their medicine men, that the Great Spirit was angry with them for receiving this priest, and his instructions, and that this fatal disease was sent among them to punish them for this offence.

This same influence was manifest during my interview with them. Under its effects, the principal speaker among the chiefs, before I began my speech, rose and said, that they had received some information from Mackinaw, of the object of my visit, and had considered the subject, and concluded not to accept the proposals of the Government. They were contented and happy in their present situation. But, presuming that they had not received full, or correct information on the subject I concluded it best to deliver my speech, which they heard patiently and respectfully.*

L'Abre Croche, for sixty years or more, and till the order of Jesuits was suppressed, was the seat of the Jesuit mission of St. Ignace de Michilimakinac. A large part of these Indians were baptized by these missionaries, who resided on a farm, devoted to their use, situated between the village and old Fort Mackinaw, both of which were under their pastoral care. The convent of the Jesuits was one mile north of the village. The improved state and appearance of these Indians may probably be considered, as the fruit of this mission. In 1761, the Ottawas, at L'Abre Croche, numbered two hundred and fifty warriors, or about one thousand five hundred souls.

Father Reichard, a respectable and learned man, who now presides over the Catholic church at Detroit, as he informed me, was at L'Abre Croche in 1799, at which time there were about one thousand three hundred souls, among whom was but one, a very old Indian, remaining, who had been baptised. These Indians then lived together in one village, nine miles in length, and were much addicted to drunkenness. It was after father Reichard's visit that the small pox made such desolation among them, and so redu ced their number; and it was evident that these people, from some source, were made to fear, that my visit, should they listen to my proposal, would be followed by a similar calamity. Some effectual means therefore must be used to remove this influence, before any thing can be done effectually for their improvement. An appeal to their good sense, and reference to what has been effected

* See p. 8.

among some other of our Indian tribes, I think, would accomplish the purpose, and prepare the way for the establishment of an Education Family in this place, which is well situated for the purpose. Scattered villages of this nation, and of the Chippawas, who intermarry with the Ottawas, and in various ways are connected with them, might probably be induced to remove, and settle on the L'Abre Croche territory, which is abundantly large enough for the accommodation of several thousands. In this case, the station might become an important one for the education of a large number of Indians in the vicinity.

Description of the Shores of Lake Superior.

The country, and its native inhabitants, on the southern shores of Lake Superior, between this Lake and the Mississippi, and west of that river, on the northern border of the U. States, has hitherto been but imperfectly known. A knowledge of them has become important to the Government, for the purposes of regulating the trade with the Indian tribes, who inhabit this region, for promoting their civilization, and making the military and education establishments necessary for these purposes. From the gentlemen, whose names are at the head of their respective communications, much particular information has been received relative to this region, which, it is believed, will be useful to the Government in their plans and operations, in this remote, and but recently explored part of their dominions.*

While at Mackinaw I was favored with interviews with Messrs. Morrison and Holliday, Indian Traders, of intelligence and veracity, in the service of the American South-West Fur Company, introduced and recommended to me by Messrs. Crooks and Stuart, members of that company. They had often traversed the southern shores of Lake Superior, and resided many winters with the In

Since this part of my Report was written, Governor Cass, with an exploring party, having visited this part of our country, have published the valuable results of their extensive tour, in various well written and interesting Reports. The facts and information which follow, though they relate to the same region, are, in many instances, new, and the whole will not be without its interest and use.

dians in the vicinity of them. They gave me verbally the particular information which is subjoined.

Their trading rout is from Mackinaw to the Saut of St. Mary's, eighty miles; thence into Lake Superior, and along the southern shore, thirty miles, to Taquaminan river, sixty yards wide, deep at its entrance, and boatable about twenty-four miles. Becksie or Betsie river, thirty yards wide, falls into the west side of the mouth of the Taquaminan.

Proceeding fifteen miles from the river last mentioned, you come to White Fish Point, which projects north-east into the Lake, around which is the ship channel of the Lake. White Fish Bay

receives the rivers above named.

Next, twenty-four miles farther, is Grand Mariaix Pond, a safe harbor from all winds, four miles in circumference. Here commence the Sandy Hills, (Grand Sable,) which extend west nine miles along the banks of the Lake, and one mile back, perfectly barren, having neither trees nor shrubbery. They rise in the centre, about one thousand feet from the surface of the Lake, sloping at each end. Behind these hills is a Lake six miles long, by one wide; back of which is wood land.

Great Rocks, (Portaile,) known also by the name of the Pictured Rocks, are twelve miles further. They continue nine miles along the borders of the Lake, rising perpendicularly one thousand feet above the level of the water. The rocks are of various kinds and colors, large pieces of which, broken from their sides, have fallen into the Lake below. These rocks form the greatest curiosity, and are the most stupendous object, in this part of the country. A substance, (a species of salts,) oozes from these rocks, which the Indians use as a purgative; also a green substance, used by the Indians in painting themselves, their pipe stems, &c. The rocks are of the grindstone species, and excellent in their kind. Mining river, a small stream, issues from about the centre of these rocks, into the Lake, which has a cataract near its mouth.

About nine miles beyond the Rocks, are the Grand Islands, three in number, two small, and one large, projecting into the Lake, inhabited by about seventy-five Chippawa Indians, who fish in the Lake, and hunt in the winter on its shore. The soil of the Island is hard clay, mixed with sand, covered with a heavy growth of ma

ple, beach, &c. These islands form many safe harbors for the boats and vessels which navigate the Lake. The entrance of these harbors is difficult, on account of shoals.

La Train river, twenty-five yards wide, is nine miles beyond Grand Islands. The Indians ascend this river in their canoes six miles, into a Lake, which is the nearest boatable water of Lake Superior to the waters of Lake Michigan. The distance here between the two Lakes is fifty miles. The Indians travel it, with ease, in one day. This is the channel of the intercourse, which is kept up between the Indians of Lake Superior, and those of Michigan. If a water communication between the two Lakes is to be opened, this is the spot for it.

Proceeding west nine miles, we come to Laughing Fish river, forty yards wide, boatable at its entrance. Then pursuing the shore of the Lake west, twelve miles, is

Chocolate river, forty yards wide, boatable at its entrance.

Cash river, nine miles further, is thirty yards wide, and boatable at its mouth.

Dead river, three miles further, is fifty yards wide, boatable at its mouth.

Presque Isles, three miles further, are a cluster of small islands. Huron river, forty miles further, is sixty yards wide, boatable at its mouth. Opposite the mouth of this river are two islands, each seven miles in circumference, separated by a narrow strait, composed of high granite rocks, interspersed with a few trees.

Baigne, or Pancake Point, six miles from Huron river, is twenty-seven miles wide, by forty-five miles long, broken land, covered with stunted shrubbery. At the north end of this point is an island, twenty or thirty miles in circumference, uninhabited, level, and well wooded. From this Point, the traders pass over to the main land. Here is a Chippawa Indian village of forty-five souls. About three miles from this Point, Mr. Holliday found a a quantity of pure copper, of which Gen. Brown, or Col. Jones, has a specimen.

Quewionone, or Keweena river, is opposite the above Point, sixty yards wide. This river comes from the south, through small Lakes and ponds, and is boatable twenty-seven miles, to a portage of three miles, which brings you again to the Lake, west of

Baigne Point. To go round the Point would be ninety miles. Crossing by the above mentioned river and portage, saves sixty miles.

Trout river, is nine miles from the portage, twenty yards wide, not boatable.

Ontonagan, or, as it is erroneously named on some of our maps, Denagon, river, thirty-six miles from Trout river, is eighty yards wide at its mouth, boatable twenty-four miles, to a cataract of a bout thirty feet, rapid descent, at the foot of which, in the mid dle of the river, (here forty yards wide) is the celebrated Copper Rock, three fathoms in circumference; and on the banks of the river, are the copper mines, which, many years ago, were wrought by the French. On this river, is a Chippawa village, of about sixty souls.

Iron river is west of the Ontanagan, fifteen miles. It is about eighty yards wide, and on its banks, the Indians say, iron and copper are found.

Presque Isle river is west of Iron river, twenty-four miles, thirty yards wide, full of rapids. On the east side of this river, are the Porcupine Mountains, which are shaped like the animal, from which they take their name, extending nine miles along the shore of the Lake, rising to the height of about eleven hundred feet, sloping toward the shore.

Montreal river empties into the Lake from the south, twentyfour miles west of Presque Isle, (sixty-three from Ontonagan) sixty yards wide, boatable only half a mile, then are two falls of water, which together, descend upwards of one hundred feet. Through this river, and over several portages, traders pass into Lake Flambeau.

Bad river, fifteen miles west from Montreal river, is seventy yards wide, boatable eight or nine miles. On this river, the Indians say, are silver and copper mines; but they conceal the spot where they are to be found.

Sandy Point is nine miles from Bad river.

Here was a settle

ment of the French, while they possessed this country. On this Point, the Indians say, is a silver mine, of which they have the ore, but refuse to tell where they obtained it.