Smith's Canadian gazetteer - ElectricCanadian.com

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and on the south hy Tiake Erie. In Maiden 17,4.'2 acres are taken up, 3,775 of
which are under cultivation. This is a very old-settled township, some of the
farms havinj^ been under cultivation since the time when Canada was in the
possession of the French ; and nearly every lot is taken up. The land fjenerally
is of the richest quality, and capable of pi'oduciufj lurge croj)s of Indian corn,
tobacco, Sic. Tobacco has been grown in this townshij), which lias sold for
Iv. 10.',//. c'y per pound, on the premises. The tindier consists of the best kind
ofhaniwood: maple, oak, beecli, hickory, elm, black walnut, butternut, &c.
The town of Amherstburg- is situated near the south-west corner of the township,
on the Detroit River. About a mile below the town, close to the river,
and a little above the entrance of Lake I^lrie, is a chalybeate spring, the water
of whicli is said to resend)le that of Cheltenham, in England. There arc two
grist-mills in the township, one of which is a windmill, and the other is worked
by horse-power.
Population in 1845, 1934; about half of whom are French Canadians, and the
remainder a mixture of English, Irish, Scotch, English Canadians and Americans.
Ratable property in the township, £2G,35G.
MALDEN, FORT.
(See Amhefstburg.)
MANITOULTN ISLAND, GREAT, or THIRD.
The principal island in Lake Huron ; it is about one hundred miles in length,
and in breadth varies from four to twenty -five miles; it is indented by an almost
innumerable number of bays, and the scenery is in many parts magnificent.
Mauitoulin Gulf, (which is in reality a long narrow lake, connected with Lake
Huron), and Heywood's ])ay, which run into the island at its widest part, one
from the south, the other from the north; approach each other to within three
miles, thus almost dividing the island into two. In summer, the sun is veryhot
on these islands, and vegetation exceedingly rapid. The Great Manitoulin
is settled exclusively by Indians; the only whites on the island being those
attached to the government station at Manitowawning, (Hudson's Sound) and
two or three at the Roman Caiholic village at Wequemakong, (Smith's Bay).
The island is frequently visited by Indian traders. jNIanitowawning is about
190 miles from Penetanguishine, and 17(5 from Goderich.
Previously to the year 1829, the distribution of presents to a large portion of
the Indians, included under the term "western tribes," consisting of the visiting
Indians, north of Penetanguishine; of those at Sault St. Marie, and on the shores
of Lake Superior; of those from the south-west, and Lake Michigan, Green Ray,
the Fox River, Wisconsin, even from the distant Mississippi, was made at
Drununond's island, the old militar)' post on Lake Huron.
In that year the island having been finallj' ceded to the Americans, and the
government being desirous of ascertaining the disposition of the Indians to embrace
civilization, the distributicm was made at the island of St. Joseph's, about
nine miles north-west from Drununond's island.
The proposition of settling at Manitou appears to have been founded on a
report from Major Winnett, in the early part of the same year, in which, in
reference to tlie civilization of the Indians he stated that the Great Manitoulin
island offered greater advantages for the formation of a settlement for the
Indians than St. Joseph's could present, with respect to soil, climate, and lake
fishing ; the last a great object in the estimation of old Indians. It is distant one
hundred miles and upwards from any Anu'ricnn military post, and between
sixty and seventy from any part of the American territcny.
In 1830. and tiie following five years, the distribution of presents was made
at Penetanguishine, and thus, the western tribes were brought within the
influence of the efforts of the government to civilize them. Their visits to the
pros])erous settlements at Coldwater and tlu' Narrows were frequent; they
witnessed the advantages enjoyed by their brethren who were settled thero