She speaks of the garrison as an un-military looking set who were lounging about in their shirt sleeves. On the Canada side we have not even these demonstrations of power and prosperity. Nearly opposite the American fort is a small factory belonging to the North-West Fur Company1; below this a few miserable log huts occupied by some French Canadians and voyageurs in the service of the company, a set of mauvais sujets from all I can learn. Lower down stands the house of Mr. and Mrs. McMurray, with the Chippewa village under their care and tuition. . . But to return to my beautiful river and glorious rapids, which are to be treated you see, as a man treats a passionate beauty. Well on the American side, further down the river, is the house of Tanner the Indian interpreter. . . . He is a European of unmixed blood, with the language, manners and habits of the red-skin. . . . He is now in the American service here, having an Indian wife and is still attached to the Indian mode of life. This is the second allusion to John Tanner in these pages. The first was when he married one of the Indian girls at the Methodist Mission at Little Rapids. Tanner was a noted character of whom we are to see more in later years. Just above the fort is the ancient burying place of the Chippewas. I need not tell you of the profound veneration with which all the Indian tribes regard the places of their dead. In all their treaties for the cession of their land, they stipulate with the white man for the inviolability of their sepulchers. They did the same with regard to this place but I am sorry to say it has not been attended to, for in enlarging one side of the fort they have considerably en At this time this was the Hudson's Bay Company, having been amalgamated with the Northwest Company in 1821, taking the older company's name. I croached on the cemetery. To complete my sketch of the localities, I will only add that the whole country round is in a primitive state, covered with interminable swamp and forest. Speaking of Mrs. Johnston, the mother of Mrs. Schoolcraft and Mrs. McMurray, a woman of pure Indian blood, Mrs. Jameson says: A woman whose habits and manners were those of a genuine Indian squaw, and whose talents and domestic virtues commanded the highest respect, was as you may suppose an object of the deepest interest to me. I observed that not only her own children, but her two sons-in-law, Mr. McMurray and Mr. Schoolcraft, both educated in good society, the one a clergyman, and the other a man of science and literature, looked up to this remarkable woman with sentiments of affection and veneration. . . . We paddled over the river to dine with Mrs. Johnston; she resides in a large log house near the shore; there was a little portico in front with seats and the interior was most comfortable.' The old lady herself is rather large in person, with the strongest marked Indian features, a countenance open, benevolent and intelligent, and manner perfectly easy, simple yet with something of motherly dignity becoming the mother of a large family. She received us most affectionately and we entered into conversation. Mrs. Schoolcraft, who looked all animation and happiness, acted as interpreter. Mrs. The writer in this case was in error. The fort was not enlarged until 1865-6. The Indians had not only this ancient burial place but one a little farther east, and one west and south of the present locks. In fact the Indians had lived here for untold centuries, and their burial grounds were at many places, up and down the river. About one half of this building is still standing (1920) fronting on Water Street extended, and is on the south end of lot occupied by the Great Lakes Towing and Wrecking Company. The other part, slightly taller, and containing the large fire-place and the porches, was torn down about the year 1910. Many years ago the whole building was clapboarded over the logs. Sault Ste. Marie, from the Canada Shore, 1840. This picture shows Fort Brady with other buildings arranged in the form of a square, aiso a warehouse presumably erected by the Northwest Fur Trading Company. Rapids to the right and center. Johnston speaks no English, but can understand it a little, and the Canadian French still better; but in her own language she is eloquent, and her voice, like that of her people, low and musical. Many kind words were exchanged, and when I said anything that pleased her, she laughed softly like a child. I was not well, and much fevered, and I remember she took me in her arms, laid me on a couch, and began to rub my feet, soothing and caressing me. She called me Nindannis, daughter, and I called her Neengai, mother. . she set before us the best dressed and best served dinner I had seen since I left Toronto, and presided at her table, and did the honors of the house with unembarrassed and unaffected propriety. We are now to learn something of the genealogy of one of our oldest families.' After dinner we took a walk to visit Mrs. Johnston's brother, Wayishke, whose wigwam is at a little distance, on the verge of the burial ground. The lodge is in the genuine Chippewa form, like an egg cut in half lengthwise. It is formed of poles stuck in the ground and bent over at top, strengthened with a few wattles and boards; the whole is covered with mats, birch bark and skins; a large blanket forms the door or curtain which was not ungracefully looped aside. Wayishke being a great man has also a smaller lodge hard by which serves as a storehouse and kitchen. Rude as was the exterior of Wayishke's hut, the interior presents every appearance of comfort and even elegance, according to the Indians notions of both. It formed a good sized room: a raised couch ran all around like a Turkish divan, serving for both seats and beds, and covered with very soft and beautiful matting of various colors and patterns. The chests and baskets of birch bark containing the family wardrobe and property; the rifles and hunting and fishing tackle, were stowed away all around very tidily. . . The floor was trodden down hard and perfectly clean, and there was See ante, p. 348. |