The garden, now a wilderness, was the pride of
the island. Its prim arbors, its spring and spring-house, its
flowerbeds, where, with infinite pains, a few hardy plants were
induced to blossom; its cherry-tree avenue, whose early red fruit the
short summer could scarcely ripen; its annual attempts at vegetables,
which never came to maturity,--formed topics for conversation in court
circles. Potatoes then as now were left to the mainland Indians, who
came over with their canoes heaped with the fine, large thin-jacketed
fellows, bartering them all for a loaf or two of bread and a little
whiskey.
'The stockade which surrounds the place was at that day a not
unnecessary defence. At the time of the payments the island swarmed
with Indians, who came from Lake Superior and the Northwest, to
receive the government pittance. Camped on the beach as far as the eye
could reach, these wild warriors, dressed in all their savage finery,
watched the Agency with greedy eyes, as they waited for their turn.
The great gate was barred, and sentinels stood at the loopholes with
loaded muskets; one by one the chiefs were admitted, stalked up to the
office,--that wing on the right,--received the allotted sum, silently
selected something from the displayed goods, and as silently departed,
watched by quick eyes, until the great gate closed behind them.
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