﻿THOUSAND ISLANDS LAKE. 61 



blance to the fiords of the Norway coast. Such a 

 preponderance of fresh water, coupled Mdth the 

 tardy melting of the ice in spring, makes a late 

 summer, and augments the severity of the climate 

 beyond that which is due to the northern position 

 of the district. Though the whole tract is most 

 unfavourable for agriculture, much of the scenery 

 abounds in picturesque beauty. Of this we have 

 an instance in the Thousand Islands Lake, which 

 forms the funnel-shaped outlet of Lake Ontario. 

 At this place the pyrogenous rocks, denuded of 

 newer deposits, cross the river to form a junction 

 with the lofty highlands of the northern counties of 

 New York. The round-backed, wooded hummocks 

 of granite which constitute the more than thousand 

 islets of this expanse of water, are grouped into long 

 vistas, which are alternately disclosed and shut in as 

 we glide smoothly and rapidly among them, in one 

 of the powerful steamers, that carry on the pas- 

 senger traffic of the lakes. The inferior fertility of 

 this granite belt has deferred the sweeping opera- 

 tions of the settler's axe; the few farm-steadings 

 scattered along the shore enhance the beauty of 

 the forest ; and the eye of the traveller finds a 

 pleasant relief in contemplating the scenery, after 

 having dwelt on the monotonous succession of 

 treeless clearances lower down the river. Sooner 

 or later, however, the shores of the Lake of the 



