A
SUMMER IN THE WILDERNESS;
EMBRACING
A CANOE VOYAGE
UP THE MISSISSIPPI AND AROUND LAKE SUPERIOR.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847,
By D. APPLETON & COMPANY,
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

TO
JAMES F. MELINE, ESQ.,
OF
CINCINNATI, OHIO,
THIS VOLUME
IS,
WITH FEELINGS OF THE HIGHEST RESPECT,
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED,
BY HIS FRIEND, THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Saint Louis—a Western Artist—Twilight in a Cathedral, 13

CHAPTER II.

The Lower Mississippi—Entrance to the Upper Mississippi—The Lower Rapids—Scenery—Rock Island, 20

CHAPTER III.

Starved Rock on the Illinois—Legend of the Illinois Indians, 26

CHAPTER IV.

Nauvoo—Temple of Nauvoo—A Mormon, and his story—Superb Panorama, 30

CHAPTER V.

The Upper Rapids—Scenery—Prairie Du Chien—Battle of Bad Axe—The Winnebagoe Indians—Winneshic, Chief of the Winnebagoes—A Visit to his Wigwam, 34

CHAPTER VI.

The Lead Region—Anecdote of a noted Western Character, 41

CHAPTER VII.

The Alpine Region of the Mississippi—Lake Pepin—Wabashaw, Chief of the Sioux—An Old Woman, and her story—Legend of Winona, 45

CHAPTER VIII.

Red-Wing Village—Lake Saint Croix—Little Crow, a Sioux Chief—Scenery, 51

CHAPTER IX.

Mouth of the Saint Peter’s—Dog Feast—Playing Ball—The Sioux Indians—The Soldier Artist—A Naturalist—Carver’s Cave—Beautiful Waterfall—Falls of St. Anthony—Legend connected with them, 56

CHAPTER X.

A Ride on Horseback—Grouse Shooting—A Wilderness Supper—A Race with a Pack of Wolves, 64

CHAPTER XI.

Crow-Wing—Famous Battle fought here—Legend of the White Panther—Hole-in-the-Day, Chief of the Chippeway Indians—The Scalpless Indian—Indian Swimmers—Begging Dance—Torchlight Fishing, 68

CHAPTER XII.

The Indian Trader—The Fur Trade, 75

CHAPTER XIII.

Spirit Lake—Legends of the Mysterious Spirit—Story of White-Fisher—Story of Elder-Brother—Outside Feather—Legend of the Mole, 80

CHAPTER XIV.

The Mississippi—Lake Winnepeg—Bear Hunt—Bear Feast—A Dream, and its Fulfillment—Manner of Treating the Dead—A Wilderness Grave-Yard, 85

CHAPTER XV.

Red Cedar Lake—The Chippeway Indians—Their Country—Their Idea of Creation—Their Religion—Their Heaven and Hell—Their Manner of Winning the Title of Brave—Their Manner of Life—Their Idea of Marriage, and Mode of Courtship—Their Hospitality, 91

CHAPTER XVI.

Elk Lake and Surrounding Region—Legend of the Mammoth Elk—Four Wilderness Pictures, 98

CHAPTER XVII.

Leech Lake—The Pillagers—The Medicine Dance—The Medicine Society—Virgin Dance—Red River Trappers—Legend of the Two Women—Legend of Pelican Island—Legend of a Battle between the Gods of the White and Red Men—Original Indian Corn—Game of this Region, 104

CHAPTER XVIII.

Fish of the Mississippi—A Catfish Adventure—Spearing Muskalounge—A Trouting Adventure, 110

CHAPTER XIX.

Sandy Lake—A queer way of making a Portage, 117

CHAPTER XX.

The Saint Louis River—The Chippeway Falls—Fon du Lac—Scenery of the Lower Saint Louis, and Passage to Lake Superior,