7th.  The following is an Odjibwa tradition.  Adjejauk and Oshugee were brothers, living at St. Mary’s Falls.  Oshugee was the elder.  One day he took his brother’s fishing-pole into the rapids, and accidentally broke it.  This caused a quarrel.  Oshugee went off south, and was referred to as Shawnee.  This was the origin of that tribe who call the Chippewas Younger Brother, to this day.  This is said by Nabunwa.  The Shawnee (southman) here named is not the Shawnee tribe.  With this explanation, the tradition may be admitted.  It was probably the origin of the Potawattomies.

10th.  Two plum trees, standing in front of the agency, which had attained their full growth, and borne fruit plentifully, for some few years, began to droop, and finally died during the autumn.  I found, by examination, that their roots had extended into cold underground springs of water, which have their issue under the high cliff immediately behind the agency.  They had originally been set out as wall fruit, within a few feet of the front wall of the house, on its southern side.  The one was the common blue plum, the other an egg plum.

A mountain ash, standing some twenty feet west of them, had protruded its roots into a similar cold moisture, but, so far from injuring it, the tree grew more luxuriantly, putting forth leaves and berries in the greatest profusion.  Seeing this disposition to flourish by its proximity to underground currents, I cut the bark of the tree, which is of a close binding character, to allow it to expand, and found this to have an excellent effect.  This tree bears a white bell-shaped cluster of blossoms, which originate the most beautiful scarlet berries in the autumn.  The one species is a native, the other an exotic.

12th. Pemid-jee, signifies in Chippewa across, sideways. Go-daus is a garment, or cloth designed for it.  Hence mad-jee-co-ta a skirt or side-cloth.

17th.  Col.  Wm.L.  Stone writes that he is making progress in his Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, and begs a copy of the old Military Orderly Book, in my possession, detailing the siege and taking of Fort Niagara, &c.  He says of Algie Researches:  “By the way, what a delightful book you furnished us.  Don’t you remember that I told you not to go to ——­ for revision?  He would have spoiled your simple and beautiful tales.  President Wayland, my brother-in-law, was delighted with them.”

Dec.5th.  Abraham Schoolcraft, Special Emigrating Agent, reports the safe arrival of the Swan Creeks at their destination on the river Osage.  The lands are fertile, the waters good, forest trees in abundance for fire-wood and fences.  Everything promises well for their future prosperity.

13th.  Wrote to Col.  Stone, transmitting him a copy of the old journal, before alluded to, of the siege of Niagara, in 1759, the march of Gen. Bradstreet for the relief of Detroit, in 1763, &c.