Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-06-23
ORIGINAL.
THE RIVAL CHIEFS.

When the adventurous and enterprising
French nation first extended their commerce
along the Great lakes of North America, they
found seated upon the fertile banks of the
Mackina, Detroit and Maumee Rivers, scion
of the great Algonquin tribe of Indians, known
as the Ot:awas. This tribe had early emf
grated from the country eastward, along the
st. Lawrence River and lake Champain,
which was the seat of the Algonquin power,
in company with two of their affiliated tribes;
the Chippewas and Potawatomies. The Otta-
was being addicted to agriculture, had settled
themselves upon the rich lands of the rivers
and were quietly pursuing their favorite en-
ployment, while the others, more erratic in
their habits, and gaining their subsistence by
the chase, travelled westward to the country
south of lake Superior and at the head of lake
Michigan. Judging from the extent of the
fields once cultivated by the Ottawas along
the margin of the Maumee River, from. its
mouth to Fort Wayne, and from the ves-
tges Of once populous villages in many
places-the blackened ashes of the lodg-
es, and the burying places, now only re-
naming, this tribe must have been once very
numerous and powerful, and along stride
ahead of the others in their approaches to civ
llization. But they are gone. The once pow
erful nation has dwindled to an insignificant
remnant or about two hundred and fifty. Civ
ilization, contain mating all that it does not en-
brace, has entailed only its vices and diseases
upon the poor Indian, and under the influence
of these, the child of the forest has melted
away before the burning glance Of the pale
face.
It is to put upon record an incident illustra-
tive of the manners and customs ofthese "gen-
temen of the Forest" as this tribe has been
called, that the following simple narrative has
been written, (which may be relied upon as strict
ly true in all its particulars.
The traveller upon the Northern bank of the
Maumee River of lake Erie, few miles
above the pleasant little village of Waterville,
may have passed that way an hundred times
without noticing faint, and now almost obli-
terated path that branches from the high road
in one of the most slightly spots, overlooking
long reach of that sunny and beautiful River.
This path is an Indian trail, winding away,
among the thick bushes that have overgrown
what was once an extensive Indian cornfield,
and after crossing brawling little brook, al
most hidden by luxuriant thickets ofwhite will
low, leading down the bluff to one of the most
beautiful and sequestered spots that can be
conceived. This little nook, surrounded as iii is,
on all sides by the bluffs of the river, might be
sought for long time and not found, but for
the tell tale path that leads to 1t; and SO COM
pletely is it shut out from the world, that a
feeling of that delight that follows new dis
coyery comes over the visitor as he first finds
his way to its recesses. Here, many years
ago, was the residence Of Tondogona, a re-
nowned Indian Chief and his tribe, and their
successorsl long lived here, after his decease,
holding this as their last and most cherished
residence, and leaving 1t not, till the sweeping
edict of the Government drove them to the
wilds beyond the Mississippi. Here are the
green mounds that cover the graves of whole
generations. The ancient apple-trees grown
to monstreus size nterlock their crooked and
dshevelled branches over them, and the noisy
riverhymns solemn requiem to their depar-
ted names. The blackened ruins ofthe lodges
are to be seen, but the green-sward is untrcd-
den, the enclos ures are broken down, the fruit
falls neglected from the trees, and the voice
of life and the merry peal oflaughterl is no lon
ger heard amid the desolate hearths of the de-
serted Indian Village. Mournful indeed are
the thoughts that arise in the soul of the visit
or, as he walks among the ruins Of what was
once the favored spot Of the lords Of the soil.