare a work adapted to their wants. The introduc- tory part is simple and comprehensive ; and, in the hands of a good teacher, cannot fail to lead the learner to a thorough knowledge of the science of Music. The Songs are for the most part lively and interesting, containing just and moral sentiments ; and the Music is admirably adapted to them. We commend it to the attention of all those interested in school education." — Atlas. " The Book is prepared with knowledge and judgment, and is admi« rably adapted to the purposes for which it is designed ; and our Com- mittee, wisely regarding the interest of our Children, have authorized its use in those Schools of which Mr. Bakrr has the care." — MercantiU Journal. " We have examined this Work, and do not hesitate to recommend it to all who are desirous of obtaining a useful book. The Elements of Music are arranged in the most natural and convenient order for the use of Singing Schools and Private Classes. After a few Introductory Remarks, the Scale is introduced to the learner, and explained in the author's peculiarly plain and happy stvle. Next in order is the Staff, Clefs, Notes, Rests, &c. The whole A . ork is regularly laid out in the most comprehensive form, illustrated with appropriate Remarks and Examples. The Examples on the transposition of the scale, are the most plain and the easiest for the pupil to understand of any we have ever seen. The Book also contains about one hundred and twenty ?ages of Music, ' designed for the use of Public and Private Schools.' 'eachcrs of Music will find this a very useful text-book, as it will enable them to go through with the Elementary department of instruction in one half of the time which it usually requires." — World of Music. THE SABBATH SCHOOL LUTE ; A Selection of Hymns and appropriate Melodies, adapted to the naxiis of Sabbath Schools and Social Meetings. By E. L. White and J. E. (xotjld, authors of the " Modem Harp," « Tyrolien Lyre," "Wreath of School Songs," "Opera Chorus Book," Ice, &c. SCHOOL BOOKS. nilclicoclL^s Bookkeepli^. the Art of Bookkeeping, by J. Irvim Hii — A New Method of teaching TOaCOOK. Hitchcock's Key. — A Key to Hitchcock's Method of Book keeping. French Spoken. — A New System of Teaching French, by Edwako Chubch. Cutter's Physloloyy* — Anatomy and Physiology, designed for Academies and Familieit, l)y Calvim Cuttbh, M.D., with over SOO Engravings. Cutter's First Book. — First Book on Anatomy and Physiology, by Calvix Cctteb, M.D., with 84 Engravings. Colhnm'S Sequel. — Aritlimetic, upon the inducliw method of Instruction, being a Sequel to Intellectual Arithmeiic, by Wabbbm CoIi* BUBK, A.M. Boyer's French Dictionary. — Boyer's French Dictionary, comprising all the Improvements of the latest Paris and London editions, with a large ni^ber of useful Words and Phrases, selected from the modem dictionaries of Baisto, Mailly, rntinean, and others, with the pro- nunciation of each word, according to tlio dictionary of the Abbe Tardy : to which are prefixed Rulos for the Pronunciation of French Voweli, Diphtibongs, and finaJi Consonants, with a table of French Verbs, &c. SherwIn'S Alg^etan. — An Elementary Treatise on Algebra^ for the use of Students in High Schools and Colleges, by Thomas Shbbwin, A.M. Shemrln's Key. — A Key to the Elementary Treatise on Algo* bra, by Thomas Shbrwin, A.M. "Worcester's Dictionary, in 1 vol. 8vo. Webster's Dictionary, complete, unabridged, crown quarto. F. A. Adams's Arithmetic and Key. PRONOimcmG BIBLE. Just Publislied, a new edition of Alger's Pronouncing Bible, in 1 vol. octavo. "This is an invaluable edition of thelKlde, and should be in every fJEunily where there are children." .-y teaching of Book snch, hj igned for >ve( 900 ysiology, ethod of .an Cob* ctionary, editions, From the I the pro- I Tardy : Voweli, , &c. Algebra^ Thomai on Alge- [uarto. )ible, in ineyety n' ■ •i'