Old Mackinaw

CHAPTER III.. Marquette's Visit to Iroquois Point -- Chapel and Fort -- Old

Marquette's visit to Iroquois Point -- Chapel and Fort -- Old Mackinaw -- The French settlement in the Northwest -- Erection of chapel and Fort -- The gateway of commerce -- The rendezvous of traders, trappers, soldiers, missionaries, and Indians -- Description of fort -- Courriers des Bois -- Expedition of Marquette and Joliet to explore the Mississippi -- Green Bay -- Fox River -- Wisconsin -- Mississippi -- Peoria Indians -- Return trip -- Kaskaskia Indians -- St. Xavier Missions -- Mission to "the Illinois" -- Marquette's health declines -- Starts out on return trip to Mackinaw -- Dies and is buried at mouth of Marquette River -- Indians remove his remains to Mackinaw -- Funeral cortege -- Ceremonies -- Burial in the chapel -- Changes of time -- Schoolcraft on the place of Marquette's burial -- Missilimackinac -- Name of Jesuit missions. 39

CHAPTER IV.. La Salle's Visit to Mackinaw -- English Traders -- La

La Salle's visit to Mackinaw -- English traders -- La Hontan's visit -- Mackinaw an English fort -- Speech of a Chippewa chief -- Indian stratagem -- Massacre of the English at the fort -- Escape of Mr. Alexander Henry -- Early white settlement of Mackinaw -- Present description -- Relations of the Jesuits -- Remarkable Phenomena -- Parhelia -- Subterranean river. 61

CHAPTER V.. Island of the Giant Fairies -- Possession by the English --

Island of the giant fairies -- Possession by the English -- Erection of government house -- French remain at Old Mackinaw -- Finally abandoned -- Extent of the island -- History -- Description -- Natural curiosities -- Arch Rock -- Sugar Loaf Rock -- Scull Rock -- Dousman's farm -- Davenport's farm -- Robinson's folly -- The Devil's Punch Bowl -- Healthful atmosphere -- Transparency of the waters -- Compared with Saratoga, Cape May, and Mt. Washington as a point for health and recreation -- Description of a traveler in 1854 -- Arrival of steamers and sailing vessels at the port during the year -- Mr. Johnson's reminiscences -- Indian name of island -- Mythology -- Three brothers of the great genii -- Visit to the subterranean abode of the genii -- Vision -- Apostrophe of an old Indian chief -- Old buildings -- Door of Marquette's chapel -- John Jacob Astor and the fur trade -- Present support of the place -- Fort Mackinaw -- Fort Holmes -- Fine view -- Interesting localities -- War of 1812 -- Death of Major Holmes -- Soil of the island. 83

CHAPTER VI.. Lake Superior -- Scenery -- Transparency of Its Waters --

Lake Superior -- Scenery -- Transparency of its waters -- Climate -- Isle Royale -- Apostles' Islands -- La Point -- Thunder Cape -- Cariboo Point -- A wonderful lake -- Romantic scenery -- Pictured rocks -- Rock Castle -- The Grand Portal -- The chapel -- Fluctuations in the waters of Lake Superior -- Curious phenomena -- Retrocession of the waters -- Mirage -- Iron mountains and mines -- Description of -- Products -- Shipments -- Copper -- Immense boulders -- Produce of the mines for 1857 -- Shipment of copper from the Lake for 1858 -- Centre of the mining country -- Iron mountains -- Copper mines of Great Britain -- Coal -- Mackinaw a great manufacturing point -- Key to the Upper Lakes -- Commerce of lakes -- Growth of cities. 105

CHAPTER VII.. Lake Huron -- Eastern Shore of Michigan -- Face of the

Lake Huron -- Eastern shore of Michigan -- Face of the country -- Picturesque view -- Rivers -- Grand -- Saginaw -- Cheboy-e-gun -- Natural scenery -- Fort Gratiot -- White Rock -- Saginaw Bay -- Thunder Bay -- Bois Blanc Island -- Drummond's Island -- British troops -- St. Helena Island -- Iroquois Woman's Point -- Point La Barbe -- Point aux Sable -- Point St. Vital -- Wreck of the Queen City -- St. Martin's Island -- Fox Point -- Moneto pa-maw -- Mille au Coquin -- Great fishing places -- Cross village -- Catholic convent. 127

CHAPTER VIII.. Three Epochs -- the Romantic -- the Military -- the

Three epochs -- The romantic -- The military -- The agricultural and commercial -- An inviting region -- Jesuit and Protestant Missions -- First Protestant mission -- First missionary -- Islands of Mackinac and Green Bay -- La Pointe -- Saut St. Mary -- Presbyterians -- Baptists -- Methodists -- Revival at Fort Brady -- Ke-wee-naw -- Fon du Lac -- Shawnees -- Pottawatimies -- Eagle River -- Ontonagon -- Camp River -- Iroquois Point -- Saginaw Indians -- Melancholy reflections -- Number of Indians in the States and Territories. 143

CHAPTER IX.. Indian Name of Michigan -- Islands -- Lanman's Summer in the

Indian name of Michigan -- Islands -- Lanman's Summer in the Wilderness -- Plains -- Trees -- Rivers -- A traditionary land -- Beautiful description -- Official report in relation to the trade of the lakes -- Green Bay -- Grand Traverse Bay -- Beaver Islands -- L'Arbre Croche -- Boundaries of Lake Michigan -- Its connections -- Railroad from Fort Wayne to Mackinaw -- Recent report of -- Amount completed -- Land grants. 159

CHAPTER X.. Mackinaw, the Site for a Great Central City -- the Venice of

Mackinaw, the site for a great central city -- The Venice of the lakes -- Early importance as a central position -- Nicolet -- Compared geographically with other points -- Immense chain of coast -- Future prospects -- Temperature -- Testimony of the Jesuit fathers -- Healthfulness of the climate -- Dr. Drake on Mackinaw -- Resort for invalids -- Water currents of commerce -- Surface drained by them -- Soil of the northern and southern peninsulas of Michigan -- Physical resources -- Present proprietors of Mackinaw -- Plan of the city -- Streets -- Avenues -- Park -- Lots and blocks for churches and public purposes -- Institutions of learning and objects of benevolence -- Fortifications -- Docks and ferries -- Materials for building -- Harbors -- Natural beauty of the site for a city -- Mountain ranges -- Interior lakes -- Fish -- Game. 173

CHAPTER XI.. The Entrepot of a Vast Commerce -- Surface Drained --

The entrepot of a vast commerce -- Surface drained -- Superiority of Mackinaw over Chicago as a commercial point -- Exports and imports -- Michigan the greatest lumber-growing region in the world -- Interminable forests of the choicest pine -- Facilities for market -- Annual product of the pineries -- Lumbering, mining, and fishing interests -- Independent of financial crises -- Mackinaw the centre of a great railroad system -- Lines terminating at this point -- North and South National Line -- Canada grants -- Growth of Northwestern cities -- Future growth and prosperity of Mackinaw -- Chicago -- Legislative provision for opening roads in Michigan -- The Forty Acre Homestead Bill -- Its provisions. 205

CHAPTER XII.. The Great Western Valley -- Its Growth and Population --

The Great Western Valley -- Its growth and population -- Comparison of Atlantic with interior cities -- Relative growth of river and lake cities -- Centre of population -- Lake tonnage -- Progress of the principal centres of population. 228

CHAPTER XIII.. Michigan Agricultural Reports for 1854 -- Prof. Thomas'

Michigan Agricultural Reports for 1854 -- Prof. Thomas' report -- Report of J. S. Dixon -- Products of States -- Climate -- Army Meteorological Reports. 255

CHAPTER XIV.. Agricultural Interest -- Means of Transportation -- Railways

Agricultural interest -- Means of transportation -- Railways and vessels -- Lumber -- Vessels cleared -- Lake cities and Atlantic ports -- Home-market -- Breadstuffs -- Michigan flour -- Monetary panics -- Wheat -- Importations -- Provisions -- Fruit -- Live stock -- Wool -- Shipping business -- Railroads -- Lake Superior trade -- Pine lumber trade -- Copper interest -- Iron interest -- Fisheries -- Coal mines -- Salt -- Plaster beds. 272

CHAPTER XV.. Desirableness of a Trip to the Lakes -- Routes of Travel --

Desirableness of a trip to the Lakes -- Routes of travel -- Interesting localities -- Scenery -- Southern coast -- Portage Lake -- Dr. Houghton -- Ontonagon -- Apostles' Islands -- Return trip -- Points of interest -- St. Mary's River -- Lake St. George -- Point de Tour -- Lake Michigan -- Points of interest -- Chicago. 395

CHAPTER I.. Mackinaw and Its Surroundings -- Indian Legends -- Hiawatha

Mackinaw and its surroundings -- Indian legends -- Hiawatha -- Ottawas and Ojibwas -- Paw-pau-ke-wis -- San-ge-man -- Kau-be-man -- An Indian custom -- Dedication to the spirits -- Au-se-gum-ugs -- Exploits of San-ge-man -- Point St. Ignatius -- Magic lance -- Council of Peace -- Conquests of San-ge-man.

Mackinaw, with its surroundings, has an interesting and romantic history, going back to the earliest times. The whole region of the Northwest, with its vast wildernesses and mighty lakes, has been traditionally invested with a mystery. The very name of Mackinaw, in the Indian tongue, signifies the dwelling-place of the Great Genii, and many are the legends written and unwritten connected with its history. If the testimony of an old Indian chief at Thunder Bay can be credited, it was at old Mackinaw that Mud-je-ke-wis, the father of Hiawatha, lived and died.

Traditional history informs us that away back in a remote period of time, the Ottawas and the Ojibwas took up their journey from the Great Salt Lake towards the setting sun. These tribes were never stationary, but were constantly roving about. They were compared by the neighboring tribes to Paw-pau-ke-wis, a name given by the Indians to the light-drifting snow, which blows over the frozen ground in the month of March, now whirling and eddying into gigantic and anon into diminutive drifts. Paw-pau-ke-wis signifies running away. The name was given to a noted Indian chief, fully equal in bravery and daring to Hiawatha, Plu-re-busta, or Man-a-bosho.

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