Old Mackinaw | Page 5

two of the Ottawa women. San-ge-man at once
selected a party of tried warriors, and going down the straits pursued

the Au-se-gum-ugs to the River Cheboy-e-gun, whither they had gone
on a war expedition against the Mush-co-dan-she-ugs. On a sandy bay
a little west of the mouth of the river, they found their enemies' canoes
drawn up, they having gone into the interior. Believing that they would
soon return, San-ge-man ordered his party to lie in ambush until their
return. They were not long in waiting, for on the following day they
made their appearance, being heated and weary with their marches,
they all stripped and went into the Lake to bathe previous to embarking
for Mackinaw. Unsuspicious of danger they played with the sportive
waves as they dashed upon the shore, and were swimming and diving
in all directions, when the terrific yell of armed warriors broke upon
their ears. It was but the work of a moment and one hundred
defenseless Indians perished in the waters. When the sad intelligence
came to the remainder of the tribe at Mackinaw, they fled towards the
Grand River country.
The village now deserted possessing superior attractions to San-ge-man
and his warriors, the Ottawas crossed the straits and took possession,
and here he remained until after he unfairly succeeded in obtaining the
magic lance.
It was while here that a large delegation of Indians of the
Mush-co-dan-she-ugs from the Middle village, Bear River, and Grand
Traverse came to shake hands and smoke the pipe of peace with him.
They had heard of his fame as a mighty warrior. The occasion was one
of great rejoicing to the inhabitants of Mackinaw, and all turned out to
witness the gathering. San-ge-man and his warriors appeared in council,
dressed in richest furs, their heads decorated with eagle feathers, and
tufts of hair of many colors. Among all the chiefs there assembled, for
proud and noble bearing none excelled the Ottawa. A fur robe covered
with scalp-locks hung carelessly over his left shoulder leaving his right
arm free while speaking. As the result of these deliberations the bands
became united and thus the territory of the Ottawa chief was enlarged.
It was from this point that he sallied forth every summer in war
excursions toward the south, conquering the country along the eastern
shore of Lake Michigan, extending his conquests to Grand River, and

overrunning the country about the present site of Chicago. It was here
that he received reinforcements from his old allies the Ojibwas, and
extended his conquests down the Illinois River until he reached the
"father of waters."
From this place he went forth to the slaughter of the Iroquois at the
Detour, and expelled them from the Island of Mackinaw and Point St.
Ignatius. From hence he went armed to wage an unnatural war against
his relatives the Ojibwas, and was slain by the noble chief Kau-be-man,
and it was to this place that the sad news came back of his fate. Thus
much for the Indian history of Old Mackinaw.
Equally romantic is the history of the early missionaries and voyagers
to this great centre of the Indian tribes. On the far-off shores of the
northwestern lakes the Jesuit Missionaries planted the cross, erected
their chapels, repeated their pater nosters and ave marias, and sung
their Te Deums, before the cavaliers landed at Jamestown or the
Puritans at Plymouth. Among the Ottawas of Saut St. Marie and the
Ojibwas and Hurons of Old Mackinaw, these devoted self-sacrificing
followers of Ignatius Loyola commenced their ministrations upwards of
two hundred years ago. They were not only the first missionaries
among the savages of this northwestern wilderness, but they were the
first discoverers and explorers of the mighty lakes and rivers of that
region. In advance of civilization they penetrated the dense unbroken
wilderness, and launched their canoes upon unknown rivers, breaking
the silence of their shores with their vesper hymns and matin prayers.
The first to visit the ancient seats of heathenism in the old world, they
were the first to preach the Gospel among the heathen of the new.
CHAPTER II.
Indian Spiritualists -- Medicine men -- Legends -- The Spirit-world --
Difference between Indian and Modern Spiritualists -- Chusco the
Spiritualist -- Schoolcraft's testimony of -- Mode of communicating
with spirits -- Belief in Satanic agency -- Interesting account of
Clairvoyance.

The earliest traditions of the various Indian tribes inhabiting this
country prove that they have practiced jugglery and all other things
pertaining to the secret arts of the old uncivilized nations of the world.
Among all the tribes have been found the priests of the occult sciences,
and to this day we find Metais, Waubonos, Chees-a-kees and others
bearing the common designation of Medicine men. In modern parlance
we would call them Professors