USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people, its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume I > Part 14
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MOURNING FOR THE DEAD
The Chippewas in former times buried their dead by enclosing the remains in a box, or bark shell. This was placed upon a scaffold about ten feet high, made of four saplings having erosspieces bound to them with wattap. Upon these the box rested. They often planted vines at the base of the saplings which soon ran up and covered the box. One reason they gave for this method was that they did not like to have their dead put out of sight so soon by putting them in the grave. After a time, when the remains were interred. a covering was built over the grave, made by setting saplings, which were bent together at the top and covered with bark, resembling their wigwams, but lower and longer. An opening was left at one end to insert the dish of food. In case of a warrior, the pole or gravepost was set up in front of the opening. This
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was painted red, and ornamented with the metal or other trinkets of the deceased, strips of fur, feathers, bits of tobacco and sometimes scalps (these last were stretched upon a circular framework). The totemie devices were carved in reverse upon this post, and it was ens- tomary to light a fire.
The Chippewas of early days had a curious custom which widows were compelled to observe. When a man died his widow must take her best apparel, roll it into a bundle and tie it with her husband's sash, and sometimes his medals and other trinkets were included. This bun- dle was then wrapped in a piece of eloth and the Indian was obliged to carry it about with her when she went out, and keep it beside her in the lodge. This badge of widowhood and mourning, which is called "her husband," was compulsory until some of her husband's family called and took it away, which was done when they thought she had mourned long enough ; usually at the end of a year. She was then free and at liberty to marry again if she chose. The widow had the privi- lege of taking this bundle to her husband's family and leaving it, but this was seldom done, as it was considered indecorous. The size of the mourning bundle depended on her wardrobe, as it must be her best and she must wear her worst clothing. When the relatives relieved the widow of the bundle, they gave her clothing in place of it. When pres- . ents were given to the Indians by the commissioners this "husband" came in for a share. just as though it were a living man. Sometimes a brother of the husband took the widow for his wife, at the grave, when the deceased was buried. This was done by the ceremony of walking her over the grave. He had a right to do this, and, if done, the widow did not assume mourning. If the widow chose to do so, she had the right to go to her husband's brother, and he was obliged to receive and support her.
When a Chippewa mother lost a young child, she frequently made an image of wood or clay representing it. This she dressed in the child's clothing, lashed it to the cradle board (Tik-Kinagou) and went through the pretense of feeding and caring for it, as though it were a child. This ceremony usually lasted about a year. The Chippewa men mourned by painting their faces black.
It is only the old men among the Chippewas who remember these customs of former days. Like all the Algonquin race they are acquir- ing the habits and thoughts of white men. Only on the distant reserva- tions some of the old ceremonies are kept up, even as we keep up cus- toms of the pagan days of the whites, in some of our festivals.
DISPLACE THE MASCOUTENS
The first white men who came to northern Michigan found Chippe- was and Ottawas along the St. Mary's river and in the vicinity of Mich- ilimackinac, but there was a tradition among them that they had by their united efforts displaced another tribe whom they called the Musk- odains, probably the tribe called Mascontens by the French. The first
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fights seem to have occurred on the shores of Drummonds island (Port- agunassee) and on Point Detour. The Ottawas claimed it was the bones of these Indians which were found in the caves at Mackinaw. It was claimed that they had magicians for leaders, and that their war cap- tain escaped underground at the Point Detour fight. They fled along the shore towards Michilimackinac and finally across the lake and down the eastern shore of Michigan. The Ottawas represented them as pow- erful and skillful. more than themselves.
The small mounds and ancient garden beds in Michigan are attrib- uted to them. Traces of them are found in Wisconsin, Illinois and southern Michigan. It was they who made the trenches for bones found on Menissing island in Lake Huron. According to Schoolcraft, they were the Indians who worked the ancient copper mines of Lake Superior. The name Muskodain is confusing, Mushkoosa meaning "grass," or "herbage" in general, while Ishkoda means "fire;" henee they were called Little Prairie Indians, or Fire Indians. The differ- ence in the root words is that between Ushko and Ishko. The Ottawas claim to have carried on most of the warfare of extermination, but the noted Chippewa chief, Ishquagauabi, said it was done by the Chippewas and Ottawas jointly. He accounts for the alternating settlements along the east shore of Lake Michigan, in this way. It is believed that they were contemporary or identical with the Assigunaigs or Bone Indians, spoken of by the western and lake tribes.
These nearly forgotten races seem to have been the last link con- necting modern history with the mound builders and, like all sedentary people, were exterminated by the fiercer hunting tribes who had not reached such an approximately high plane of living.
Another forgotten tribe which lived in the Upper Peninsula was the Noquets mentioned in the account of Nicolet's journey. They were also called the Roquai. Their home was on Bay due Noquet. They were afterwards classed with the Chippewas. Another tribe was called the Mantoue, or sometimes the Makcoucoue, or the Nantoue. They were sedentary in habit. and lived upon the fruits of the land. They lived near the Foxes and were probably a branch of the Menominees. Nicolet found them upon a lake north of Bay du Noquet.
OTTAWAS AND HURONS
The Hurons were not properly an Upper Peninsula tribe, though the whites found many of them among the Chippewas and Ottawas. When driven from their hunting grounds by the fierec Iroquois, the Hurons, or Wyandots, fled, many of them to the Chippewa country, for refuge. The Iroquois followed and carried their work of destruction into the northern lake country. Iroquois Point, on Lake Superior, commemorates a battle where the Iroquois were so thoroughly de- feated by the Chippewas and Foxes, who were allied at that time, that they never attempted further encroachment on Chippewa territory.
The struggling bands of Hurons became identical with the Chippe-
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was and Ottawas. The Ottawas were neighbors and allies of the Chip- pewas and were bound by ties of kinship also, as intermarriage between the tribes was common. They were so like the Chippewas in most ways that they need no especial description. Of the same Algonquin stock, they have the same language, nearly, the same dress, religion, myths and general customs. The Ottawas were less savage and fickle, however, than the Chippewas. They were somewhat in advance of their neigh- bors in agriculture, partly because they lived, most of them, on the southern mainland, and partly because they were naturally more peace- ful and possessed greater intelligence. From the first they were more kindly disposed toward the whites, and often saved them from the attacks of the more savage Chippewas. The one great Indian of this tribe, who helped to make Michigan history, was Pontiac. Though he never lived in the Upper Peninsula, this great scheme for reinstating the Indians in their primeval condition, and restoring their rights as he un- derstood them, involved the Chippewas and other Northern Peninsula tribes. As he was half Chippewa, his mother having belonged to that tribe, and of the otter totem, which gave him high rank among them, the Chippewas were especially drawn to his side.
Pontiac's plan of organizing the Indians and driving out the whites was well conceived, and showed a mind far in advance of his time. With almost supernatural foresight, he saw the downfall of his race in the coming of the whites. This had not been so apparent when there was only the French to deal with; for they amalgamated with the Indians, and were content to live on equal terms of possession, but when the English came the keen mind of Pontiae recognized them as men who would be masters; never brothers of his race. Had the savage tribes who followed him possessed cohesion and self-control, the story would have been different, and Michigan would have waited long for civilization and peaceful settlement. Pontiac was murdered in 1769 by an Indian who had been bribed with whiskey to follow him into the for- est and stab him. Had he belonged to a different age and race, history would have called him a great man and a hero.
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CHAPTER VI NATIVE ANIMAL LIFE
LARGE FUR-BEARING ANIMALS-DOG AND CAT FAMILIES-SMALL FUR- BEARERS-BIRDS, FISHES AND REPTILES.
As already noted, the value of fur-bearing animals was one of the first incentives to the exploration of northern Michigan, and the ex- plorers found the country rich in the varieties they sought, and there were many others as well.
LARGE FUR-BEARING ANIMALS
Largest of all the native animals valuable to the fur traders, was the clumsy black bear (Ursus Americanus). It is still hunted in the Upper Peninsula though gradually becoming more searce, and it will undoubtedly soon be extinct. The natural food of the bear consists of berries, nuts and roots, but it seems fond also of strong vegetation such as skunk-cabbage and Indian turnip. the root of which is intensely hot ; it also eats spruce buds and bark. It will not attack a human be- ing, unless driven by hunger, cornered or wounded.
The buffalo ( Bison Americanus) seems to have been formerly in the Upper Peninsula as there are many references to it in Indian traditions, and it ranged the whole country from Montana to Florida.
The woodland caribou (Rangifer) was known and hunted by the Indians and first white settlers and its meat was a favorite ingredient of pemmican. The caribou is the only reindeer known as far south as Lake Superior, but it has long since been driven out of Michigan. Its color was a dun grey, turning more white in the winter.
The moose (Alees Americanns) was formerly hunted for food, as well as for skins, these being very strong and tough and therefore valu- able for clothing, snow-shoes, moccasins and many other uses. The moose is very large, and in color very like the caribou but darker. The head is clumsy, supporting broad spreading antlers. It is very swift, in spite of its clumsy appearance. The Indians are most successful hunt- ers of this animal, for it is very alert and keen of hearing and the In- dians know its ways. The food of the moose was usually twigs of trees,
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mosses and lichens, though they are fond also of the roots of pond lilies with which our northern lakes abound.
The American elk (Cervus Canadensis) was formerly well known, but is now nearly extinct in the Upper Peninsula. It was larger than the red deer which it resembles, and its flesh is coarser, being more like that of the moose. It fed on willow tips, moss, lichens and such pro- ducts during the winter season when grass could not be had. The antlers of the elk resemble those of the deer, but are much larger and do not have the flat web-like appearance of those of the moose.
The ordinary American deer (Cervus Virginiana) has always made the Upper Peninsula its home. The white tailed variety is most com- mon. Its food in winter consists of buds, ferns, bark, mosses and twigs, while in summer it lives on grass and such water vegetation as lilies and cress of which it is very fond. The color, which is reddish brown, turns to a grey-brown in the winter; the young are spotted. Deer hunting has been recognized as one of the principal sports of the Peninsula and it still extensively practiced. They were formerly hunted by running them with packs of hounds which many of the old settlers kept for that purpose, or by means of lights placed upon the hunter's head, or in the how of a hoat at night to attract the attention of the animal and make its eyes visible through the darkness; the natural enriosity of deer lead- ing it to its destruction.
DOG AND CAT FAMILIES
The only member of the dog family natural to the Northern Penin- sula is the large timber or grey wolf (Canis Lupus). It is very fierce and destructive, and these animals when hunting usually join and form large packs. The color of the American wolf diffe:s with locality, though the type is the same. They are usually grey in color, with white below, but sometimes the tips of the long hair are so dark as to give the animal the appearance of being nearly black. A smaller species, the coyote, which is the jackall of the old world, is found to some extent in recent years in the Upper Peninsula where it seems to have wandered from its natural home on the prairies. It is yellowish grey in color and is more closely allied to the dog than is any other species, and may have been the progenitor of the dogs used by the Indians, as it is not known when or how the northern Indians acquired dogs for their sledges.
Wolverines (Gulo Lnseus) which were formerly plentiful enough, seem to have entirely disappeared, a distinct gain, for the little beast was ferocious, a notorious glutton and a born thief. Ile was much hated by the early trappers as he continually robbed their traps and mutilated what he could not eat. The prevailing color of this animal was black and the fur good. The body was short and clumsy. Many curious and preposterous stories are told of its habits; even the Indians recognized its bad qualities, for their word for wolverine meant a "tough fellow."
The red fox (Vulpes Fulvus), famous in story, is still common. The
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color is reddish yellow on the back and nearly white underneath. The fur of the kittens is very fine and soft, while that of the grown animal is in good demand. The range of the fox is very wide and varies ex- cerdingly. It lives upon small animals and prefers birds and their eggs. Its habits are predatory and sly, and it is bold enough to en- croach upon human habitations. Aside from the red fox, there have been occasional specimens of black, and silver grey, and of crosses, cap- tured in this locality.
The panther (Felis Concolor) which varies in color and name with the locality in which it is found, is the largest representative of the cat family in the Upper Peninsula. It was well known formerly, but is rare now. Its long lithe body is a tawny reddish brown, though the kittens often have dark brown stripes or spots nearly approaching black. The head is small in proportion to the body. This animal lives upon deer and other small animals and at times is bold enough to at- tack men. Many stories are told of the stealthiness with which they stalk their prey, and of the paralyzing influence of their screams when they are about to make an attack. The panther is equally at home in the trees and on the ground.
The wild cat (Felis Catus) known locally as the "bob-cat" is a species somewhat larger than the domestie cat, and it has a shorter, thicker tail. It is of a grey color, with light yellowish fur underneath, and usually with dark stripes running down the sides and along the spine.
The Canada lynx (Lynx Canadensis) has always been highly prized and much sought, on account of its fur, which is very thick and is sus- ceptible of treatment. The color is grizzled grey, lighter underneath. The peculiar ears and large eyes give this animal a savage appearance, which it quite merits, for it has been known to attack men. In habits it is like other cats, and lives upon birds, rabbits and other small ani- mals.
SMALL FUR-BEARERS
The Raccoon (Procyon Lotor) so famous in story and song, is still found to some extent. The fur is very good, a long grey hair covering the fine thick under fur. A distinguishing mark is the long tail ringed about with alternate light and dark stripes. Its bill of fare is so exten- sive that it makes itself a nuisance to farmers. It has a method of sous- ing its food in water, which is probably a relic of its fishing instinct, for it is very fond of fish. This little animal is easily tamed and very ennning in its tricks, but very nureliable and thievish.
The otter (Lutra Canadensis) is very much prized for its fine fur, and for that reason has become practically exterminated in this region. Its predominant color is brown, but lighter on the breast and throat. Like the raccoon it has interesting habits, among them being a fondness for sliding down hill. Otter slides were frequently found in early days. This animal can be tamed if taken very young.
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The common skunk (Nephis Mephitica) has a bad reputation, but its black and white fur is very valuable, and often passes in the market under various more genteel names. It is a pest to poultrymen, but it has some redeeming qualities, for it consumes great quantities of de- structive insects and grubs.
The badger (Taxidea Americana) has gone the way of the wolverine and the otter. It had burrowing habits and a stout body, with long hair of a mixed color presenting a grizzled appearance. It had a habit, when surprised, of remaining motionless for a long time, and. owing to its color. it often escapes recognition because of its resemblance to a stone or lump or earth. It will eat most anything when confined, but is particularly fond of gophers and mice.
The mink ( Intorius Lutreola) bears a fur nearly as valuable as seal at the present day. It was formerly very common throughout the Upper Peninsula. Its color ranges from a light yellowish brown to a very dark brown nearly approaching black, the dark fur being most highly prized. The tenaeity of life in a miuk is wonderful. It fre- qnently gnaws off its own limbs in order to extricate itself from a trap. It is a fierce little fighter and not to be handled carelessly by the trap- per. Its habits are semi-aquatie. It can be tamed and likes to be caressed like a cat, but is more treacherous. When trained they make excellent ratters.
The weasel (Pntorins Vulgaris) is closely allied to the mink but is smaller and more slender. It has a long neck and very short legs. In color it is light brown on the back and nearly white underneath during the summer season, though, like its royal cousin, the ermine, it turns a clear white with the exception of the tip of its tail, in winter. Owing to its swiftness of motion it is difficult to catch, and is a eour- ageous fighter when at bay. It is particularly fond of birds of all sorts, but if poultry houses are well guarded this animal is useful to the farmer in clearing out rats, mice and other verniin.
Of the sables there are two species in the Upper Peninsula, one known locally as the fisher, (Mustela Pennanti), and the other the pine marten (Mustela Americana). The fisher is the largest, somewhat re- sembling a wolverine. It lives upon mice as well as fish, and fre- quently eats the porcupine. It differs from the marten in preferring to inhabit low ground near the water. It is very cunning and vexations to the trappers, being hard to catch and accustomed to rob the traps. The fur of the marten is very beautiful, and there are really three kinds on one pelt; that next to the skin being soft, short and wool-like, the second growing through this, longer, soft and kinky, and the third or outer coat being of long glossy hairs, bristly to the roots. The color like that of the fisher is dark brown, almost black. The animal is very shy and shuns civilization, preferring the dry ranges of the woods and living by preference in the hollow of a tree, though found sometimes among rocks, or even underground.
The beaver (Castor Fiber) was probably the best known and most
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profitable of all the fur bearing animals. Its soft velvety brown fur has always been in demand. The Indians prized its flesh, especially that of its flat tail which they esteemed a great delicacy. The beaver is fitted for aquatic life, and besides its mud houses along the banks of streams being well remembered, it is noted for its skill in building dams by felling trees, which it does by gnawing them with its teeth, and then floating twigs and rubbish and plastering all together with mud. Its felling of trees also served a double purpose, for it used the bnds and twigs for food. It is easily tamed, and preserves its building instincts while in captivity. Like the otter and hare it was. among the Indians, considered as endowed with unusual supernatural qualities. Because of the value of its fur, it has been so sought after that it has now be- come nearly extinet in this region.
The squirrel family is represented in the Upper Peninsula by seven species. The largest and hairiest is the woodchuck (Aretomys Monax) much celebrated for its ability as a weather prophet. When numerons this "chuck" is a pest, as it eats everything green almost without dis- crimination. The greyish hair is coarse. The animal is of burrowing habits, though the climbing of fences and on low trees is not impossible to it. Another ground squirrel is the little four-striped chipmunk (Tamias Quadrovittatus), the smallest and prettiest of the family and very common. Among the tree squirrels the red squirrel (Seiurus Hudsonius) is the best known. It is a lively little fellow, dark reddish brown on the back and almost white beneath, with a tail of a rusty color with a black fringe. The grey squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis) is nearly as common as the red, but it is larger and of a grey color on the back; sometimes with a reddish tint, and very light underneath, the color varying considerably. Occasionally members of this same variety are entirely black, which fact sometimes leads to confusion of species. The western fox squirrel (Sciurus Ludovicianus) is occasionally found here. It is much larger than the grey squirrel, with much more of the reddish tinge and tawny beneath. It is seldom dark colored and never black. Another variety is the flying squirrel (Seiuropterus Volucella). It possesses a fold of skin on cach side of its body stretching lengthwise from the fore to the hind leg, and this membrane enables it to make wonderful flying leaps. It is an interesting little creature, covered with soft grey fur, has large bright eyes and is easily tamed.
The porcupine (Erethizon Dorsatus) spends much time in trees in pursuit of birds and in hunting their eggs. It is a sluggish, clumsy animal, not so formidable as it looks. Its covering is a coarse grey hair mingled with sharp, stiff spines or quills, which are the animal's chief defense. Contrary to former notions it can not throw these quills, but merely jerks them loose when attacked. Dogs frequently suffer from grabbing them. Among the Indians the flesh of the porcupine was highly esteemed, and the quills, when dyed, furnished a common ma- terial for purposes of ornament.
The Northern Peninsula hare (Lepus Americanus) varies very
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much in appearance in different localities and seasons, changing both in size and color, the general color being brown or greyish in summer though with more or less white, and changing to a very light grey and sometimes white in the winter. The flesh is prized for food, and the fine, soft fur, which is easily dyed, furnishes much of the coney of com- merce.
Other lesser animals are to be found. among which the bat of Upper Michigan (Vespertilio Subulatns) is an insect-eating variety and a harmless little nocturnal creature, though it suffers from a bad reputa- tion fixed upon it by superstition and ignorance. It is very useful in- destroying noxious inserts. It is small, brown in color, and hides by clinging under leaves of trees or in dark corners during the day.
Another insect-eating animal is the common brown mole (Scalops Aquaticus), an interesting underground creature.
Besides the rodents above mentioned, there are field or wood mice (Hesperomys Leucopus), common and destructive everywhere. The musk-rat (Fiber Zibethieus) is a more valuable member of this family. It builds its mud houses along the edge of swamps or streams, or bur- rows into the muddy banks. Like the beaver it is semi-aquatic. The dark brown soft fur, lighter underneath, has a commercial value and is often used as a substitute for mink.
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