226 CHICAGO INDIAN TREATY. 



While walking- on the sand hills on the south point of Lake 

 Michigan, I observed a small hawk pursue a bat, similar to 

 that of Britain. The bat dexterously avoided three swoops 

 of the hawk, seemingly without much exertion or concern, 

 and both were hid from vision behind a bank in the fourth 

 attack. I had frequent opportunities of seeing birds of prey 

 attack their game while in America, without witnessing a suc 

 cessful effort. 



Chicago is situated on Lake Michigan, at the confluence 

 of Chicago river, a small stream, affording the advantages of a 

 canal to the inhabitants for a limited distance. At the mouth 

 of the river is Fort-Dearborn, garrisoned by a few soldiers, 

 and one of the places which has been long held to keep the In 

 dian tribes in awe. The entrance from the lake to the river is 

 much obstructed by sand banks, and an attempt is making to 

 improve the navigation. 



Chicago consists of about 150 wood houses, placed irregu 

 larly on both sides of the river, over which there is a bridge. 

 This is already a place of considerable trade, supplying salt, 

 tea, coffee, sugar, and clothing to a large tract of coun 

 try to the south and west ; and when connected with the 

 navigable point of the river Illinois, by a canal or railway, 

 cannot fail of rising to importance. Almost every person I 

 met regarded Chicago as the germ of an immense city, and 

 speculators have already bought up, at high prices, all the 

 building-ground in the neighbourhood. Chicago will, in all 

 probability, attain considerable size, but its situation is not so 

 favourable to growth as many other places in the Union. 

 The country south and west of Chicago has a channel of trade 

 to the south by New Orleans ; and the navigation from Buf 

 falo by Lake Huron is of such length, that perhaps the pro 

 duce of the country to the south of Chicago will find an outlet 

 to Lake Erie by the waters of the rivers Wabash and Mamee. 

 A canal has been in progress for three years, connecting the 

 Wabash and Mamee, which flows into the west end of Lake 

 Erie ; and there can be little difficulty in connecting the 

 Wabash with the Illinois, which, if effected, will materially 

 check the rise of Chicago. 



At the time of visiting Chicago, there was a treaty in pro- 



