Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-05-10
A DESCRIPTION or NEBRASKA


Mr.. Walker, the chief of the Wyandot tribe
of Indians which removed from Ohio and is To-
Gated in the Indian Territory at the junction o.
the Missouri and Kansas rivers, writes to the
Cleveland Herald, giving very excellent de-
scription of the Nebraska territory, from whiet
we take the following as being instructive &c
those who are about to remove thither for the
purpose of settling ~ bet. ADV.
AS yet the Kansas river has not been naviga
ted by steam craft, except ina few instances by
special contract when there was any :onsidera
BILE amount Of freights to go up to the Indian
trading posts, and this done in flush time Of
water. .a, d.
The river can be navigated by light draughi
boats from the opening of navigation Feb) til
August; during the autumnal months the water
would be too low. There has heretofore been
no business to employ boats on the stream
One boat, learn, is now in preparation for run.
ming and making occasional trips to Fort Riley
near the junction of the Republican with the
Kansas. With regard to the physical character
of the country in the neighborhood of Fort Ri.
lev, and on the Republican, am not able to
speak from personal observation; but from in
formation derived from my neighbors who have
visited that country, it must be one of the finest
agricultural and stock raising districts in the ter
ritory, being rich, open, champaign country, and
richly watered. The neighborhood of Fort
Leavenworth and Wyandott, like the rest of the
"Far West" subjects the settlers to training
and seasoning to those Bilious Intermittents, so
well known in the West, but still regard the
country as healthy so far as other complaints are
concerned. .aa t0.a HEt
With regard to the chances Of purchasing land
from the Indians, nothing of the kind can be
done; because since the foundation Of our gov
ernment, it has kept the reversionary right-the
exclusive right Of purchasing or extinguishing
all Indian titles No lands can, as yet, be pur-
chased in this territory by individuals.
have no doubt but as soon as these terrific
res are organized, the initiatory steps will be
taken immediately -that of holding treaties for
the purchase of a whole or part of the Indian
domain. This done, they will, without unnec.
essary delay, be surveyed and brought into mar
ket. Then and not till then, can any land be
purchased.
We have bees in great abundance. Scarcely
family, either red or white, but what have the
hum Of the little busy bee." The great varie-
ty and abundance of Floral productions renders
it favorable to their products and multiplication.
Game is scarce. Such as are fond of the excite
ment of the chase, snatch occasional periods of
enjoyment in wolf or fox chase in the winter.
Others, who prefer the sterner and more danger
Gus excitement, 90 out TO the Buffalo range dis
tant about $50 miles. The common squirrel is
here, but it is singular fact that they are all
gray. A black squirrel would be rara apis in
this country. have heard of one, and only one,
and he must have been on his way to California.
OF the common gray rabbit, it may be truly said,
their name is Legion. We have the large gray
WOLF and the small prairie wolf. Rats that bur-
row in the woods, no end to them. Opossums,
Wild Cats, Pole Cats, Minks, but no Porcu-
pines.
With regard to the Piscatory tribes, there is
truly but little to boast Of in our waters The
Catfish is the reignng monarch in the Missouri
and its tributaries. These are generally of an
enormous size--weighiEg often $50 lbs. The
old, or large Cats, are not very good eating, but
the young are better, or passable on q scarce Ia
ble ..If
There is the Buffalo fish, but they are not con-
sidered any great affair with the lovers of the
inny tribe; another also, called, from his pecul-
ar, shape, the spoon fish, but have never been
so fortunate as to see one; they are said to be
Inc eating. There is also small fish, answer
ng to the Lake Perch, or Pierch These are all
hat are worthy of note found in these waters.
As to the feathered tribes, they are the same as
n Ohio and Michigan, except the Pelican and
paroquet. The former is as large rs the Lake
Swan, The Paroquet answers precisely, in COL |
,r shape, and size to the Parrot, except in the
Gift of gab," though noisy enough in all con-
cience. They herd in large focks, like Black
Birds.