, 1859-10-26

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by Marquette, the founder Of the mission at thai
! point. 1t may possess some interest, as exhib
iting the observations OF the intelligent mission,
aries who resided there ut that carly period. I.
| may be observed, that the supposed lunar
influence upon the lakes, would naturally be
more observable ia the straits, where, from the
narrowness Of the channel, any ebb or flow in
Lakes Huron aud Michigan, though ineonsidera.
bic in the broad expansc Of these Lakes, would
cause more marked change, both in the vol
umc Of water and the capacity ofthe current:
or TIE MISSION or 81. 1GSAcH At N,ssILIAAE1SAc,
3fissilimakinac is IN island fauous in these
regions, Of more than league ia diameter, and
elevated iu some places By such high cliffs as
to be seen more than twelve leagues off. II Is
situated just in the strait forming the communi-
cation between Lakes Huron aud Illinois Mich
igan). 1t is the key and, US it were, the gate
for all the tribes from the South, ns the Saul
{St- Mare) is for those Of the North, there being
in this section Of country only those tro pas.
sages by water, for great number Of nations
who hare to 60 by one or other Of these chm
nels in order to reach the French settlements.
This presents peculiarly favorable opportu-
nifty, both for instructtng thoss who pass here,
and also for obtaining easy access and convey
ance to their places Of abode.
This place IL the most noted ia these regions
for the abundance Of its fisheries; for, according
to tue Indian saying, "this ia the home of the
fishes" Elsewhere, although they exist in
large numbers, it is not properly their lone,
which is in tho neighborhood Of Nissilimakinsc,
1n fact. besides the fsh common to all tho
other tribes, as the herring, carp, pike, gold
fish, white-ish aud sturgeon. There arc fonnd
three varieties Of the trouf-one common; the
seeond Of larger size, three feet long aud one
f-M$ =. r1tx. {kAk ed
otherwise describe tit being 60 fat, that the
1ndians. who have particular relish for fats,
can scarcely eat it. Besides, the supply il such
that Il single Indian will take forty OF fifty of
them through the ice, with single spear, in
three hours.
1t is this attraction which has heretofore
drawn to point so advantageous, tue greater
part Of the sarages In this country driven
away By fear Of the lroquois. Tie three tribes
at present living on the Bayt Des PaaAs (Greea
Bay aS strangers, formerly dweit On the min
land uear the middle Of tins island-some Oh
Tue borders Of Lake Illinois, others on those OF
Luke Huron. part Of theln called 4Sauttu,s,
had their abode on the mainland at tue West,
and the others look upon this place us their
country for passing The winter, when there are
no fish at the Saul. The uurous called Etoa-
hontd{hroHnons hare lived for some years in
the same island to escape the lroquois. Four
siliages Of 0ntaoaacs (U.tawas) Ind also their
abode in this quarter.
1t is worthy Of notice, that those who bore
the na1ne Of the Island, and called themselves
Aissllimakinac, we're SO numerous, that some Of
the survivors yet living here assure us that they
once had thirty villages, ali enclosed in fortl-
tcation Of a League and half in circuit, when
the lro4uois came and defeated thcna, inflated
BY victory they had gained over 5000 men OF
thut nation, who had carried their hostilities as
fat US the country Of the dgnieAronu2ns.
In one word, the quahtity Of ish, united with
the excellence Of the soil tor Inbiun corn, has
always been powerful attraction to the tribes
tn tftesc regions, Of which the greater part sub
siss only on tish, but some On 1udiau corn.
on tels account many Of these. same tribes,
percelEing that pence is likely to be established
With tue 1roquois, hare turned their attention
to this point 30 convenient for return 10 their
own country. and will follow tho examples Of
those who hare made q beginning on tue lsuuds
Of Like Huron, Which by This means will soon
be Peopled from one end to the other, TN event
highly desirable to facilitate the instruction of
the Indian race, whom it would not be necessary
to seek by journeys Of two or three hundred |
leagues on these great lakcs, with inconceiFubIc
danger and hardships.
In order to MD the execution Of the design,
to Us by many Of the savages, Of taking
up their abode ut this point, where some hure
already passed the winter, hunting in the neigh
borhood, We ourselves hare also wintered here,
in order to make arrangements for establishing
1he mission Of st. Igndct, from whence 1t viii |
5e easy to hare access 10 all the Indians Of !
Luke huron, when the several tribes etlnll have
settled each on its own lauds.
With these advantages, the place hus also its
particularly for the French, who
arc not yet lanllHr, Us are tue sayages, with tue
different kinds Of fishery, in which the latter ]
are trained from their birth; the winds and
the tides occasion no small embarrassment to
tie fishermen.
Fasf-the winds: For this is The central point
between the three great lakes which surround |
it, aud which seem necessarily tossing ball at |
eaeh other For no sooner has the wind ceased |
blowing from Luke Michigan than Lake Huron
hurls back the gale it llas received, and Lake |
Superior in its turn sends forth Its blasts from
auother quarter, and thus the game is played |
from one to the o,her-and as these Lakes are
Of yast extent, the winds cannot be otherwise
than boisterous, especially during the autumn. ]
The second Inconvenience arises from the
tides, which hare properly speaking no regular |
lty: for whether they are caused Gy the winds
blowing from one point to the other, driving the
waters before them, and making them 10 low |
bya species Of food and ebb, or whether hey
arc genuine tides, aud that there is some other |
cause occasioniug the increase and dimuni,iou
ot the water. we hare observed sometimes 50
much inequality, and at others so much regular
ity, that We hive been unable to pronounce an
opinion upon movements ut once SO rcGulur and |
SO irregular. We hare distinctly observed that
ut tile full and the new moon, the tides change
aace each natural day-so.day high, Tomorrow |
low. during eight or ten days; aud that the rest
81 the time scarcely any change is perceptible,
the waters preserving IN equilibrium--neither |
high nor low, unless the winds again change.
Three facts ure somewhat noticeable as re-
CARDS these species Of tides. The. first il, that
the current at this point sets almost always from
one point, riz. towards Lake Michigan, and yet |
causing no increase OF diminution from the ord |
1nary state Of the water. The second is TINT tue
currents flow almost uniformly against the wind,
and sometimes with rs much rap1ditr rs the tide |
before Quebec; and VIC hare *een the ice moy-
ing against the wind as East rs ships under sail.
Tie tAird is, shat among these currents, VIC |
great quantity Of water bubbliug up from the |
bottom Of the Lake, aud producing continual !
in the strait which communicates he.
tween Lakes Huron and Michigan. We think lit |
discharge from Lake Superior, passing subterrA- |
neously into these two lakes. Dut be that as
I: What becomes Of the waters OF Lake Supe-
rior. aud, :. Whence a1e icrised those Of LIKES
Huron aud Michigan. For to Lake Superior |
here is but single visible outlet, which is at |
lhe river Of the Sault; aud yet it is certain that
t receives into its bosom more than forly |
streams, Of which there are ut least dozen |
arEer ard more cepious than that Of the Sault. |
shere then do ali these waters find IN outlet, #
not bT percoiation through the eartht Besides,
il is veil known that very few rivers discharge |
mo Lakes Huron and Michigan, which are, ner-
.ttheless, Of prodigieus extent. aud receive,
probably the &. cater part Of their wAttrs from
supplies, such as that OF which VIC |
speak.
Dut whatever be assumed rs the cause Of
heso currents. the fishermen cannot but expo |
lience sensibly their effects, in breaking their
nets. as they lie on the rocks on the bottom, |