Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-05-10

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the church bell, and Charley's clear voice
from afar, the waters were so still. The
Indians lighted fire before their lodge,
and we saw their shining red forms as
they bent over the blaze. We watched
DR.. F. and Charley mounting the garrison;
we saw them descend again with the COM
mandirg officer, and go to the house Of
the Indian agent. Then we traced them
along the shore, and into the Indian lodge;
then TO the church; then the parting with
the commandant on the shore, and lastly,
the passage vi tue DARK boat 10 our ships
side. They brought news that the COM
mandant and his family would be on the
watch for us before five in the morning,
and be our guides 10 as much Of the is
land as the captain would allow US time t.
see.
Some pretty purchases Of Indian manu-
features were brought on board this eve
ming; light mating of various colors, and
small basket &C birch bark, embroidered
with porcup:ne quilts, and filled with ma
pie sugar.
The next morning all was bright. AT 5
o'clock we descended the ships side, and
from the boat could see the commandant
and his dog Fastening down from the gar
rison TO the landing place. We returned
with him up the hill, through the barrack
yard; and we're joined by three members
Of his family on the velvet green slope be-
hind the garrison. No words can give an
idea Of the charms Of this morning walk.
We wound about in a vast shrubbery, with
wild strawberries under foot, wild flowers
all around, and scattered knobs and open
ing vistas tempting curiosity in every d.
rec,ion. "Now run up," said the COM
mandant, as we arrived at the foot Of one
Of these knobs. did so, and was almost
struck backwards by what saw. Below
me was the natural bridge Of Mackinaw, Of
which have heard frequent mention. 1t
is limestone arch, about $50 feet high in
the centre, with a span Of so feet; one pill
lar, resting on the rocky projection in the
lake, the other on the hill We viewed it
from above, so that the horizon line Of the
lake fell behind the bridge, and the blue
expanse Of waters filled the entire arch.-
Birch and Ash grew around the bases Of
the pillars, and shrubbcrry tufted the
sides, and dangled from the bridge. The
soft, rich hues in which the whole was
dressed seemed borrowed from the autumn
sky.
But even this scene was nothing to one
we saw from the fort, on the crown ofthe
island-old Fort Holmes, called Fort
George when in the possession Of the Bril-
fish. | can compare it to nothing but to
what Noah might have seen, the first
bright morning after the deluge. Such a
cluster Of little paradises rising out Of such
congregation Of waters, | can hardly
fancy to have seen elsewhere. The capa-
city Of the human eye seems here sudden
ly enlarged, as if it could see to the verge
Of the watery creation. Blue, level wa
;ers appear to expand for thousands Of
miles in every direction, wholly unlike any
aspect Of the sea. Cloud shadows, and
specks Of white vessels at rare intervals,
alone diversity it. Bowery islands rise
out Of it; bowery promontorics stretch
down into it; while at ones feet lies the
melting beauty which one almost fears will
vanish in its so(tness before ones eyes
the beauty Of the shadowy dells and sun
ny mounds, with browning cattle, and
springing frui, and flowers. Thus, and no
otherwise, would fain think did the world
emerge from the flood. was never be-
fore so unwilling to have objects named.
The essential unity Of the scene seemed to
be marred by any distinction Of IFS parts.
But this feeling, to me new, did not alter
the state of the case; that it was Lake HUI
ron that we saw stretching to the eastward;
Lake Michigan opening to the west; the
island Of Bots Blanc, green to the brink, in
front; and Round Island and others inter-
spersed. | stood now at the confluence Of
those great northern lakes, the very names
Of which awed my childhood-caling up,
as they did, images Of the fearful red man
Of the deep pine forest, and the music Of
the moaning winds, imprisoned beneath the
ice Of winter How different from the
scene, as actually beheld, dressed in YER
dure, flowers, and the sunshine Of sum-
mer's morning!
1t twas breakfast time when we descend
ed to the barracks, and we despatched
messenger to the captain to know whether
we might breakfast with the commandant.
We sat in the piazza, and overlooked the
village, the harbor, the straits, and the
white beach, where there were now four
Indian lodges. The island is so healthy,
that according TO the commandant, people
who want to die must 90 somewhere else.
| saw only three tomb-stones in the ceme-
terry. The commandant has lost but one
man since he has been stationed at Macki
nav; and that was by drowning. | asked
about the climate; the answer was, ave
have nine months winter, and three months
cold weather."
1t would have been a pity to have missed
the breakfast at the garrison, which af-
forded strong contrast with any we had
seen for a week. We concealed, as we'll
as we could, our glee at the appearance Of
the rich cream, the new bread and butter,