The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-07-27

things suggested by Longfellow's Hia-
watha teemed through my mind, until
| finally aroused by yell from one of
the boys, which in my dream sounded
| like the war-whoop of a Comanche
brave; but reduced to English and wax
| ing condition, was simply "Golly! let's
get out; the mosquitoes will eat us up"
and they were large enough to do it.
We crossed here to the other side of
the stream and went ashore to see the
remains Of an old fort, built by the
Hudson Bay Co. nearly, or more than
! 100 years ago. Little remains to tell
the story or reveal its history. 1t was
built stockade fashion, common to ear
ly settlements, the logs being placed
side by side on end, and driven into the
ground, loop-holes being left at inter-
walls, serving the double purpose, where
they had roofs on them, of admitting
light, and firing out on approaching
enemies. Rude they were, but served
their purpose, and like the Indians who
dwelt in this vicinity, are now things
of the past.
In the vicinity of this fort are num-
ber of deep trenches, running several
rods back at right angles to the stream,
dug up by the Huron Indians long
time ago, when they were expecting a
hostile visit from q band of IroquOis
warriors from the eastern Province,
who were bent on other purposes than
modern civilization suggests. Now it
is territory, commerce, christianity, and
an output for poor whiskey and rum;
then it was scalps and ponies, the pro-
cess being the same-killing the enemy
that bars its progress.
At this point | also had an interest
ing interview with q fishing station a
Buffalo firm have crew here taking
care of the fish. Several Indians landed
during the day with their boats loaded
with sturgeon, for which they get 30
cents apiece, large. and small. This is
small figure, when 1T is considered
that many of the fish weigh over 100
pounds. The consumer pays a shilling
a pound before he gets taste. | took
a look into the lish-house where they
were cleaning the fish. | don't want to
spoil the fish trade of Yale grOcerymen
by describing the process. It's dirty
job, and my stomach hasn't felt kindly
to fish since.
A cigar given TO me by a friend, gave
me an introduction to an Indian Chief
at Sturgeon Falls. His name | have
! forgotten; but his nOtoriety consists in
! having for wife a neice of Lord
Strathcona, an English Lord who at an
early day married half-breed at one of
the Hudson Bay Company's ports. /
hadn't cheek enough to ask the old fell
low for an introduction to his wife;
| but saw her, and she's not bad look
hnUn nf w al &C
look worse-and, of course, better.
Ten o'clock at night, full of water
falls, fishes, Indians, Hudson Bay trap
pers and all such weird things, / went
to bed, and contrary TO custom, in five
minutes was enjoying the sleep of the
just.
Thursday a party Of eighteen, old
and young, got into four boats and
went on a picnic to one of the islands
four miles distant on lake Nipissing. A
Methodist minister from Hamilton,
my friend, the Presbyterian minister
here, and his family, together with our
friends and their friends, made up the
party. A row of four miles made it
quite easy and agreeable to squat down
on all fours, and in any other attitude
and attack the contents of our baskets.
| Nothing went over our shoulders.
After dinner we had some reading
from Will Carleton's poems, and then
we men folks went fishing. The fish
at this particular time of day, must
have had their dinner too, for they
manifested no appetite for hooked bait.
However, at last the Methodist min
lister pulled in in quick succession q
couple of beauties, at which the Rev.
gentleman felt much elated, and look
ed down upon the rest of us poor NOR
tails as if he did not know the time of
day. A sudden lurch of the boat-acci-
dental, of course-and the preacher
was overheard. We would not help
him in until he promised to tell the
ladies we caught the fish. He said he
would not have minded the ducking if
he'd been a Baptist, but treating a
methodist to so much water all at once.
was little too high spiced. 1t did not
lessen the fun of the joke when L sug-
gested it might have been wise to save
few drops of the water to cool his
tongue little later on.
1t came my turn, and l actually
caught fish,a pike. Well, l was proud,
and promenaded the deck or seat.
promise to use the word I'VE" and /
too took my place beside the preacher
on the mourners' bench, rejecting on
an old adage, pride must have a fall"
Well, we got tired fishing, and with
whetted appetites we "pulled for the
Shore" where the ladies ministered to
our necessities, After which we took
| to the boats and wended our way home
ward, chewing the cud of reflection, all
agreeing that a day spent free from
the conventionalities Of society, collars
and cuffs at the washerwoman's, is a
treat not to be despised. Next week
we intend to take up our abode on one
| of the islands. and NAV find material