These, here disporting, own the kindred soil, To winnow fragrance round the smiling land." This vast tract of woodland is inhabited by a scattered population of Indians, who, from the best accounts, do not collectively number over four thousand souls; and the lands are every year becoming of less value to them, from the gradual failure of game, and the very rapid diminution of the small furred animals, so necessary to their support as hunters. At the same time, the mass of white population, about Detroit and River Raisin, having received a new impulse, has gradually extended itself westward, and with the incipient tide of emigration, created a demand for the vacant Indian lands. To meet this demand, portions of the extensive tract we have described, had been purchased from the aborigines by the respective treaties, concluded at Spring Wells, at St. Mary's, and at Saginaw. The government now proposed to extinguish the Indian title to that portion of country, included between the northern boundary line of the state of Indiana, and Grand River of Michigan, embracing in longitude, all that part of the peninsula within these boundaries, which still remained unpurchased. To effect this object, His Excellency Governor Cass, and Solomon Sibley, Esq. were commissioned by the President, to meet the Indians in council at Chicago, in the summer of 1821; the result of whose efforts is hereafter to be detailed. Having been appointed to fill the office of secretary for this commission, I deem it sufficient here to remark, that the following sketches have been made under rather favourable circumstances, during the preliminary tour which it became necessary to perform in order to reach the place of treaty; and while the large concourse of Indians, who were drawn together on this occasion, remained encamped in that vicinity. The usual route, in proceeding to Chicago, is either to follow an Indian trail which leads out from the sources of the river Raisin, and is computed to be a little short of three hundred miles, or, by taking ship and performing the voyage through the lakes, by the way of Mackinac, which somewhat more than doubles the distance. But as government business required the presence of one of the commissioners on the Wabash, it was proposed to reach that place by means of the water communication, connecting that river with the Maumee, and afterward, to extend the route into the Ohio and the Mississippi, and reach Chicago by following up the Illinois to its source. It was thought this route would present a pleasing variety of western scenery, much of which is connected with the most interesting events of the Indian wars; and other parts promised a field for useful observation that would fully compensate for the increased time, and personal inconveniences of so circuitous a route. Much of the country proposed to be visited, was but partially known; and a chasm appeared in its general geography and natural history, which it was hoped could, in some degree, be filled up. Although there are several points where the waters of the Great Lakes have a practicable communication with the Mississippi, perhaps there is none of so much importance as the route through the Maumee and the Wabash. But though early known and appreciated by the French, neither the Missionary Fathers, who are at once the geographers and historians of that period, nor any modern traveller, has selected this route as the theatre of his remarks. Under this view of the subject, and with the double purpose of business and observation, this route was determined upon. We cannot promise, however, that the following discursive remarks will adequately supply the deficiencies which have been alluded to; or that they will embrace so wide an extent of lateral country, as could be wished. They were necessarily confined, more or less, to the scenes which passed immediately before our eyes; and this mode was conceived to be less objectionable, because it admits of a degree of confidence, which can never be felt, where personal observation is not relied on. But although, like all other travellers and tourists since the days of Megasthenes and Marco Polo, we shall expect the reader only to see with our eyes, and to hear with our ears; yet it is proper to apprize him at the outset, that he is not to anticipate all that falls within the scope of our vision, or within the limits of our auditory cycle. To the traveller, who sets out to mingle the domestic history of his journey with the graver matter appertaining to it, there is a "golden mean" which we feel little confidence in being able to preserve. There is always much that is improper to be told, and much that may be told improperly; and it would perhaps be as easy to determine "What thin partitions sense from thought divide," as to ascertain the delicate and perpetually varying limits, which any standard of literary propriety dictates. This work does not aspire to the graver character of elementary compositions, either in geography or statistics, in natural science, or in moral research, while its details will occasionally partake of each. A narrative of daily events, will be interspersed with historical, deseriptive, and practical observations, with accounts of what the country has been, and speculations respecting what it will be, and with such "appliances to boot" as the time or the subject may suggest. With these we shall blend notices of the physical resources of the country; more especially in reference to the sciences of mineralogy, and geology, and such passing remarks on the still imperfectly described manners and customs of the Indian tribes, as we can feel a confidence in presenting. To be faithful in what we advance, will be to compass our highest aim. Thoughts committed to paper in the hurry of voyaging, often by the light of a camp-fire at night, and literally revised "in the depths of the wil derness," will not be expected to bring to the classical scholar, either the charms of diction, or the exactness of literary ease. With these remarks the reader will be enabled to follow us in the description of the voyage more understandingly; and we shall only entreat that he will not take it ill, if the narration becomes tedious, when the journey is so. Having now briefly noticed the motives of the journey, the objects proposed to be accomplished, and the route to be pursued, we shall conclude these preliminary remarks with a short account of our MODE OF TRAVELLING Or rather, as a slight consideration of the nature of our route, will lead the reader to anticipate, of our travelling canoe. In its dimensions a choice was made between the long and pointed northwest canoe, employed in the fur trade, and the light ovate canoe of the lakes, combining in a good degree, the strength, the buoyancy, and the ve locity, which are the peculiar characteristics of each. And our bark afforded perhaps an equitable standard of comparison of the safety and convenience of this expeditious, and, as we think, pretty mode of voyaging. It was furnished with a small mast and square sail, and an awning of painted cloth, with side curtains to intercept the rain, and mitigate the heat and contained seats for six men to paddle, and another for a servant and cook, in addition to the space for the steersman, who performs his duties standing. Our own seats were made by opening a travelling bed upon a light portable floor placed between the centre thwarts of the canoe, and so arranged as to serve the |