THE WILD LIFE OF LAKE SUPERIOR 



119 



its clusters of red berries, the more bril- 

 liant hues alternating with the contrasting 

 greens of the balsam and cedar, and back 

 of which often lie great uncut forests of 

 hardwood maple in a monotone of orange, 

 the edgings carpeted with the crimson 

 hether of huckleberry, while daisies, 

 goldenrod, and giant ferns join in the 

 culminating efforts of the ebbing year. 



The interior lakes and ponds present 

 the climax of this hectic season ; for 

 nature, flushed with intermittent frosts, 

 duplicates its colors on the mirrored sur- 

 faces, all domed with the azure of the 

 northern sky. 



THE OJIBWAY INDIANS 



Lake Superior was thoroughly explored 

 and was a busy field for the Jesuit mis- 

 sionaries long before any other portion 

 of the western country had been visited 

 by the white man, for the hardy voya- 

 gcurs used the great watercourse from 

 the sea when settlements on the Atlantic 

 coast were few and far apart. 



In 1658 Radisson, the fur trader, gave 

 the first written description of the south 

 shore, followed in 1660 by Father Me- 

 nard, in 1665 by Allouez, and in 1669 by 

 Marquette. Some evidence exists for be- 

 lieving that this region was visited by 

 white men long before these dates, it 

 having been asserted by Chase S. Osborn, 

 former Governor of Michigan, that so 

 far back as 1542 Roberval's men pene- 

 trated thus far. 



Among the first of the resident Indians 

 on Lake Superior were the Ojibways, 

 commonly called Chippewas. Belonging 

 to the Algonquins, it is supposed they 

 were driven west, along the Great Lakes, 

 by the more warlike Iroquois, and on 

 reaching the terminal waters found the 

 Sioux, a tribe of similar habits and dis- 

 position, in possession. 



Then ensued a bitter warfare ; but the 

 Ojibways, having a continuous supply of 

 guns and ammunition from the east, 

 drove their rivals out on the prairie coun- 

 try, where they became pony Indians, 

 changing their habits materially. 



The dividing line between these con- 

 tending forces was Minnesota, the wan- 

 dering trapper being able to recognize 

 the different tribes by the tall, conical- 

 shaped lodges of the Sioux and the low- 

 domed ones of the Ojibways (seep. 115). 



Hunting, fishing, trapping, and the use 

 of the birch-bark canoe developed self- 

 reliance and a habit of occupying more or 

 less permanent locations within sight of 

 the water, in contrast to the nomadic life 

 of most western Indians. 



THE) INDIANS LIVED LARGELY ON FTSH 



In the early days there were neither 

 moose nor deer and very few caribou, 

 compelling the aborigines to live largely 

 on fish, which were easily obtained from 

 the Sault Ste. Marie River, where the 

 rapids remained open during the winter, 

 and here was established their largest 

 village, bringing them into contact with 

 travelers, whom they served as guides 

 and packers. They were recognized as 

 the most dependable and responsive mem- 

 bers of their race, for early intercourse 

 with the missionaries prepared them to 

 welcome the white man as a friend. 



At the present time the Ojibways have 

 practically disappeared from the south 

 shore, but are still to be found in con- 

 siderable numbers throughout western 

 Ontario and northeastern Minnesota, 

 where the abundance of fish and game, 

 supplemented by an annual pension from 

 the United States and Canadian govern- 

 ments, favors their existence. Under con- 

 ditions very similar to those of a hundred 

 years ago, sportsmen and tourists are 

 given an insight into the life of the tribe 

 which inspired the story of Hiawatha. 



CHAPTER II 



FIRST OUTINGS TO LAKE SUPERIOR 



In 1869 I was presented with my first 

 gun, a small-bore, muzzle-loader, with 

 which, under parental instruction, I was 

 able to bag a few squirrels, quail, and 

 rabbits in the wooded country below 

 Pittsburgh, on and near the banks of the 

 Ohio. 



This gift was in view of a coming trip 

 to Lake Superior the following year, 

 where I was to be permitted to travel on 

 ancestral trails to a region of hearsay, 

 and to see with my own eyes this wonder- 

 ful body of water and tributary streams, 

 the great forests of pine and hardwood, 

 the picturesque O jib way Indians in their 

 birch-bark canoes, and, more than all, the 

 trout, grouse, wild pigeons, deer, bears, 

 wolves, and many fur-bearers which 



