Travels in the Central Portions of the Mississippi Valley, comprising observations on its mineral geography, internal resources and aboriginal population. Performed ... in 1821

Front matter

■\> V TRAVELS IN THE CENTRAL, PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY COMPRISING OBSERVATIONS ON ITS MINERAL GEOGRAPHY, INTERNAL RESOURCES, AND ABORIGINAL POPULATION. [Performed under the Sanction of Government, in the Year 1821.] BY HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT., U.S.I.A. HON. MEMB. OF THE AMERICslN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETT ; MEMB. OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETT ; HON. MEMB. OF THE NEW- YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETT ; CORRESP. MEMB. OF THE NEW-TORK LTCEUM OF NAT. HISTORT ; CORRES- PONDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT FHILAD., &C. NEW-YORK : PUBLISHED BV COLLINS AND HANNAY. 230 PEARL-STREET. sT, & J. Harper, Printers. 1825. Southern District of New- York, ss. Seal. T> E IT REMEMBERED, That on the seventh day of April, A.D. Jj 1825, in the forty-ninth year ofthe Independence ofthe United States of America, Henry R. Schoolcraft, ofthe said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words foUowing, to wit — " Travels in the Central Portions of the Mississippi VsJley ; comprising observations on its Mineral Geography, Internal Resources, and Aboriginal Population.

(Performed under the Sanction of Government, in the Year 1821.) By Henry R Schoolcraft, U.S.I.A. Hon. Memb. of the .American Geological Society • Memb. of the .American Antiquarian Society ; Hon. Memb. of the New-York Historical Society ; Corresp. Memb. of the New- York Lyceum of Natural History ; Correspondent ofthe Academy of Natural Sciences at Philad., &c." In conformity to the Act of the Cor "***ss of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned.7' .And also to an Act, entitled " An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled .An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by seeming the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

JAMES DILL, Clerk ofthe Southern District ctf New-York. TO HIS EXCELLENCY LEWIS CASS, GOVERNOR OF THE TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN. SIR, Within the last twenty-five years, the immense fertile region lying west of the Allegha nies, has assumed a totally new aspect. In the moral and physical changes which have produced this result ; in the migrations of its inhabitants ; the improvements of its soil ; and the establishment of its political and hterary institutions, few persons have alternately been placed in the attitude of so zealous an actor, so dispassionate a spectator, or so enlightened a ruler, as yourself. In the progress of this extraordinary change, much is due to the kind protection and fostering aid of government, in promoting the settlement, exploring the limits, and eliciting the latent resources of this portion of America.

Chapter I

Departure. Scenery along the Detroit River. Encounter a Gale on Lake Krie. Enter Maumee Bay. Notices, of Natural History. Native Lead. Tide in tbe Lakes. Maumee River. Fort Maumee. Anecdote of its Reconnoisance by General Wayne. Fort Meigs. Facts respecting its Siege. Maumee Village. Dudley's Defeat. Mineralogy. Historical Observations on the Indian Wars. Gen. Harmer's Campaign and Defeat.

Chapter II

Farther Account of the Indian Wars. Expeditions of Generals Scott and Wilkinson. St. Clair's Campaign and Defeat. General Wayne is appointed to succeed him. His Campaigns and Victory. Anecdote of the Chief Little Turtle. Treaty of Greenville. Secret History. Sketch of Presque Isle. Notices of Mineralogy. Settlements : Climate : Timber. Roche de Bout. Trait of Hospitality in the Indians. A Night in the Woods. River Scenery. Characteristic Anecdote.

Chapter III

Fort Defiance. Fort Winchester. Events of the late War. Notices of Scenery and Natural History. Anecdote relating to the Building of Fort Defiance. Ride to Fort Wayne. Wild Turkey. Honey Dew. Notice of Fort Wayne. Visit an Indian School. Captain Riley. Wiltshire. Junction of the St. Joseph's and St Mary's. Conchologv. Silk Worm. A Sketch of the Geoloey of Maumee Valley. CONTENTS. 2

Chapter IV

Proceed across the Portage between the Maumee and Wabash. Difficulties catised by the low State of Water. Pass a Night in an Indian Wigwam. An Indian Breakfast. Dumb Boy. Proceed on Horseback to the Forks of the Wabash. Notices of the Soil and Productions. Indian Village. S--noptical View of the present State of the Indians living within the United States. Cannibalism.

Chapter V

Leave the Forks of the Wabash. Notices of Natural History and Scenery Mississinniwa Village, — its Capture during the late war. Indian Mills. Fire Hunting. A nocturnal Visit from a Party of Pottowattomies. Village of Winnemac. Geology: Conglomerate. Calcareous Tufa. Assault and Robbery of the Canoe, containing Indian Goods.

Chapter VI

Reach the Mouth of Tippecano River. Facts respecting the Battle of Tippecano. A Biographical Sketch of the Life of Tecumseh. Notices of Natural History. Reach Settlements on the Wabash. Village of Clinton.

Chapter VII

Proceed down the Wabash. Fort Harrison. Terre Haute. Notices of Natural History. Reach Merom. Trait of National Character. Pass the Boundary between Indiana and Illinois. Reach Vincennes. Anecdote. Conchology. Pass White River. Notices of Mineralogy. Incrusted Shells. Scarlet Insect. Pass the Bonpas. Birkbeck's Settlement. Harmony.

Chapter XIV

Return to St. Louis. Objects of Curiosity. Mounds. Enigmatical Prints. Gov. Clarke's Museum. Depart for Chicago. Pass the Mouth of the Missouri. Portage Des Sioux. Enter the Illinois River. Mauvais Terre. Pass the Sangamo. Putrifying Vegetation. Enter Peoria Lake. Fort Clarke. Observations on the Comparative advantages of Settlement in Illinois. CONTENTS. 4

Chapter XV

Peoria Lake. Indian Village. Traits of the Pottowattomies,— Stature, — Beards. Reach the Vermillion. Rapids of the Illinois. Rock Fort. Indian Fortifications. Fox River. Scenery. El Dorado. Petrified Tree. Face of the Country on the Des Plaines. Mount Joliet. Cross the Ford of the Des Plaines. Remarks on the contemplated Canal. Chicago.

Chapter XVI

Proceedings of a Treaty with the Indians. Proposition submitted by the United States Commissioners. Reply of the Pottowattomies. Answer by the Commissioners. Council breaks up, and meets again on the 22d of August. Speeches of Topinabee and Metea, in which they allege the Non-performance of a former Treaty. Reply of Gov. Cass. The Ottowas give their Assent. Historical Speech of Keewaygooshkum.

Chapter XVII

Farther Account of the Proceedings. The Chippewas also yield their Assent. The Effect of these Steps upon the Pottowattomies. Evening Council on the 22d. Council held on the 23d. Speech of Metea. Conclusion of the Treaty, — Its Terms and Provisions.

Chapter XVIII

Observations interspersed with Anecdotes, illustrative of Indian Manners and Character.

Chapter XIX

Some Observations and Translations, attesting the Existence of Imaginative Tales, and Oral Poetry among the Chippewas.

INTRODUCTION.

Very little was known, until within the last few years, of the finely diversified country which forms the peninsula of Michigan ; and we believe the remark may be freely made, that, even at the present time, the knowledge of this valuable portion of country, is nearly confined to the enterprising individuals who have made a personal examination of it. It is only, in fact, since the conclusion of the late war, that public attention has been fully awakened to this hitherto neglected section of the national domain, and that emigrants have been led to enter tain a just appreciation of its fine soil and equable climate. The tract under consideration, embraces upwards of four degrees of latitude, extending north of about 41 ° 30', and equal in surface to, perhaps, three-lburths of England. If the shape of this peninsula be compared to a garment, the comparison improves by observing, that during the whole period of its colonial subjection to the French and British governments, the hem only was known. With U

INTRODUCTION.

. 6 the single exception of the ancient settlement of Detroit, very little more was known of the agricultural capacities of this territory, at the commencement of the war in 1 812, than at the commencement of the seventeenth century. And it is among the anomalies of its history, that a country deemed so inaccessible from swamps in 1818, as to be unfit to be given in bounty lands to the soldiers of the late army, should, within six years thereafter, be found to possess qualities of so different a nature, as to attract crowds of emigrants from the fertile banks ofthe Genesee, and to divert, in a measure, the current of migration from the AVabash and the Illinois. Time, better means of comparison, and the spirit of exploration, which characterizes the present era, without showing the advantages of other parts of the western country to be less than has been claimed for them, have, at the same time, shown the advantages of Michigan Territory, to be in many respects equal : — while its vicinity to the parent settlements, and the ease and cheapness of access, together with the quality of the land, and the permanent benefits anticipated from the completion of the Erie canal, give it, in the minds of many, a superiority.

It is now very well understood, that the interior por tions of this territory, are in most places equally fertile with its borders, and that there are no obstacles incompatible with its speedy settlement. Like those parts of it, where agriculture has long been successfully practised, a great portion of the surface is covered vvith an ample forest of hard wood, every where well watered by living 1.V1K0DUCT01N. 7 streams, and susceptible of being improved by the labour? of husbandry, and adorned with flourishing towns. The greater part of the newly explored lands, consists of an argillaceous soil, mellowed with sand and pebblestones, and clothed with an open growth of oaks and hickories, forming the much esteemed open oaklands ; so favourable to all the staple products of temperate northern latitudes.

These oaklands frequently present themselves to the eye in sloping ridges, with apparently measured interstices between the trees, and together with the larger dry prairies, are principally covered with a species of native grass, of a nutritious quality, which grows to the height of sive or six feet, and is judged to be nearly equal to timothy for cattle. The intervening valleys, enriched with the alluvial wash of the hills, con stitute the first-rate corn-lands, and are finely timbered with maple, beech, black-walnut, bois blanc,* and ash. The proportion of comparatively arid pine land, is quite limited ; and the whole surface of the country, as repre sented by those who have explored it, is agreeably diversified with small limpid lakes, grassy prairies, and pebbly-bottomed brooks, f ■' Whatever blooms in (western vales) appear, Whose bright succession decks the varied year ; Whatever sweets salute the northern sky, With vernal lives, that blossom but to die — * Liriodendron. t Journal of the Shiawassa Exploring Company.

INTRODUCTION.

. These, here disporting, own the kindred soil, Nor ask luxuriance from the planter's toil ; While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand, 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 di minution ofthe 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 re ceived 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 abo rigines 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 unpur chased. To effect this object, His Excellency Governor Cass, and Solomon Sibley, Esq. were commissioned by the Pre sident, to meet the Indians in council at Chicago, in the summer of 1821 ; the result of whose efforts is hereafter

INTRODUCTION.

. 9 to be detailed. Having been appointed to sill 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 Macki nae, 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

INTRODUCTION.

. degree, be tilled up. Although there are several points where the waters ofthe 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 dis cursive 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, be cause 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 audi tory 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

INTRODUCTION.

. leel 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 statis tics, 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, de scriptive, 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

INTRODUCTION.

. 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 ofthe 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 J 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 velocity, 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 addi tion 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

INTRODUCTION.

. 13 double purpose of sitting and reclining : — or rather, so as frequently to keep the body in a state of involuntary ac cubation. Our whole amount of personal baggage, beside a camp-bed and a case of books and magazines, might have been compressed within the compass of a moderately capacious travelling trunk ; and our outfit of provisions, and the luggage of the canoemen, were ordered with the same economical view to the capacity of our bark, and the acceleration of its movements. A linen marque, a few instruments necessary for making observations upon such branches of science, as we purposed noticing, the tools and utensils necessary for cooking and encampment, and the requisite gum and wattap for repairs to the canoe, completed the outfit. An oil cloth, which could be spread in a few moments over all, secured the packages against sudden showers, or the effects of waves breaking in.

A small ensign was affixed to the stern, giving a national character to the equipment ; which it can scarcely be deemed im proper to add, was liberal without being cumbersome, and united the advantages of speed and economy, with out wholly sacrificing comfort. " Let school-taught pride dissemble all it can, " These little things are great to little man." Goldsmith. TRAVELS, &c.

Chapter I

Departure. Scenery along the Detroit River. Encounter a gale on Lake Erie. Enter Maumee Bay. Notices of Natural History. — Native Lead. Tide in the Lakes. Maumee River. Fort Maumee — Anecdote of ils Reconnoisance by General Wayne. Fort Meigs, — Facts respecting its Siege. Maumee Village. Dudley's Defeat. Mineralogy. Historical Observations on the Indian Wars. Harmer's Campaign and Defeat. I embarked with His Excellency Governor Cass, at the city of Detroit, on the third of July. It was a few minutes past twelve o'clock, A. M. when we quitted the shore, directing our course toward Lake Erie. The day was one of the most sultry which is experienced in this latitude, and the reflection of the sun's rays from the parched and dusty shore, united to the exercise and bustle of a departure, produced a lassitude, from which we experienced the most grateful relief, the moment we passed out into the stream, and felt the increased motion of a gentle breeze.

The wind, though light at first, very soon freshened. and before the prominent spires of the distant city re ceded from our view, we hoisted sail, and soon found our selves to be carried with the current, at the rate of about seven miles per hour. The agreeable change from the close streets of a city, to the cool surface of the river, united to the chanting of our canoemen, and the rapidity of our motion, produced an exhilaration of spirits, which was agreeably heightened by the constantly changing aspect of an uncommonly fine settlement on either shore. Every person who has enjoyed a sight ofthe mild and impressive scenery along this stream, will preserve a lively recollection of the highly cultivated farms and large orchards ; the antique French villes with their red painted Catholic chapels ; and the modern seats of British and American emigrants, which are at once calculated to recall the antiquity, and the recent improve ments of these opulent settlements.

And there are few objects along the great chain of lakes, replete as then borders are with scenes of wild-wood freshness, and attractive coast scenery, which present so pleasurable a prospect to the eye, as the numerous verdant islands in the channel of this broad and majestic river ; which at every stroke of the paddle throws up those clear and sparkling drops, that constantly remind one of the pure and unadulterated fountains of the north, from which it draws its ample volume. We passed rapidly among these islands, with our thoughts employed awhile upon the deeply interesting events, to which the progress of the late war gave birth along the borders of this river ; or in discriminating those places which are noted for occurrences in the civil, or localities in the natural history of the country.

Sand wich, Spring-wells, Brownstown, Maiden, and Grosse Isle, with its pearly blue crystals of strontian, successively laded away in the distance ; and we almost imperceptibly entered Lake Erie, and felt our canoe mounting the larger swells ofthe lake. Our course lay along the southern shore, and our steersman pointed out as we passed, the most prominent points of land which jut out into the lake, with their local or proper names. Several ofthe bays and indenta tions, which intervene between these points, are the recipients of small rivers, which have their sources in the table lands, sixty or seventy miles south. The most considerable of these are the Huron and the Raisin ; the latter of which is famed as the scene of the defeat and massacre of a division of the American army, under Gen. Winchester in the winter of 1813.

We cannot persuade ourselves to describe those movements of the northwestern army, which led to this unfortunate catastrophe : nor to detail on the other hand the cruel and atrocious murders, which the officers of a Christian King permitted their savage allies to perpe trate upon wounded and defenceless prisoners. These sanguinary acts will long be remembered, both within and without the nation : " Oh ! where was the pride that a soldier should feel, To temper with mercy the wrath of bis steel, When Proctor, triumphant, denied to the brave Who had fallen in battle, the gist of a grave." Anov.* MONROE. The town of Monroe, which is the seat of justice lor a county of the same name in Michigan Territory, is seated upon this river. This town is stated to possess advantages for the lake trade, and to be environed by an extensive body of arable upland in a state of settlement, " Poems on subjects connected with the late war. — New- York, 1817 which must, at no distant date, render it a place of business second only to Detroit.

The course of emigration has induced Congress recently to establish an office for the sale ofthe public lands at this place. As we approached the entrance of Maumee Bay, we could plainly descry on our left, some of the scattered members of that cluster of islands, which marks the scene of Perry's memorable victory. The wind blowing moderately at setting out, increased hourly as we ad vanced, and exposed us to a heavy surge soon after en tering the lake : — Our slender mast bent under the still increasing pressure, and we were soon compelled to take in sa.il ; and twice or thrice at considerable intervals, the waves broke over our bark at the height of our heads, running in copious streams from our shoulders. To those to whom this mode Osf voyaging is novel, an oc currence of this kind on the open lake, must bring its alarms, and to persons whose experience has given them confidence in so slender a fabric, it cannot be numbered among those agremens which give pleasure.

It has been remarked by experienced navigators, that there is a leading wave in the lakes — followed by two or three others, which are perceptibly larger than the rest of the series ; and that this groupe, forming the edge or point of water, wrought up to its utmost force and fury, is to be observed constantly breaking and reforming, at somewhat regular intervals, during the prevalence of a storm. It is these leading surges only, that are to be dreaded by small craft : and it must excite surprise in any person who has not previously tried the experiment, to observe how admirably tbe light birch canoe is calcu lated to rise over these formidable waves. The gale being directly aft, we did not conceive our selves in imminent danger, and held our course under a reefed sail into the bay, and at eight o'clock in the evening landed at Port Lawrence.

The place so called, is situated at the point where Swan Creek discharges itself into Maumee Bay ; being a computed distance of sixty miles from Detroit. We were invited to pass the night at the house of Benjamin F. Stickney, Esq. NATIVE LEAD. Mr. Stickney showed us by candlelight, a specimen of ore procured upon the Au Glaize river in Ohio, which is a sulphuret of lead, containing malleable slips or points. He represents it to be part of a mass, which the original discoverer describes, as " a round stone of a lead colour, weighing thirteen pounds." It appeared to have been much abraded, and moved from its parent bed by the force of water. It was found upon the rocky bed of the river, at a rapid about one mile above Fort Defiance, where a formation of bituminous shale, with iron pyrites occurs.

Such is the account given. The mass which we examined would probably weigh about two ounces, and of this the native metal formed but a small portion. Its distinguishing characters, con sidered as a specimen of crystallized galena, are — a laminated structure, and a dull lead gray surface, with metallic lines, or maculæ, more or less splendent, and unequally malleable. Of the latter property, we satisfied ourselves by cutting : and there was no appearance to indicate, that this condition of the mineral had been caused by artificial heat. Every fact connected with the discovery of a new or unsettled species in mineralogy, is interesting and im portant, and deserves to be perpetuated in works of higher authority, than we have reason to anticipate for these desultory sketches. But in our zeal to promote the physical, as in the moral sciences, it appears to be equally the dictate of prudence, that we should be cautious in receiving that which has been long doubted, and in doubting that which has been long received.

It is remarked by Phillips* that — "lead has never heen found in its pure state ;" and more recently by Cleaveland,! that although — " several instances of the occurrence of .Native Lead have been mentioned, in but few of them does the fact appear to be well established." We can consider the above-mentioned instance interesting only, as the discovery of a mineral out of place, and in so far as it may serve hereafter to direct mineralogical research. But neither Mr. Stickney, as he declares, nor any other person, can direct us where similar masses of this semi-mineralized galena can certainly be found. MAUMEE BAY. This bay forms an elongated sheet of water, con tracting so gradually toward its head, that it requires a close attention to determine the precise point where the river is merged in the bay.

It admits the entrance of vessels of moderate burden.^ Its banks are flat and thickly wooded, and conspicuously bordered with aquatic plants. Among them the common bulrush, and the wild oat, or rice,§ may be noticed. The latter plant, to which the natives apply the soft name of monbmin,|| presents a beautiful aspect when in flower, but it does not attain that luxuriant growth, which we have observed near the sources of the Mississippi, and * Phillips's Mineralogy. t Cleaveland's Mineralooy. t We understand the Commissioner and Engineer, appointed by the State of Ohio to survey the Maumee Valley, with a view to canalling, have found n,ne feet of water, on the shallowest part ofthe entrance into this bay, and pronounce it the best harbour on the lake.— Stickney § Zizania Aquatica.-LiM. || Chippeway along the shores of Fox River, so abundant in this native grain.