SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 85 



of land upon which the town stands appears to be sandy, 

 and of an inferior quality, but we were told that a very ex- 

 cellent soil prevailed in the vicinity. It was expected that 

 the property would sell well, and it was thought that the 

 quarter section, ( 1 60 acres,) upon which the town is situat- 

 ed, would yield at public sale ten thousand dollars. Wc 

 were somewhat surprised to find that the inhabitants of the 

 town expressed no dissatisfaction at the prospect of the 

 sale of a property upon which they had been residing, free 

 of rent, for so many years, and that not the least question 

 was raised as to the justice or propriety of a measure, by 

 which they were about to be dispossessed of the small im- 

 provements which had been made by their fathers and 

 themselves. But the population of Wayne partakes in this 

 respect of the indifference and carelessness that charac- 

 terize the two races from the admixture of which they 

 have sprung. A circumstance which will add considerably 

 to the future prosperity of Wayne, is its being at the com- 

 mencement of the short portage of eight miles which sepa- 

 rates the Maumee from the Wabash. An extensive trade 

 has already been carried on through this route, and as it 

 offers the most direct communication between the head of 

 Lake Erie and the northern parts of Indiana, it will doubt- 

 less daily increase in importance. 



In the vicinity of Fort Wayne, on the west bank of the 

 river, we were shown a small tree growing on the spot 

 where " Little Turtle" was bui'ied. This was one of the 

 most celebrated Indian chiefs ever known to white men. 

 His character is well remembered by the old residents 

 among the Indians, and from the accounts which have been 

 given of him, we find but few names on record in the his- 

 tory of Indian chiefs that can be compared with his. His 

 character will contrast advantageously with those of King 



