26 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



June 24th. Rather than wait here a week for the next steamer, 

 we engaged a Mackinaw boat and some Canadians to take us to the 

 Sault. These boats are a cross between a dory and a mud-scow, 

 having something of the shape of the former and something of the 

 clumsiness of the latter. Our craft was to be ready early in the 

 morning, but it was only by dint of scolding that we finally got off 

 at 10 o'clock. A very light breeze from the southward made suf- 

 ficient excuse to our four lazy oarsmen and lazy skipper for spreading 

 a great square sail and sprit-sail, and lying on their oars. Unless it 

 was dead calm, not a stroke would they row. 



At about 1 o'clock, Mackinaw still plainly visible at a very moder- 

 ate distance to the southward, we stopped to lunch at Goose Island, 

 a narrow ridge of rough, angular pebbles, about half a mile long, 

 covered with thick bushes and stunted trees, among which the prin- 

 cipal were arbor-vitae and various species of cornus. It passed 

 through my mind whether this could be the lie aux Outardes, where 

 Henry parted with his Indian friend. It is difficult to say what 

 bird of this region could have reminded the French colonists of a 

 bustard. 



Getting off again we continued at rather a better rate (the wind 

 being now fortunately ahead) until twilight, when our steersman 

 said it was time to look out for a camp, and proposed landing us on 

 a little island near the western shore of the strait. The more ardent 

 naturalists of the party, however, seeing a sand-beach, (capital 

 hunting-ground for Coleoptera,) backed by a grassy bank among 

 the trees, were anxious to land there, but this was promptly 

 opposed by the whole of our native ship's-company, who urged 

 that we should be devoured by " les mouclies." This suggestion 

 seeming reasonable, it was arranged that those who wished it 

 should be landed on the beach, while the rest proceeded to encamp 

 and get supper ready on the island. This was done ; but hardly had 

 we disembarked and lighted a fire, when cries were heard from the 

 main land, and on looking round we saw our friends, some with their 

 heads bound up in handkerchiefs, others beating the air with branches 

 of trees ; all vociferating to us to " Send the boat !" and on the 

 whole, manifesting the most unmistakable symptoms of musquitoes, 

 which were abundantly confirmed when they joined us. 



