CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR OF THE N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
87 
roots, and an occasional wild duck, which the boys 
contrived now and then to secure, by the aid of their 
bows and arrows. I had an excess of provisions, and 
took out a large flat loaf of hard, unleavened bread, 
which I offered one group. Their eyes sparkled with 
delight, and at once the matron took a large knife, and 
divided it into as many equal size pieces as the number 
composing the circle, and to each she gave alike, the 
tottling papoose having as much as the matron herself 
—all of which was eagerly and ravenously devoured. 
Their gratitude for this small favor seemed to know no 
bounds; and they pressed on me cake after cake of 
sugar, and I verily believe, had I a wagon, I could 
have loaded it in return for my petty gift, which I 
added to subsequently by giving them all I could spare. 
But I was no “ trader,” and I forebore. Is it strange 
that our crafty, griping whites get rich out of the un¬ 
stinted generosity of the red man ? Verily “ they shall 
rise up in judgment against this generation.” 
This was one of the pleasantest nights of my life; 
the novel, wild, picturesque, and beautiful seemed be¬ 
fore me; the profusion of this luscious store, with all 
its appliances of boiling kettles, suspended over a large 
fire by a pole, supported by crotches, and running 
lengthwise of the cabin 5 the large, canoe-like trough, 
extending through the walls, with one end near the 
kettles, to contain the sap; the well-ordered apart¬ 
ments ; the industry, intelligence, and kindness of the 
inmates ; the historical reminiscences of the old man, 
who witnessed, while a stripling, and yet distinctly re¬ 
collected, the chivalrous battle on the Heights of Abra¬ 
ham, 80 years ago, between those model champions, 
Wolfe and Montcalm; his tender age, like that of 
young Norval, inducing his father “ to keep his only 
son, himself,” from the tented field, though yet near 
enough to see and be interested in the bloody fray; a 
young urchin displaying much of the genius of an artist 
on the doors and walls adorned by his rustic, untaught 
sketches; and the robust forms, and open, intelligent 
countenances of all; these, and my reflections, stretch¬ 
ing through the uncertain past, and probable future 
history of this proud, yet pitiable race, gave an inten¬ 
sity of interest to the scene, I shall never, never forget. 
But I am wandering. 
The pines grow singularly in this country, pushing 
their straight trunks upward for 150 feet in height, by 
the side of the sugar maple and beech, which, at the 
east, choose very different soils. The soil is generally 
very good, though somewhat varying with the hills and 
valleys. The richest, deepest upland soil I ever saw, 
is on the Stockbridge and Brothertown reservation, on 
the head waters of the Manitouwoe, which was select¬ 
ed with a great deal of judgment, and after much ex¬ 
amination, by some of the most intelligent Indians, and 
their friendly white superintendants. These Indians 
form an extensive settlement, of intelligent, moral, and 
perfectly reclaimed natives; the gathered fragments of 
many an extinct tribe from New England, whose an¬ 
cestors once waged exterminating wars against each 
other, but whose descendants now are like a band of 
brothers, pursuing the peaceful paths of civilized life. 
I will add, for the honor of our Government, that they 
are in the full enjoyment of all the rights of American 
citizens. 
The valley which opens at the county seat, Mani- 
touwoc rapids, three miles from the harbor on Lake 
Michigan, though not extensive, is as fertile as any 
portion of the famed valley of the Genesee. Every 
crop which is cultivated there, thrives here in great 
luxuriance; and I have nowhere seen better returns 
for seed and cultivation than are furnished here. 
There is a good deal of enterprise among the settlers 
here and the vicinity, many of them having paid con¬ 
siderable attention to the improvement of their stock, 
Berkshires and Shorthorns already having become citi¬ 
zens of this region. Although the earliest settlements 
were not made here till 1836, there is already a goodly 
population; the county, notwithstanding its small 
dimensions, containing about 1000 inhabitants. Popu¬ 
lation is pushing its way into this territory rapidly, 
owing to the agreeable diversity of the surface, the 
purity of the waters, the salubrity of the climate, the 
richness of the soil, and the varied advantages of loca¬ 
tion. It has Lake Michigan on one side, and the Mis¬ 
sissippi on the other, connected by a line of scarcely 
separated water communication, through theWiskonsan 
and Fox rivers, to Lake Winnebago. This lake is 
within two miles of the river Manitouwoe, which emp¬ 
ties into it. Steamboats from Buffalo pass its mouth 
daily during the season of business. 
In addition to all the foregoing advantages, there are 
in the western and central portions of the Territory, 
rich and extensive beds of lead and copper, which pro¬ 
bably extend eastward to the Lake. These are some 
of the inducements which point out this Territory, and 
especially the eastern portion of it, as full of promise to 
the hardy, industrious, and intelligent emigrant. The 
force of these advantages is seen in the press of set¬ 
tlers, who seem to be hurrying into this El Dorado, to 
secure their section or quarter section for themselves 
and their posterity. 
I trust your exertions will not be wanting to induce 
more of these settlers to take good agricultural works 
of the day, that they may not fall behind in the intelli¬ 
gence which is, by these means, making such inroads 
upon the imperfect systems of farming which are still 
too much practised here, as well as elsewhere. I may 
write you again hereafter, from this enchanting 
country. Very respectfully, yours, Viator. 
CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR 
Of the New York State Agricultural Society, to be held 
at Rochester , September 19, 20, and 21. 
List of Premiums for 1813. 
ON CATTLE. 
I. BULLS— Three years old, and over. 
For the best, $20 J For the third best, $8 
For the second best, 12 j For the fourth best, 
Copy of the N. Y. S. Ag. Soc . 1 Transactions.’ 
II. BULLS— Two years old and under three. 
For the best, $15 I For the third best, $5 
For the second best, 10 | For the fourth best, 
Volume of ( Transactions.’ 
III. BULLS— One year old and under two. 
For the best, $15 I For the third best, $4 
For the second best, lOJ For the fourth best, 
Volume of 1 Transactions.’ 
IV. BULL CALVES. 
For the best, $10 I For the third best, $4 
For the second best, 6 [ For the fourth best, 
Volume of 1 Transactions.’ 
V. COWS— Three years old and over. 
For the best, $20 I For the third best, $8 
For the second best, 15 I For the fourth best, 
Volume of { Transactions.’ 
VI. HEIFERS— Two years old and under three. 
For the best, $12 I For the third best, $5 
For the second best, 8 I For the fourth best, 
Volume of 1 Transactions.’ 
VII. HEIFERS— One year old and under two. 
For the best, $10 I For the third best, 
For the second best, 5 j Volume of £ Transactions.’ 
