■ Gauntry and CUmatf near the American Laktt^ 315 



" *!«» addition to thefc obfervations, it maybe remarked, that 1 have-not obferved thefs 

 colouri ill fuch plates of common looking-glafs as I have tried ; that they do not appear in 

 a fmall pocket fcxtant which I poflefs; that the difpofition to exhibit thefe colours fcems to 

 be iacicafed by wiping or fiidUon, and alfo, as I think, by a continuance of the acSlion which 

 is ncceflUry to produce them, or caufe them to run along the furface of the glaflcs. 



IX. 



Some Account of the Count n and Climate of the North-ivejlem Lakes of America. By Majof- 

 C, Sh'AN, Faymii/Ier to the Wefern Army *. 



D'Etroit, oa. 10, 1797. 

 « * * * * * *'** * * * 4 



* * * * * * * •'•'*-'^^'^ *- * * ^. ^ 



" This country is yet new, and almoft in a ftate of nature, like Its inhabitants. It is true 

 the foil is extremely rich and fertile ; and it is to a fuperabundant burden, of vegetation, 

 and a flat furface for hundreds of miles together producing much ftagnant water, that we 

 may attribute the unwholfomenefs of the climate, which is almoil certain to afFe£l the in- 

 habitants with bilious complaints every fall f . 

 ************ 



« * • * * * *, * * * * * 



" Gen. Wilkinfon arrived here in June this year, and, after making fome prompt arrange- 

 ments for the garrifon, propofed a voyage to Michilimackinac, and invited me to accompany 

 him ; and on the 4th day of Auguft we embarked in a floop of about 70 tons burthen. 

 We had a fafe and pleafant trip, not only to Michilimackinac, but even Into Lake Superior v 

 and returned to this place on the 4th of laft month, highly gratified indeed. 



«* We firft left this place, and traverfed Lake Sinclair, a handfome circular lake about 

 twenty-five miles acrofs. We then proceeded up the river of that name, which is broad 

 and very handfome, for about forty miles, to a rapid at the entrance of Lake. Huron ; 

 traverfed this immenfe beautiful lake, three hundred miles long ; and arrived on. the i5th.of 

 Auguft at the ftreight which unites it to Lake Michigan. This ftreight is broad j and the 

 Ifle de Bois Blanc, or White Wood Ifland, Round Ifland, and Michilimackinac Ifland form . 

 a clufter in the middle of the ftreight, and afford a romantic and majeflic landfcape from]the 

 fea. The Ifle de Bois Blanc is eleven miles and a half long, and from two to three wide,, 

 lying parallel to the two coafts of the ftreight, but neareft to the fouth-fide. Round Ifland: 



* From the Medical Rcpofitory, printed at New York, vol. i. p. 526. It is introduced by the following 

 Note of the American Editor ; 



Note. The following Article confifts of Extra£ts from a Letter of Major Swan to Capt. Frye, command- 

 ant of the garrifon at Governor's Ifiand, who was fo obliging as to communicate them to one of the Editsrs ; 

 and they are now made public with the confent of the Author. Thefe Extradts are briefly made from a 

 Journal kept by Major Swan at the time ; and are ioferted for the threefold purpofe of illuftrating the table of 

 thermometrical obfervations which follow, of commutiicating a fliort but authentic view of a part of the north- - 

 weftern territory, and of inviting further information. 



+ Thefe remarks have particular reference to the neighbourhood of D'Etroit, 



