Ohio History Journal

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THE MAP OF HAMILTON COUNTY*

THE MAP OF HAMILTON COUNTY*

 

 

BY JAMES A. GREEN

Dr. Nevin M. Fenneman of the University of Cin-

cinnati, and I took a canoe trip last summer for the

purpose of accurately mapping an unknown Canadian

Lake. This was Lake Ogoki with a shore line of

seventy-five miles. Of course, Dr. Fenneman did the

actual mapping but I shared in the reflected glory of the

achievement. This map was sent to Ottawa and we

duly received the thanks of the Canadian Government.

So we have added to the sum of exact scientific geo-

graphical knowledge. And I think Dr. Fenneman was

never more gratified in his life than when on our return

trip he showed his map to an old Indian who had all

his life lived on Lake Ogoki, but who was away when

we were there. This old Indian was a primitive savage.

He did not know a letter of the alphabet, nor did he

know any language but his native Cree. But with de-

light he read the map. Its lines stood for him for bold

headland or lovely island and finally he pointed out the

bay where the winter before he had his encampment.

That map needed no interpreter. It was a document

that even the savage found intelligible. It brought to

the Indian the sudden picture of the lake where he was

born and had lived his life long. Any other map would

have been lost on him, for maps grow in value with

knowledge and intelligence. Yet easily as intelligent

 

* A paper read before the Cincinnati Literary Club, February 6, 1926.

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