ed the subterraneous abode, through an
opening beneath the present gate near the base of the hill. He there
witnessed the giant spirits in solemn conclave in what appeared to be
a large beautiful wigwam. After being there some time, lost in wonder
and admiration, the chief spirit directed one of the lesser ones, to
show the Indian spirit out and conduct him back to his body. This
Indian could never be induced to divulge the particulars of what he
witnessed in his mysterious visit.

"An old Indian chief upon leaving this island, to visit his friends in
Lake Superior, thus soliloquized, as he sat on the deck of McKnight's
splendid steamer, the Illinois, while the darkness began dimly to
shadow forth the deep blue outlines of the island:

"'Moc-che-ne-mock-e-nug-gonge, thou Isle of the clear, deep-water
Lake, how, soothing it is from amidst the curling smoke of my opawgun
(pipe), to trace thy deep blue outlines in the distance; to call from
memory's tablets the traditions and stories connected with thy sacred
and mystic character, how sacred the regard, with which thou hast been
once clothed by our Indian seers of gone-by days; how pleasant in
imagination for the mind to picture and view, as if now present, the
time when the Great Spirit allowed a peaceful stillness to dwell
around thee, when only light and balmy winds were permitted to pass
over thee, hardly ruffling the mirror surface of the waters that
surrounded thee. Nothing then disturbed thy quiet and deep solitude,
but the chippering of birds, and the rustling of the leaves of the
silver-barked birch; or to hear, by evening twilight the sound of the
giant Fairies as they with rapid step, and giddy whirl, dance their
mystic dance on thy lime-stone battlements.'

"Several old buildings are now standing, the frames of which were
brought from old Mackinaw in the year 1764, which gives an odd and
venerable appearance to the village. Mr. Schoolcraft had the door of
Marquette's Chapel pointed out to him, which had been brought over
from Mackinaw, and hung to one of the edifices of the town.

"The village formerly received its greatest support from the fur
trade, when in the hands of the late John Jacob Astor, Esq., being, at
that time, the outfitting and furnishing place for the Indian trade.
His outfits extended then to the head waters of the Mississippi, on
the northwest, south to Chicago, southwest by the way of Green Bay, to
the Mississippi, and Missouri Rivers, i