Chapter V

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 --
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
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
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
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
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 --
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 --
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'
report -- Report of J. S. Dixon -- Products of States --
Climate -- Army Meteorological Reports. 255