The new era., 1860-04-12
"Reminiscences of Missionary
Life in the Northwest.
No. 9.
BY REV. SHERMAN HALL.

BY REV. SHERMAN HALL.
We were detained at Detroit about a
week, waiting for passage to Macki-
nav. At that time the commerce Of the
three upper great Lakes was very small
compared with what it became in few
years afterwards Immigration had
then scarcely reached beyond the ST.
Clair in that direction. A few places,
long since settled by fur traders, and
still maintained principally by the fur
trade, together with some three or four
military posts, and here and there a
Canadian Frenchman with his log hut
and Indian family, were about all the
traces of civilization then to be found
along the vast extent of coast bordering
these great inland seas. The India, )
then owned nearly the whole territory,
and occupied it as their hunting ground.
There were very few vessels propell-
ed by steam on the lakes then. Two or
three opportunities in season were all
that these afforded for reaching a point
as high as the foot of Lake Superior or
Gaeen Bay. Few were their trips be-
yond Detroit The tide of immigration
westward did not, at this period, reach
much beyond Michigan and Indiana =
Sail vessels were the principal crafts by
which a traveller could reach Mackinaw
We had no alternative, and availed
ourselves of this slow and disagreeabIe
way of travelling. The vessel on which
we took passage, the first that offered
was a small schooner of some seventy
tons burden. with a small, low, close
cabin, affording no very inviting accom-
modations, especially for females The
vessel was bound to an island in the
upper part of Lake Huron, with materi-
ais and men to build lighthouse; and
from thence to Mackinaw. The deck
was covered over with lumber, which was
piled as high as it could be and leave
room for working the sails. The cabin
passengers consisted Of the Captain,
mate, our company, and the lighthouse
builders, enough to fill about all the
room The cabin was divided by "a
screen, cutting off two berths at the ex
treme stern end of the vessel, which
were allotted to Mrs. II. and myself
At length, all things being on board and
a fair, light breeze sp"inging up, we
were sent for to embark Here was
new to us. In all our previ-
Gus voyages oflile, we had never found
ourselves so completely at the mercy of
the winds and waves, nor confined in so
close quarters. The weather was very
warm, the wind either did not blow at
all, or blew in the opposite direction
from the one we wished to move in. We
were therefore obliged TO lie at anchor
a much longer part Of the time than we
sailed Sometimes little breeze would
spring up; but before we could get up
the anchor and spread our canvass, it
would be gone, and we find ourselves
drifting down with the current. One
night, after having moved a few miles
during the day, partly by carrying a
small anchor ahead in boat and throw
ing it overheard, and by cable attach
ed to it, drawing the vessel up the
stream. VIC were becalmed near where
the river entered st. Clair Lake. 1t
was an exceedingly hot and sultry night
Scarcely had the sun set, when we were
visited by innumerable swarms of mos
uuitoes. This was our first introduc-
ton to these little troublesome and vex-
atious animals, and | can assure my
readers that the very enthusiastic de-
monstrations of JOY they manifested in
welcoming US to their country, and the
cordial embraces 81 our hands and feet,
which they did not cease TO bestow dur
ing the whole night, inspired us witt
most profound respect for their dignity
and their warmth of sympathy towards
all who are called to endure the priva
tions of frontier life. An almost thirt.
years more intimate acquaintance wit
them since, a familiarity in the hous
and in the woods, has never left sue
lasting Impressions upon me. Thei