Chapter I: Preface

In the preparation of this volume a large number of works have been consulted, among which the author desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to the following: "The Travels of Baron La Hontan," published in English and French, 1705; "Relations des Jesuits," in three vols., octavo; "Marquette's Journal;" Schoolcraft's works, in three volumes; "Shea's Catholic Missions and Discovery of the Mississippi" "American Annals;" "Lanman's History of Michigan;" "Parkman's Siege of Pontiac;" "Annals of the West;" "Foster and Whitney's Geological Report;" "Ferris' Great West;" "Disturnell's Trip to the Lakes;" "Lanman's Summer in the Wilderness;" "Pietzell's Lights and Shades of Missionary Life;" "Life of Rev. John Clark;" "Lectures before the Historical Society of Michigan;" "Mansfield's Mackinaw City;" "Andrews' Report of Lake Trade;" "Heriot's Canada;" "Presbyterian Missions," &c., &c. He desires particularly to mention the works of Schoolcraft, which have thrown more light on Indian history than the productions of any other author. He also desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Wm. M. Johnson, Esq., of Mackinac Island, for his valuable contributions to the history of that interesting locality. The statistics in relation to that portion of the country embraced in the work are taken from the most recent sources, and are believed to be perfectly reliable.

We are indebted to J. W. Bradley, of Philadelphia, the publisher of "The North American Indians," for the beautiful frontispiece in this work. Mr. Catlin, the author, visited every noted tribe, and, by residing among them, was initiated into many of their secret and hidden mysteries. It is a valuable work.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Page

Mackinaw and its surroundings -- Indian legends -- Hiawatha
-- Ottawas and Ojibwas -- Pau-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. 9

CHAPTER II.

Indian spiritualists -- Medicine men -- Legends -- The
spirit-world -- Difference between Indian and modern
spiritualists -- Chusco the spiritualist -- Schoolcraft's
testimony of -- Mode of communicating with spirits -- Belief
in Satanic agency -- Interesting account of clairvoyance. 19

CHAPTER III.

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
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