tifications. The Americans were so sensible of its importance, that they fitted out an expensive expedition in 1814 for the purpose of retaking it, but were repulsed with the loss of one of their bravest commanders and a great number of men, and forced to retreat to their vessels. After this, Michilimackinac remained in possession of the British, till at the peace it was again quietly ceded, one hardly knows why, to the Americans, and in their possession it now remains. The garrison, not being required in time of profound peace, has been withdrawn. The pretty little fort remains.

We drove to-day to visit a spot of romantic interest in the life of Henry; the cave in which he was secreted after the massacre at Michilimackinac by his adopted brother, Wa,wa,tam, lest he should be made into a "mess of English broth," like some of his hapless companions. He describes the manner in which he was brought here at eventide; how he crept into its farthest recesses and fell asleep ;—and waking in the morning, found himself lying upon a heap of human skulls! Henry's opinion is, that the cave was an ancient receptacle for the bones of prisoners, sacrificed and devoured at war-feasts. "I have always observed," he adds, "that the Indians pay particular attention to the bones of sacrifices, preserving them unbroken, and depositing them in some place kept exclusively for the purpose.' The cave is admirably contrived for a place of con

cealment, the opening being in the rock, high above the level of the ground, and almost entirely concealed by the rich foliage of bushes and underwood. It is still called the "cave of skulls," but all the bones have been removed and interred in a desolate, picturesque little cemetry hard by. This rock is upon the highest point of the island, from which the view over the neighbouring islands, the main land, the - two capes of Michilimackinac and St. Ignace, and the straits between them, as seen beneath the glow of an evening sun, formed a panorama of surpassing beauty.

In short, this is a bijou of an island !—a little bit of fairy ground, just such a thing as some of our amateur travellers would like to pocket and run away with (if they could)—and set down in the midst of one of their fish-ponds-cave of skulls, wigwams, Indians, and all.

It might indeed be an objection to some people, that several luxuries, and some things usually considered as necessaries of life, seldom find their way here; meat is very scarce, not often seen; but poultry, wild-fowl, the most exquisite fish-as the white-fish, bass, sturgeon, lake trout-abound. These, dressed in different ways, with corn-cakes and buck-wheat cakes, form the usual food; no better can be desired. As to the white-fish, I have never tasted anything like it, either for delicacy or flavour.

The most delightful as well as most profitable hours I spend here, are those passed in the society of Mrs. Schoolcraft. Her genuine refinement and simplicity, and native taste for literature, are charming; and the exceeding delicacy of her health, and the trials to which it is exposed, interest all my womanly sympathies. While in conversation with her, new ideas of the Indian character suggest themselves; new sources of information are opened to me, such as are granted to few, and such as I gratefully appreciate. She is proud of her Indian origin; she takes an enthusiastic and enlightened interest in the welfare of her people, and in their conversion to Christianity, being herself most unaffectedly pious. But there is a melancholy and pity in her voice, when speaking of them, as if she did indeed consider them a doomed race. We were conversing to-day of her grandfather, Waub-Ojeeg, (the White-fisher,) a distinguished Chippewa chief and warrior, of whose life and exploits she has promised to give me some connected particulars. Of her mother, O,shah,gush,ko,da,wa,qua, she speaks with fond and even longing affection, as if the very sight of this beloved mother would be sufficient to restore her to health

and strength. "I should be well if I could see my mother," seems the predominant feeling. Nowhere is the instinctive affection between parent and child so strong, so deep, so sacred, as among these people.

I recollect, some years ago, meeting with a strange story of a north-west Indian hunter, who, on the sudden death of his wife in child-birth, had suckled his surviving infant. I asked Mrs. Schoolcraft if

this could possibly be true? She said that the man belonged to her people, and that the fact was not doubted among them. Her mother recollects to have seen the man some years after the circumstance occurred. At that time his bosom retained something of the full feminine form. This is very curious evi. dence. I cannot remember by whom the anecdote was first brought to Europe, but it excited so much attention and disputation among our scientific and medical people, that you will probably recollect it.

Celibacy in either sex is almost unknown among the Indians; equally rare is all profligate excess. One instance I heard of a woman who had remained unmarried from choice, not from accident or necessity. In consequence of a dream in early youth, (the Indians are great dreamers,) she not only regarded the sun as her manito or tutelary spirit, (this had been a common case,) but considered herself especially dedicated, or in fact married, to the luminary. She lived alone; she had built a wigwam for herself, which was remarkably neat and commodious; she could use a rifle, hunt, and provide herself with food and clothing. She had carved a rude image of the sun, and set it up in her lodge; the husband's place, the best mat, and a portion of food, were always appropriated to this image. She lived to a great age, and no one ever interfered with her mode of life, for that would have been contrary to all their ideas of individual freedom. Suppose that, according to our most approved European notions, the poor woman had been burnt at the stake, corporeally or metaphorically, or hunted beyond the pale of

the village, for deviating from the law of cus tom, no doubt there would have been directly a new female sect in the nation of the Chippewas, an order of wives of the sun, and Chippewa vestal vir. gins; but these wise people trusted to nature and common sense. The vocation apparently was not generally admired, and found no imitators.

Their laws, or rather their customs, command certain virtues and practices, as truth, abstinence, courage, hospitality; but they have no prohibitory laws whatever that I could hear of. In this respect their moral code has something of the spirit of Christianity, as contrasted with the Hebrew disposition. Polygamy is allowed, but it is not common; the second wife is considered as subject to the first, who remains mistress of the household, even though the younger wife should be the favourite. Jealousy, however, is a strong passion among them: not only has a man been known to murder a woman whose fidelity he suspected, but Mr. Schoolcraft mentioned to me an instance of a woman, who, in a transport of jealousy, had stabbed her husband. But these extremes are very rare.

Some time ago, a young Chippewa girl conceived a violent passion for a hunter of a different tribe, and followed him from his winter hunting-ground to his own village. He was already married, and the wife, not being inclined to admit a rival, drove this love-sick damsel away, and treated her with the utmost indignity. The girl, in desperation, offered herself as a slave to the wife, to carry wood and water, and lie at her feet-anything to be admitted