Textbook Lectures Problems and Solutions For Ordinary Differential Equations Second Edition Yuefan Deng Ebook All Chapter PDF
Textbook Lectures Problems and Solutions For Ordinary Differential Equations Second Edition Yuefan Deng Ebook All Chapter PDF
Textbook Lectures Problems and Solutions For Ordinary Differential Equations Second Edition Yuefan Deng Ebook All Chapter PDF
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Lectures, Problems and Solutions
for
Ordinary Differential Equations
Second Edition
Yuefan Deng
Stony Brook University, USA
World Scientific
ISBN 978-981-3226-12-8
ISBN 978-981-3226-13-5 (pbk)
Printed in Singapore
Yuefan Deng
Stony Brook, New York
January 1, 2017
Contents
PREFACE ................................................................................................................................... V
INDEX..................................................................................................................................... 559
Chapter 1
First‐Order Differential
Equations
Examples
Are they DEs or not?
0 No
1
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
′ 0 Yes Here ′
′ ′ 0 Yes Here ′ and ′
′′ Yes Here ′
Examples
0
′ is not a solution
is a solution
Classification of DEs
Classification of DEs is itself another subject in studying DEs. We will
introduce classifications and terminologies to make the contents of
the book flow but one may still need to look up terms undefined here
or abbreviations introduced at the end of the book. First, we
introduce the terms of dependent variables DVs and independent
2
1.1 Definition of Differential Equations
Order of DEs
The order of a DE is determined by the highest order derivative of
the DV and sometimes we interchangeably call it unknown
function . If you love to generalize things, algebraic equations AE
may be classified as 0th order DEs as there are no derivatives for the
unknowns in the AEs.
Examples
Determine the orders of the following DEs.
0 1.1
0 1.2
2nd‐order 2nd.O DE:
0 1.3
0 1.4
3
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
′′ 0 1.5
5 0 1.6
Definition Examples
ODE:
ODEs ODEs contain only one IV.
vs. PDEs contain two or PDE:
PDEs more IVs.
First‐order
The highest order of the 1st.O :
derivatives of the DVs ′
Order of DEs
determines the order of Second‐order
the DEs 2nd.O :
′′
A DE containing Linear:
Linear
nonlinear term s for the ′
vs. DVs is a nonlinear DE Nonlinear:
regardless of the nature ′′
Nonlinear
of the IVs
4
1.1 Definition of Differential Equations
A 1st‐order 1st.O DE
, ,
0 is Homo DE if both
, and , are 1st.O Homo DE:
homogeneous functions. ′
Otherwise, it is InHomo 1st.O InHomo DE:
Homogeneous DE. ′
vs.
In general, a linear DE of Homo DE:
Inhomogeneous order is a Homo DE if it
cos 0
is of the form InHomo DE:
cos
0
Otherwise, it is InHomo
DE.
Linearity of DEs
DEs can also be classified as linear or nonlinear according to the
linearity of the DVs regardless of the nature of the IVs. A DE that
contains only linear terms for the DV or its derivative s is a linear
DE. Otherwise, a DE that contains at least one nonlinear term for the
DV or its derivative s is a nonlinear DE.
Linear Nonlinear
0 0
0 0
0 0
5
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
Solutions
A function that satisfies the DE is a solution to that DE. Seeking such
functions is the main objective of the book while composing the DEs,
which may excite engineering majors more, is the secondary
objective of this book.
Solutions can also be classified into several categories, for example,
general solutions GS , particular solutions PS , and singular
solutions SS . A GS, i.e., a complete solution, is the set of all solutions
to the DE and it can usually be expressed in a function with arbitrary
constant s . A PS is a subset of the GS whose arbitrary constant s
are determined by the initial conditions ICs or the boundary
conditions BCs or both. An SS is a solution that is singular. In a less
convoluted definition, an SS is one for which the DE, or the initial
value problem IVP or the Cauchy problem, fails to have a unique
solution at some point in the solution. The set in which the solution
is singular can be a single point or the entire real line.
Examples
Try to guess the solutions of the following DEs:
1 ′ 0
2 ′
3 ′′ 0
4 ′′ sin
5 ′′ sin where, in general,
6
1.1 Definition of Differential Equations
Problems
7
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
Problem 1.1.7 Verify that satisfies the given DE and determine a value
of the constant so that satisfies the given IC.
3 0, exp , 0 7
Problem 1.1.8 Verify that satisfies the given DE and determine a value
of the constant so that satisfies the given IC.
tan cos , cos , 0
Problem 1.1.9 Verify that satisfies the given DE and determine a value
of the constant so that satisfies the given IC.
3 1 , tan , 0 1
8
1.1 Definition of Differential Equations
9
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
10
1.2 Slope Fields and Solution Curves
Example 1
Find the isoclines
sin 1.10
Solution
arcsin
arcsin
Example 2
Find the isoclines
1.11
Solution
The isocline equation
,
It is a circle.
11
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
Problems
Problem 1.2.1 Plot the solution curves and slope field for the DE for the
appropriate ranges for variables and
Problem 1.2.2 Plot the solution curves and slope field for the DE for the
appropriate ranges for variables and
2
12
1.3 Separation of Variables
All 1st.O initial value problem IVP , aka, the Cauchy problem, can be
written as
,
1.12
If , can be written as
1.13
1.14
Example 1A
Find the PS to the following IVP
6
1.15
0 7
Solution
6
ln 3 ln
exp 3
is the GS to 1.15 as shown in Figure 1.3.
13
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
Example 1B
Is 0 a solution to DE 6 ?
Solution
If 0, for the given DE, we have
LHS 0
and
RHS 6 6 ⋅0 0
Thus,
LHS RHS
Therefore,
0
is an SS to 6 .
Example 2
Find the PS to the following IVP
4 2
3 5 1.16
1 3
14
1.3 Separation of Variables
Solution
4 2
3 5
3 5 4 2
Integrating both sides, we get the GS
5 4
Applying the IC 1 3, i.e., 3 15 4 1 , we get 9 and the
PS to the IVP is
5 4 9
Example 3
Find the GS to the following DE
0 1.17
Solution
0
1 1
1 1
1 1
Singular Solutions
A singular solution is a solution for which the IVP fails to have a
unique solution at some point on the solution. The domain on which
a solution is singular is weird as it could be a single point or the
15
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
entire real line. The SS usually appear s when one divides the DE by
a term that might be zero while solving the DE.
Suppose we have a DE
1.18
To solve 1.18 , we divide it by .
1.19
That gives
1.20
Problems
16
1.3 Separation of Variables
′ 1
exp
0 1
17
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
2 2
18
1.4 First‐Order Linear DEs
1.25
1.26
Let
Now, we have
1.27
Let’s now derive the method to solve the general 1st.O linear DE in
the form of 1.27 . The key idea is to absorb the term to a
19
Chapter 1 First‐Order Differential Equations
1.28
1.31
1.32
ln
Therefore, we have
exp exp 1.33
Since this function can be multiplied by any non‐zero constant
to serve as a factor, without loss of generality while gaining
simplicity, we set 1. The resulting factor
20
1.4 First‐Order Linear DEs
exp 1.34
1.35
i.e.,
1.36
Integrating both sides of DE 1.36 , we get
1.37
Now, we outline the steps to solve the 1st.O linear DEs without
memorizing the formula 1.39 .
Step 1: Convert the DE to the standard form
Step 2: Identify
Step 3: Compute the IF
exp 1.40
21
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haystacks. I enquired the meaning, and was told I was looking upon an
Indian village, and these were wigwams. I was delighted to behold a
veritable Indian lodge, and to see real Indians, instead of those half
civilized beings I had met at Niagara. They are a body of Chippeway
Indians who reside upon Warpole Island under the care of a Missionary of
the Methodist church. Their wigwams consisted of poles meeting at top,
around which, coarse matting, formed of reeds is fastened. From the apex of
these cones smoke was rising, telling of culinary operations going on
within. Around each lodge was a small patch of potatoes or corn. A small
church, with the missionary cottage and a few log cabins, were in the midst.
Groups of Indians were lounging upon the bank gazing at us, while others
unconcernedly pursued their usual occupations of fishing or hoeing. How
much more graceful were those wild sons of the forest, than the civilized
men I had observed upon the shores I had passed. Their mantles of cloth or
blanket stuff, trimmed with gay colors, were gracefully thrown around
them, and their ornamented leggins or moccasins glittered as they walked.
How dignified is the tread of an Indian! we remarked as we passed the
island, many in various occupations and attitudes, yet they never moved
awkwardly, nor sprang, nor jumped in a clumsy manner. The missionary
cottage was an object of great interest to us. I had often read of these self-
denying disciples of Jesus, but never before looked upon the scene of their
labors. Here in this lonely shore, away from all they love—their friends and
home—and almost shut out from the face of civilized man, they spend their
days in laboring to ameliorate the lot of these unhappy children of the
forest. In bringing them to the feet of their master, they are indeed
conferring a blessing upon them past all return. As a recompense for the
bright land their fathers have taken from the bereaved Indian, they are
leading them to another, brighter and more lasting. There is no change, nor
shadow of turning—there, no enemy can destroy their homes—there, the
tears are wiped from their eyes, and all their sorrows soothed. Noble
missionary, who can appreciate thy sacrifice? None but those who have
come from a civilized land, where thou hast passed thy early days, and who
now sees thee among the endless forests with no associates save those
wretched savages, can understand the greatness of thy disinterestedness.
During the short summer, a residence may be tolerable, but when the rivers
and lakes are choaked up by ice, the short glimpse he has obtained of his
fellow man, while whirled past in a steamboat, will be denied him. The roar
of the winter wind will shake his cottage, and the wolf will scare him from
his slumbers. But what are earthly joys or sorrows to a child of Christ? His
meat and drink is to do the will of him that sent him, and in return for the
comforts and pleasures of civilized life, he receives a peace ‘the world
cannot give’—a joy, David in all the glory of his kingly life sighed for,
when he prayed ‘Give me the joy of thy salvation.’ A small settlement is
formed at the mouth of Black river, called Port Huron, which is to be the
termination of another canal across the state.
Here we found another vessel waiting for wind. It was the brig Rocky
Mountain, bound to Green Bay, being attached to our other side we passed
‘doubly armed.’ Near the point where the river leaves lake Huron stands
fort Gratiot, an United States military station whose white walls and
buildings, over which the American flag was waving, looked out brightly
from among the dark forest of the Michigan shore. A line of blue coats were
going through their morning drill; and a few cannons looked out fiercely
upon us. A small white Gothic church, and a cottage stood near; the whole
making a pretty cabinet picture. The river now narrowed to a quarter of a
mile, upon each side a point—the American side crowned by a light-house,
and the Canadian by a cluster of Indian cabins. A bark canoe, paddled by
five Indians, pushed off the shore and came after us with the greatest
rapidity, their long black hair flying wildly behind them. Our two vessels
retarded our motion a little, so that the Indians overtook us, and kept at our
side for some distance. They used their paddles with astonishing quickness,
and we were surprised to see them in their ‘light canoe,’ keep pace with our
large steamboat. It was however for a short distance only—they were soon
fatigued with such great exertion, and turned towards the point, and sprang
out, or rather stepped out with the greatest dignity, drew the canoe to the
shore, and then squatted down upon the bank evidently enjoying their race.
I use the above inelegant word, as being very expressive of their posture.
The Indian never sits down as we do—with his feet close beside each other,
and his body erect, he sinks slowly down—his blanket is then thrown over
his head and around his feet, so that nothing is seen except his dark glaring
eyes. Through the narrow pass before mentioned, between the two points,
the waters of Huron run with a swift current. Here we were furnished with
another evidence of the rise of these waters.
An officer of the army and his wife were our fellow voyagers, very
intelligent and agreeable persons. They had been stationed at fort Gratiot a
few years since, and had frequently roved over the beach around the light-
house in search of the pretty silecious pebbles, agate, camelian, and
calcedony, which are often found upon these shores. To their surprise, they
now found their favorite point, ‘curtailed of its fair proportions’ by a rise of
nearly five feet of water. Our steamboat and its two ‘tenders,’ passed
between the points out of St. Clair river, and we found ourselves at once in
a large and shoreless lake, with nothing in front, between us and the bright
blue sky, which touched the green waters in the far horizon beyond. The
transition is so sudden from the narrow opening, to the boundless lake as to
produce a grand and exciting effect. Once out upon the calm waters of
Huron, our two guests were loosened from their tackles, and spreading their
huge wings, they passed one to each shore, and we soon left them far
behind. About an hour after, the bell of our steamboat startled the still lake
with its clamors, denoting the approach of some vessel. We looked out in
time to see the noble steamboat Great Western rush past us as if upon the
wings of a whirlwind. She was on her way from Chicago to Buffalo. Her
bell answered ours, and the deck was crowded with passengers. One of
these standing alone by himself, and taking his hat off attracted our notice
and we discovered in him an old acquaintance from New York. These
meetings in a distant land are very interesting, carrying our feelings at once
to the home we had left. This steamboat is one of the largest upon the lakes,
is finished in a style of great elegance, and is said to be as long as the
English steamship of the same name.
This whole day since ten o’clock—we have been passing through Huron
under a cloudless sky. The lake is two hundred and fifty-five miles long,
and its waters are of a deeper tint than those we have passed, owing to its
great depth, as we are sailing over nine hundred feet of water, while in some
places it is said to be unfathomable. The color is a dark olive almost black,
and it is only when the sun shines through the waves that we can perceive
they are green. The cause of the various colors of water has produced many
a hypothesis. Sir Humphry Davy tells us the primitive color of water is like
the sky, a delicate azure.[13] He says ‘the finest water is that which falls
from the atmosphere—this we can rarely obtain in its pure state, as all
artificial contact gives more or less of contamination; but, in snow melted
by the sunbeams that has fallen upon glaciers, themselves formed from
frozen snow, may be regarded as in its state of greatest purity. Congelation
expels both salt and air from water whether existing below, or formed in the
atmosphere; and in the high and uninhabited region of glaciers, there can
scarcely be any substances to contaminate. Removed from animal and
vegetable life, they are even above the mineral kingdom.’ Water from
melted snow, then considered as the purest, Sir Humphrey goes on to
describe its color. ‘When a mass is seen through, it is a bright blue, and
according to its greater or less depth of substance, it has more or less of this
color.’ ‘In general when examining lakes and masses of water in high
mountains, their color is the same bright azure. Capt. Parry states that water
in the Polar ice has the like beautiful tint.’ The brown, green, and other
colors of rivers he imputes to substances over which they flow, as peat
bogs, vegetable and mineral substances. He allows the sea cannot be
colored from any thing upon the bottom, but imputes the tint to the infusion
of iodine, and brome which he has detected in sea water, the result of
decayed marine vegetables. Of this primitive water are our lakes formed,
originating as they do in regions of snow and ice. Lake Superior, from
whence they flow, is a vast basin of trap rock, of volcanic origin.[14] It is
the most magnificent body of water in the world, five hundred miles long,
and nine hundred deep, and perfectly pellucid. Into this pure, and originally,
azure primitive water, there flow forty rivers, upon the south side alone,
according to Mr. McKenney of the Indian department, who counted this
number from St. Mary’s to the river St. Louis. These rivers he tells us are
all amber colored. Why then may not these yellow rivers flowing into blue
water, produce green. You see I like to hazard a hypothesis as well as
others. I hope you will not call this absurd. Col. McKenney himself,
imputes the green color to reflection of the ‘rays of light passing through
the foliage of the shores, conveying their own green hue unto the surface of
the water from which they are reflected.’ This might be the case in small
rivers or lakes, but it cannot thus tint such a vast extent of water. A writer in
the American Journal of Science, is of opinion the color of water is
reflected from the sky, and is blue, dull, black, or golden, as the sky may be
—and that ‘green is produced in water, by the yellow light of the sun mixed
with the cerulean blue through which it shines.’ On the contrary the Count
Xavier de Maistre,[15] does not impute the color of water to any infused
substance, nor to reflection from above, but reflection from the surface
below, ‘as the blue color of the sky is owing to reflection from the earth
beneath.’ ‘Limpid waters, when they have sufficient depth,’ says the Count,
reflect like air, a blue color from below,—and this arises from a mixture of
air, which water always contains to a greater or lesser amount. This blue
color, being the primitive hue of water is sometimes clouded or lost by
earthy infusion, or reflections from a colored sky. The green tinge which he
sometimes observed in water, he tells us, is occasioned by reflection from a
white surface below. This he proves by his experiment of a sheet of tin
painted white let down beneath the water—and his description of the water
in the beautiful limestone grotto, on the shore of the Mediteranian at Capri.
The green tint observed in the ocean is only seen when it is so shallow, as to
reflect the sun’s rays from the earth beneath it.
As the States surrounding these lakes are more or less underlaid by
limestone, we may suppose the bottoms of the waters are in some places
paved with it; and from this, or the shores under the water and around it,
may be reflected, according to the Count’s theory, the light which gives the
water a green appearance. But I will not trouble you with any more
speculations; they come with an ill grace from me who only pretend to
describe all that passes before my eyes.
In the afternoon we were off Saginaw bay, an indentation in the coast of
Michigan running seventy or eighty miles deep and forty wide, making the
lake here very broad; in one spot we were out of sight of the land. A river of
the same name flows into the bay, upon which, about twenty-three miles
from its mouth, is a small town. A canal is proposed from this bay, across
the state to lake Michigan, at Grand or Washtenog river. How shall I convey
to you an idea of the loveliness which sat upon earth, air, and water this
afternoon! Certainly that sunset upon lake Huron is the most beautiful I
have ever beheld. The vast and fathomless lake, bounded by the heavens
alone, presented an immense circle, ‘calm as a molten looking-glass,’—to
quote from my favorite Job—surrounded by a band of fleecy clouds,
making a frame work of chased silver. Slowly and gracefully sank the orb,
the white clouds gently dispersing at his approach, and leaving their
monarch a free and glorious path. As he drew near that chrystal floor, all
brilliancy faded from the face of the lake, save one bright pathway from the
sun to us—like the bridge of Giamschid leading from earth to heaven. The
sun which I had always been accustomed to see above, was now below me,
near the water, on the water, under the water! A veil of purple is thrown
over it, and now the sun sleeps on lake Huron. The gold and rose which
painted the western sky have gone. Darkness has stolen over the world
below, and we turn our eyes above. What a high and noble dome of
loveliest blue! Upon one side there hangs a crescent of the purest pearly
white, while at its side steals forth one silver star, soon followed, as, saith
Ezekiel, by ‘all the bright lights of heaven,’ until night’s star-embroidered
drapery is canopied around us. What bosom is insensible to this gorgeous
firmament? Who hath not felt the ‘sweet influence of the Pleiades’ while
gazing at this starry roof above? I wish I could make you a piece of poetry
upon this subject, but as there is enough already composed upon the stars, I
will send you a bit of Byron and tell you—
Blue roll the waters—blue the sky
Spreads like an ocean hung on high,
Bespangled with those isles of light,
So wildly spiritually bright,
Whoever gazed upon them shining,
And turned to earth without repining.
Do you remember that little hymn our old nurse used to teach us in our
childhood:
July 4th.—The sun and I arose at the same time. When I left my state-
room, as if waiting to greet me, it arose majestically from the bosom of the
water, flooding the lake with light. No land was descried upon the east, but
we were near the Michigan shore off Thunder bay. The Shanewaging
islands which stretch across it were distinctly visible, and presented various
beauties of shape and tint. All trace of man has now disappeared, for the
northern part of Michigan has never been settled owing to the intense cold
of the winters. We have passed a long line of coast without any inhabitant
(except a forlorn woodman’s hut in one spot) stretching for two hundred
and fifty miles, covered with boundless forests, in whose green recesses
there are paths ‘which no fowl knoweth, and which the vultures eye hath
not seen.’ Here is the home of the bear, the elk, and the moose-deer—and
upon the aspen, oak, and maple trees, sport the blue bird, the robin, and
yellow hammer, undisturbed by the foot of man. We have now past the
bounds of civilization, and our vessel is the only spot of life in this vast
region of forest and water.
From the entrance of Lake Huron to Mackinac, there were but two
places where man was visible. At the mouth of the Zappa river soon after
entering the lake, there is a cabin where a woodman resides in the summer
season to supply the steamboats; and at Presque Isle where we stopped in
the afternoon there is another cluster of cabins, and woodpiles. Our Captain
did not stop at this latter place, as he did not like their wood, it being chiefly
swamp ash. The shore is low, covered with trees, having below, a beach of
yellow sand, until just before coming in sight of Michilimackinac when the
land becomes a little elevated. Ten miles this side of the last mentioned
place, we passed Boisblanc, a large wooded island, taking its name of
‘white wood’ from the silver barked birch tree. This island belongs to
government, and its only inhabitants, save a few straggling Ottowas are the
family of the light-house keeper whose pretty tenement, and stately light-
house, appear upon a projecting point. There is also a farm upon the island
given by government to the Missionaries of Michilimackinac, who
sometimes maintain a farmer upon it. O Mackinaw, thou lonely island, how
shall I describe thy various beauties! certainly for situation, history, and
native loveliness, it is the most interesting island in our States. We approach
it through an avenue of islands, Drummond and Manitoulin, dimly seen on
our east, and Boisblanc, and Round, in our western side. Stretching across
our path, far away in front of us, is Mackinaw, painted against the clear blue
sky. The island of Michilimackinac, or Mackinaw, or Mackinac as it is
commonly spelt and pronounced, is a high and bold bluff of limestone
about three hundred feet above the water, covered with verdure. Its name
signifies in the Indian tongue great turtle, as it is something of the figure of
this animal. At the foot of the bluff are strewed the buildings of the town.
Among the most conspicuous of these are, the agency house and gardens,
residence of Mr. Schoolcraft, Indian Agent—and the church and mission
house. Along the beach were several Indian wigwams, while numerous
pretty bark canoes were going and coming, as this is the Indian stopping
place. A very beautiful, and conspicuous object was the United States fort,
presenting at a distance the appearance of a long white line of buildings
inserted, into the top of the island high above the town. As we approached,
its picturesque block-houses and the pretty balconied residences of the
officers, came out to view, having the banner of the ‘stripes and stars’
waving over them. While gazing at this fair picture, suddenly a brilliant
flame, and volumes of white smoke arose above the fort, while a booming
sound told us they were firing their mid-day salute in honor of the day. This
added much to the beauty and grandeur of the scene. As our boat was to
remain there for some hours, we disembarked and ascended to the fort to
visit our friends the commanding officer and his family. We found them
sitting upon their balcony, looking down upon the newly arrived steamboat.
After the first greetings and mutual enquiries were over, we were shown all
it was thought would interest us.
The view from our friend’s balcony was beautiful in the extreme. The
bay in front, the lovely islands around covered with a luxurious vegetation
—the town spread out at our feet—the Indian lodges, and the canoes
skimming the bright waters, each called forth our expressions of
admiration. Passing into the interior of the fort, and through the fine parade
ground and a large gateway, we found ourselves upon the summit of the
island. Our path lay through copses of white birch, maple, and various other
trees, and over green sward covered with strawberries and a variety of wild
flowers. Our friends kindly gathered for me a variety of these, among which
was a fine scarlet lilium superbum, blue bells, and kinni kanic, or Indian
tobacco, and a pretty plant called Indian strawberry. Suddenly the silver
tones of woman’s voice, sounded near, and in a fairy dell we came upon a
tent, surrounded by a party of ladies and gentlemen, busily engaged
preparing for a fete in honor of the day. Among them was the daughter of
our host, and some of the celebrated family of S——t. We were presented
to the party, and were quite chagrined our limited time would not permit us
to accept their invitation to remain and partake of their festivities. The grace
and beauty of Mrs. S——t made great impression upon us. To me she was
peculiarly interesting from the fact of her being descended from the native
lords of the forest; for you know I have always taken the greatest interest in
the fate of our Indian tribes. From the accent, the deep brunette of her
smooth skin, and her dark hair and eyes, I should have taken her for a
Spanish lady. From the tent we wound our way up to a high peak of the
island. When near the summit, we left a grove, and saw before us one of the
most picturesque and singular objects imaginable. It was a high arched rock
of white limestone, stretching across a chasm before us, making a pretty
natural bridge, through which we gazed far down into the waves of Huron,
at least two hundred feet below. The surprise, the beauty and novelty of this
striking object, brought forth expressions of admiration from us. The white
arch was adorned with tufts of wild flowers, and shrubbery. Ascending the
arch, we gazed down upon the white beach below, whose pebbles could be
here distinctly seen under the limpid water although many feet deep—and
out upon the fair waters, and the pretty islands, which
July 5th.—Sunday upon the lake. When I left my cabin, I found the
morning was misty, and the sun looking like the yolk of an egg, was
bobbing up and down upon the water. It had just peeped above the waves,
which, dashing about, sometimes obscured it from our view. We were lying
at one of the Manitou islands, taking in wood. This is a pretty crescent
shape islet, covered with trees. In the centre we were told is a lake which is
unfathomable, and supposed to be connected with lake Michigan. It is filled
with the large trout, salmon and white fish of the lakes. There is a
woodman’s hut, and several large piles of wood upon the shore. ‘Oh that the
woodman would spare those trees.’ Soon the pretty island will be denuded
and forlorn. It is a sacred island—the Indians imagining it to be the
residence of their Manitou, never dare to land there, as they believe such an
intrusion would be followed by the anger of their Deity. One Indian, who
despised such superstition ventured upon the shore, and was never heard of
since. The forests and lake in the interior, they imagine is the abode of the
blessed after death, whose hours will there pass in hunting and fishing. The
Manitoulin islands in lake Huron, are also sacred; but they are much larger
than these, one of them being fifty-five miles in length. I secured a handful
of pebbles from the shore, which, like those of other lakes, are agate,
chalcedony and other sileceous minerals. Upon the shores of lake Superior
these are found very fine, mixed with trachte, lava, and other volcanic
rocks, and with masses of native copper. I had brought with me a package
of well selected tracks, which I opened this morning, and laid a few upon
the table of the ladies saloon. Soon after, a pretty little girl knocked at my
state-room door, saying her mother wished to know if I had any more tracts,
as she should like to read one. I asked her where were those I laid upon the
table? those, she replied, some ladies were reading. I gave her several. The
chambermaid next appeared begging for some; and then the cabin boy came
with the same request. While I was selecting one which I thought might suit
him, I observed a brawny dusky figure, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, and
his person begrimed with soot and smoke, gazing earnestly towards us.
‘That’s Tom, one of the fire-men,’ said the cabin boy with a snigger; ‘he
heard you had books to lend and wants one dreadfully.’ I beckoned to him,
and he came forward with alacrity, while behind him I discerned several
other ‘grim visaged’ beings peeping out from their compartment towards
us. I gave him a package to distribute among his fellows; and during the day
had the pleasure of observing the greater part of the crew and passengers
busily engaged with my books. During our long voyage, those who had
books had read them out, and those who had none, were getting very weary,
so that they eagerly received any thing in the shape of reading. But some of
them, I trust, read them for the sake of the benefit they hoped to receive
from their contents. It was a source of great satisfaction to behold so many
persons engaged in themes of high import to their soul’s best interest. These
seeds were sown with a prayer for their success; and who can tell what
immortal plants may spring up in some of their hearts, growing to a tree of
life, and bearing fruit to flourish in the garden of paradise. Let me urge you
never to travel without these, or other useful books to distribute on your
way—like the girl in the fairy tale of our youth, shedding gems and
treasures in your path. There is no library in this boat as upon our Hudson
and Eastern steamboats, and we were often amused with the alacrity with
which our books were snatched up when we laid them down for a strole, or
to look at some object upon the shores. When we returned we were always
sure to receive them again, and felt no vexation, as we knew they meant no
impoliteness, and would be willing to lend us their own in return. My
companion had never been used to such socialisms in his country, and was
quite amused at this free and easy sort of thing. Our books were some of
them French, and upon one occasion we found them in the hands of a
simple hearted son of the forest, to whom books were so rare a treasure he
could not resist examining them. He returned it with a smile, and said,
shaking his head, ‘how you can make any sense out of that I can’t see, for I
cannot read a word of it.’
We lost sight of the Michigan shore at ten o’clock, and stretched across
the lake towards the Wisconsin coast, which we first saw at four o’clock P.
M., thus being nearly all day out of the sight of land. This may give you an
idea of the vastness of these lakes. Wisconsin, or Ouisconsin, or Wiskonsan,
here presents a high bank, called ‘red banks,’ from the color of the soil,
covered with forests, and showing no trace of man, except at the mouth of
the river Sheboygan, two hundred and twenty miles from Mackinaw, where
is a small settlement called by the name of the river.
Fifty miles from Sheboygan we stopped at the town of Milwaukie,
towards which the tide of emigration has been rapidly flowing. As the bay
is crossed by a bar, our large boat could not enter, and a small steamboat
took from us much of our merchandise and most of our emigrants. We did
not go on shore, but contented ourselves with seeing the town from the
boat. It looked neat, with some comfortable dwellings, several shops, hotel,
court house, &c. It stands upon the Milwaukie river. Its population is 1,000.
Several rail-roads and canals are in contemplation from this place across the
territory, as rail-roads to Winnebago lake; from Belmont to Dubuque; from
Belmont to Dodgeville in the mine district; a canal from Milwaukie to the
Black river, and another through the Fox and Wisconsin to the Mississippi.
Wisconsin will be soon covered with a dense population, as it is now a
favorite point for emigration. The soil is very rich, from one to ten feet
deep, the surface undulating prairie and woodland, consisting of 100,000
square miles of fertile land. The grassy plains make fine pasture lands, and
the lakes and rivers produce abundance of fish, and give great
manufacturing power. Lakes Superior and Michigan, and the river
Mississippi surround three sides, thus enabling them to send their produce
to market. Flour, rye, corn, barley, white-fish, and many other articles have
been exported this year. Their lead mines are very rich, and their valuable
forests of pine trees will be another source of wealth. These growing to the
height of one hundred and eighty or two hundred feet, crown the heights of
the northern region of the country, which is mountainous, containing
several waterfalls, one of which is two hundred and fifty feet in height. The
scenery is very picturesque. Madison, the capital, is a pretty, thriving town,
surrounded by four transparent lakes, upon the shore of one of which it is
situated; it sometimes goes by the poetical appellation of ‘city of the four
lakes.’ When the roads and canals are formed, Wisconsin will soon become
a thoroughfare to the Mississippi and the vast regions beyond; and those
who have ‘the world before them,’ cannot make a better choice than this.
Here we left our Buffalo hunters. Racine is a town twenty-two miles below
Milwaukie. The houses looked new, and were arranged in rows upon the
high green bank. The court-house was quite showy, having a portico in
front, with pillars reaching to the roof, which was painted red, surmounted
by a tin cupola. It stands at the mouth of Root river. We were now again in
sight of Michigan, as the lake grows narrower towards the end. We have
passed completely around this state, it being in the shape of a triangle. It is
destined to be a great and flourishing State, surrounded as it is by the lakes,
crossed by rivers, canals, and railroads, and covered by a rich soil. It is two
hundred and eighty miles long by one hundred and eighty, and covers
40,000 square miles. It has only been admitted into the Union as a State in
1837, and now possesses a population of 211,705. The country is level,
except a table land in the center from which the rivers flow into lakes St.
Clair, Huron, and Michigan. The remainder is covered with grassy prairie
land, with transparent lakes, and tracts of woodland. Here grows the
valuable maple from which they obtain their sugar; the white birch, whose
bark is used for making canoes, roofing houses, or even when split fine, in
writing letters by the early settlers; the oak, the beech, the hickory,
sassafras, and various other valuable trees. Its energetic inhabitants are
busily engaged laying out canals and rail-roads to intersect it in every
direction, as means of conveying their produce to its market. One hundred
and thirty-one miles of rail-road has been contracted for, but only forty-four
miles finished, from Detroit to Ann Arbor. Over this 41,896 barrels of flour
were conveyed this year to Detroit. Three years since the inhabitants of this
state sent to Ohio for their flour, and now they export 125,000 barrels of
flour this year. Education is not neglected; the legislature have appropriated
1,200,000 acres of land as a school fund, which, as the land is rapidly
rising, will be of great value. The celebrated Schoolcraft tells us, it was
deemed so inaccessible from swamps, that in 1818, it was not thought fit for
the soldiers bounty lands. This was, however, soon discovered to be a
mistake. He further informs us, the soil is an argillaceous soil, mellowed
with sands and pebbles, underlaid with schistose and calcareous rocks,
clothed with an open growth of oaks and hickories, the ridges covered with
walnut, ash, beech, and maple, while the valleys are first rate corn land,
diversified with limpid lakes, grassy prairies and pebbly bottomed brooks.
July 7th.—I fell asleep, and when I was awakened at dawn this morning,
by my companion, that I might not lose the scene, I started with surprise
and delight. I was in the midst of a prairie! A world of grass and flowers
stretched around me, rising and falling in gentle undulations, as if an
enchanter had struck the ocean swell, and it was at rest forever. Acres of
wild flowers of every hue glowed around me, and the sun arising from the
earth where it touched the horizon, was ‘kissing with golden face the
meadows green.’ What a new and wonderous world of beauty! What a
magnificent sight! Those glorious ranks of flowers! Oh that you could have