Old Mackinaw | Page 4

which his mind became exceedingly elevated.
In this exaltation his spiritual guide appeared to him. He was the spirit
of the serpent who rules in the centre of the earth, and under the dark
and mighty waters. This spirit revealed to him his future destiny, and
promised him his guardianship through life. San-ge-man grew up and
became remarkably strong and powerful. From his brave and reckless
daring he was both an object of love and fear to the Ottawas.
About this time, as the legend runs, the former inhabitants of the
Manitoulin Island and the adjoining country, who have the name of the
Au-se-gum-a-ugs, commenced making inroads upon the settlements of
the combined bands, and killed several of their number. Upon this the
Ojibwas and Ottawas mustered a war party. San-ge-man, though young,
offered himself as a warrior; and, full of heroic daring, went out with
the expedition which left the Island in great numbers in their canoes,
and crossed over to the main land on the northeast. After traveling a
few days they fell upon the war path of their enemies, and soon
surprised them. Terrified, they fled before the combined forces; and in
the chase, the brave and daring youth outstripped all the rest and
succeeded in taking a prisoner in sight of the enemies' village. On their
return the Ojibwas and Ottawas were pursued, and being apprised of it
by San-ge-man, they made good their escape, while the young brave,
being instructed by his guardian spirit, allowed himself to be taken
prisoner. His hands were tied, and he was made to walk in the midst of
the warriors. At night they encamped, and after partaking of their
evening meal, commenced their Indian ceremonies of drumming and
shaking the rattle, accompanied with war songs. San-ge-man was asked
by the chief of the party, if he could che-qwon-dum, at the same time
giving him the rattle. He took it and commenced singing in a low,
plaintive tone, which made the warriors exclaim, "He is weak-hearted,
a coward, an old woman". Feigning great weakness and cowardice, he
stepped up to the Indian to whom he had surrendered his war club; and
taking it, he commenced shaking the rattle, and as he danced round the
watch-fire, increasing his speed, and, gradually raising the tone of his
voice, he ended the dance by felling a warrior with his club, exclaiming,
"a coward, ugh!" Then with terrific yells and the power of a giant, he
continued his work of death at every blow. Affrighted, the whole party

fled from the watch-fire and left him alone with the slain, all of which
he scalped, and returned laden with these terrible trophies of victory to
join his companions who returned to the Island.
San-ge-man having by his valor obtained a chieftainship over the
Ottawas, started out on the war path and conquered all the country east
and north of Lake Huron. The drum and rattle were now heard
resounding through all the villages of the combined forces, and they
extended their conquests to Saut St. Mary. For the purpose of bettering
their condition they removed from the Island to the Detour, or the
mouth of the St. Mary's river, where they occupied a deserted village,
and there separated, part going up to the Saut, which had also been
deserted, and the other portion tarrying in the above village for a year.
At the expiration of this time San-ge-man led a war party towards the
west, and reached the present point St. Ignatius, on the north side of the
straits where he found a large village. There was also another village a
little east of Point St. Ignatius, at a place now called Moran's Bay, and
still another at Point Au Chenes on the north shore of Lake Michigan,
northeast of the Island of Mackinaw. At these places, old mounds,
ditches, and gardens were found, which had existed from an unknown
period. From this point a trail led to the Saut through an open country,
and these ancient works can be distinctly traced to this day though
covered with a heavy growth of timber.
After a hard fight with the inhabitants of these villages, San-ge-man at
length succeeded in conquering them, and after expelling them burned
all their lodges with the exception of a few at Point St. Ignatius. The
inhabitants of this village fled across the straits southward from Point
St. Ignatius and located at the point now known as Old Mackinaw, or
Mackinaw City.
In the mean time, San-ge-man had returned to the Detour and removed
his entire band to Point St. Ignatius. In the following spring while the
Ottawas were out in their fields planting corn, a party of
Au-se-gum-ugs crossed over from Old Mackinaw, on the south side of
the straits, and killed