Before speaking of the voyage from this point, it may be well to refer to another matter.  The probability of Professor Douglass publishing the joint results of our observations on the expedition of 1820, appeared now unfavorable.  Among the causes of this, I regarded my withdrawal to a remote point as prominent but not decisive.  Two years had already elapsed; the professor was completely absorbed in his new professorship, in which he was required to teach a new subject in a new language.  Governor Cass, who had undertaken the Indian subject, had greatly enlarged the platform of his inquiries, which rendered it probable that there would be a delay.  My memoir on the geology and mineralogy only was ready.  Dr. Barnes had the conchology nearly ready, and the botany, which was in the hands of Dr. Torrey, was well advanced.  But it required a degree of labor, zeal, and energy to push forward such a work, that admits of no abatements, and which was sufficient to absorb all the attention of the highest mind; and could not be expected from the professor, already overtasked.

Among the papers which were put in my hands at Detroit, I found a printed copy of Governor Cass’s Indian queries, based on his promise to Douglass, by which I was gratified to perceive that his mind was earnestly engaged in the subject, which he sought a body of original materials to illustrate.  I determined to be a laborer in this new field.

Our voyage up Lake Huron to Michilimackinack, and thence east to the entrance of the Straits of St. Mary’s, at Detour, was one of pleasant excitement.  We ascended the straits and river, through Muddy Lake and the narrow pass at Sailor’s Encampment, to the foot of the great Nibeesh [12] rapids.  Here the steamer came to anchor from an apprehension that the bar of Lake George [13] could not be crossed in the existing state of the water.

[Footnote 12:  This name signifies strong water, meaning bad for navigation, from its strength.  Here Nebeesh is the derogative form of Nebee, water.]

[Footnote 13:  The depth of water on this bar was then stated to be but six feet two inches.]

It was early in the morning of the 6th of July when this fact was announced.  Colonel Brady determined to proceed with his staff in the ship’s yawl, by the shorter passage of the boat channel, and invited me to a seat.  Captain Rogers, of the steamer, himself took the helm.  After a voyage of about four or five hours, we landed at St. Mary’s at ten o’clock in the morning.  Men, women, children, and dogs had collected to greet us at the old wharf opposite the Nolan House—­the ancient “chateau” of the North-West Company.  And the Indians, whose costume lent an air of the picturesque to the scene, saluted us with ball, firing over our heads as we landed.  The Chemoquemon had indeed come!  Thus the American flag was carried to this point, and it was soon hoisted on a tall staff in an open field east of Mr. Johnston’s premises,