68 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



made for the club-house, not the wilderness— suggest- 

 ed inquiries about the native weed called Kinnikin- 

 nick, which the Indians in their grand peace councils 

 used before tlie advent of the white man, and which 

 in a perverted form had lent its name to the tobacco 

 we were using. It appeared that the identical weed 

 was growing close around us, and although the In- 

 dians of their party laughed with contempt at any 

 one using it when pure tobacco was to be had, we 

 induced them to collect and prepare a small quan- 

 tity. 



The preparation consists of drying it thoroughly 

 by the fire until it is brown, and then pulverizing it 

 by friction in a cloth. The operation was soon 

 completed, but, although we tried it mixed and un- 

 adulterated both, we were forced to admit it had 

 absolutely no flavor whatever. Perhaps it wanted 

 more time or care in the curing, as the men com- 

 plained of the dampness. 



Our new-made acquaintances left next morning 

 early, and Don and myself took a late breakfast and 

 were joined by an unexpected visitor. A quantity 

 of cold potatoes and ship-biscuit, intended for our 

 men's breakfast, had been temporarily placed on a 

 neighboring log, and while we were partaking of 

 warmer edibles, a few steps off a pretty little ground 

 squirrel ran out, chirruped a merry good-morning, 

 and proceeded as a matter of right to help himself to 

 the cold victuals. He was sleek, bright-colored, and 

 fat, evidently accustomed to many such repasts ; 

 and after trying a piece of potato and finding it 



