Having his attention called to the deposit of old bones exposed by the action of the lake, he finally said he knew not how they came there; that they must be of ancient date, and were probably of the same era with the bones in the caves of the island of Mackinack. He said when he was young there was no village on that part of the bay of Mackinack situated between the old Government house, and the present Catholic church. This was formerly a cedar swamp. There was a village near Porkman’s (Mr. Edward Biddle’s), and another near the Presbyterian Church.
3d. Seed the borders around the garden lots with clover and timothy, united with oats. Continue to plant in hot-beds, and in the ornamental mound. The “Huron” departs up the lake, the “Austerlitz” returns.
Drove out in my carriage with Mrs. Schoolcraft and children, round the island. I found no traces of snow or ice.
5th. A gale from the east, which began to show itself yesterday.
The schooner “Lady of the Lake” comes in, without a mail. During the afternoon, the wind also brings in the “Marengo,” with a mail, and in the night, the “Supply.”
6th. Wind from the S.W. and W. Rain, chilly, cloudy.
7th. A complete counterpart of the weather of yesterday.
8th. The same weather in every respect, with light snow flurries. The last four or five days have been most disheartening weather for this season, and retarded gardening. The leaves of the pie plant have been partially nipped by the frost.
9th. Clear and pleasant—wind west. Drove out with Mrs. Schoolcraft and children to see the arched rock, the sugar-loaf rock, Henry’s cave, and other prominent curiosities of the island. There are extensive old fields on the eastern part of the island, to which the French apply the term of Grands Jardins. No resident pretends to know their origin. Whether due to the labors of the Hurons or the Wyandots, who are known to have been driven by the Iroquois to this island from the St. Lawrence valley, early in the 17th century; or to a still earlier period, when the ancient bones were deposited in the caves, is not known. It is certain that the extent of the fields evince an agricultural industry which is not characteristic of the present Algonquin race. The stones have been carefully gathered into heaps, as in the little valley near the arched rock, to facilitate cultivation. These heaps of stones, in various places might be mistaken for Celtic cairns.
10th. The schooner “Mariner,” our old friend, comes into port with forty emigrants for Chicago. During the evening the “Commerce” and “America” join her.
11th. S. Cold north-west wind, gloomy and cloudy.
12th. A report is received that the President has communicated a protest to the Senate on the expression of their views respecting the removal of the deposits.