Trip through the Miami of the lakes, and the Wabash Valley—­Cross the grand prairie of Illinois—­Revisit the mines—­Ascend the Illinois—­Fever—­Return through the great lakes—­Notice of the “Trio”—­Letter from Professor Silliman—­Prospect of an appointment under government—­Loss of the “Walk-in-the-Water”—­Geology of Detroit—­Murder of Dr. Madison by a Winnebago Indian.

CHAPTER VIII.

New-Yearing—­A prospect opened—­Poem of Ontwa—­Indian biography—­Fossil tree—­Letters from various persons—­Notice of Ontwa—­Professor Silliman—­Gov.  Clinton—­Hon. J. Meigs—­Colonel Benton—­Mr. Dickenson—­Professor Hall—­Views of Ex-presidents Madison, Jefferson, and Adams on geology—­Geological notices—­Plan of a gazetteer—­Opinions of my Narrative Journal by scientific gentlemen—­The impostor John Dunn Hunter—­Trip up the Potomac—­Mosaical chronology—­Visit to Mount Vernon.

CHAPTER IX.

Appointed an agent of Indian affairs for the United States at Saint Mary’s—­Reasons for the acceptance of the office—­Journey to Detroit—­Illness at that point—­Arrival of a steamer with a battalion of infantry to establish a new military post at the foot of Lake Superior—­Incidents of the voyage to that point—­Reach our destination, and reception by the residents and Indians—­A European and man of honor fled to the wilderness.

CHAPTER X.

Incidents of the summer during the establishment of the now post at St. Mary’s—­Life in a nut-shell—­Scarcity of room—­High prices of everything—­State of the Indians—­Their rich and picturesque costume—­Council and its incidents—­Fort site selected and occupied—­The evil of ardent spirits amongst the Indians—­Note from Governor De Witt Clinton—­Mountain ash—­Curious superstitions of the Odjibwas—­Language—­Manito poles—­Copper—­Superstitious regard for Venus—­Fine harbor in Lake Superior—­Star family—­A locality of necromancers—­Ancient Chippewa capital—­Eating of animals.

CHAPTER XI.

Murder of Soan-ga-ge-zhick, a Chippewa, at the head of the falls—­Indian mode of interment—­Indian prophetess—­Topic of interpreters and interpretation—­Mode of studying the Indian language—­The Johnston family—­Visits—­Katewabeda, chief of Sandy Lake—­Indian mythology, and oral tales and legends—­Literary opinion—­Political opinion—­Visit of the chief Little Pine—­Visit of Wabishkepenais—­A despairing Indian—­Geography.

CHAPTER XII.

A pic-nic party at the foot of Lake Superior—­Canoe—­Scenery—­Descent of St. Mary’s Falls—­Etymology of the Indian names of Sault Ste. Marie, and Lake Superior—­The wild rice plant—­Indian trade—­American Fur Company—­Distribution of presents—­Death of Sassaba—­Epitaph—­Indian capacity to count—­Oral literature—­Research—­Self-reliance.