They migrated down Lake Michigan, and lived with the Potawattomies.  After awhile, the Potawattomies growing uneasy of their presence, accused them of using bad medicine, which was the cause of their people dying.  The Ottawas replied, that if they were jealous of them, they would retire, and they accordingly withdrew up the peninsula.  While in the course of withdrawing, one of their number was killed by the Potawattomies.

6th.  Ossiganac, at an interview at my house this afternoon, says that the Ottawas of Maumee, Ohio, sent a message to the Ottawas of L’Arbre Croche, in Governor Hull’s time—­consequently between 1805 and 1812—­saying:  “We were originally of one fire, and we wish to come back again to you, that we may all derive heat again from the same fire.”

The Ottawas of L’Arbre Croche replied:  “True, but you took a coal to warm yourselves by.  Now, it will be better that you remain by your own coal, which you saw fit long ago to take from our fire.  Remain where you are.”  From that day the Ottawas of Maumee have said nothing more about joining us.

Now (1834) the Potawattomies come with a request to join our fire.  Shall we receive them, when we refused our brethren, who are more nearly related to us?  I think not.

7th.  The Little Bear Skin, Muk-ons-e-wy-an-ais, of Manistee, inquires respecting the truth of a rumor, that the Potawattomies, since selling their lands at Chicago, are coming to the North, amongst the Ottawas and Chippewas.  He deprecates such a movement.  Says the habits of the Potawattomies are so different that they would not be satisfied were they to come.  Their horses are their canoes.  They know nothing of traveling by water; beyond shore navigation.  They are sea-sick on the lakes.

Little Bear Skin says he lives on the first forks of the Manistee.  Although a Chippewa, he is in the habit of cultivating gardens.  He is originally, by his parents, from the North—­is related to the St. Mary’s and Taquimenon Indians.  He himself was born on the Manistee.  He is a temperance man.

Cherry trees in full bloom.  The steamer “Uncle Sam” enters the harbor, being the first of a line established to Chicago.

9th.  Apple and plum trees pretty full in flower.

10th.  Mrs. Robert Stuart makes a handsome present of conchological species from foreign localities to be added to my cabinet.

15th.  Major Whistler interdicts preaching in the fort.  Mr. B. Stuart, having returned recently from the East, resumes the superintendence of the Sabbath School at the Mission, from which I had relieved him in the autumn.

I have written these sketches for my own satisfaction and the refreshment of my memory, in the leading scenes and events of my first winter on the island, giving prominence to the state and changes of the weather, the occurrences among the natives, and the moral, social, and domestic events around me.  But the curtain of the world’s great drama is now fully raised, by our free commercial and postal union with the region below us; new scenes and topics daily occur, which it would be impossible to note if I tried, and which would be useless if possible.  Hereafter my notices must be of isolated things, and may be “few and far between.”