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The attention of visitors to Ottawa county, 0., the greater part of 

 which forms a peninsula in Lake Erie, is soon directed to those little 

 traces whose abundance indicates a territory where once the "wild 

 Indian" roved. These evidences are mainly stone implements, such 

 as arrow heads, spear heads, axes and the like. Even a solitary Indi- 

 an inscription may yet be found on a neighboring island. The penin- 

 sula, although now entirely under culture, offers in its present disguise 

 an aspect that reveals its adaptability to savage life. The northern 

 shore is partly abrupt and rocky, and partly consists of very low land 

 which, on the occurrence of south-western gales, is left entirely dry. 

 Here is at one place a submerged Indian burial ground, known to 

 fishermen only, who occasionally happen there when the water is very 

 low. They also sometimes find there copper implemelits, although 

 these are rather rare. The eastern shore extends as a sandy ridge a 

 little below the surface of the water almost across to the opposite 

 shore of the lake, and forms the boundary line between the lake 

 proper and what is known as Sandusky Bay. The southern shore 

 sinks gradually into the yellowish green waters of the shallow bay. 

 The extreme slopes of the peninsula were formerly covered with trees 

 to the central ridge, which is a level strip of land. This ridge pre- 

 sents the appearance of prairies, and is actually called by that name. 

 These prairies, used only as pastures, are meadows whose rich soil 

 covers with a thin layer the underlying rock of limestone. 



The position of a piece of land such as this peninsula offered there 

 an excellent resort for game of all kinds, water fowls together with an 

 abundance of fish, and tradition can not be far wrong in making the spot 

 the often contested ground of many an Indian tribe, the last of which 

 has given Ottawa county its name. Among the many particular 

 places bearing Indian names is especially one on the bay shore which, 

 in its translation, is now known as the "Indian Orchard." The earli- 

 est settlers of Ottawa county, who tell of many a treacherous encounter 

 with the red men, as early as the end of the last century commenced 

 the cultivation of isolated spots on the peninsula, but did not as yet 

 dare to build themselves permanent habitations ; they had, however, 

 abundant opportunity to observe in peaceful times the customs of the 

 Indians. One of the usages which most engaged the attention of the 

 white man was the strange occurrence of a visit annually celebrated 

 by a strange and unknown tribe, to what was first imagined to be an 



