44 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 



good and for the most part level and the country favourable 

 for the construction of the canal undertaken by the state of 

 Illinois to connect Lake Michigan with the river — the work 

 is said to be already half completed and some progress making 

 to finish it — when within nine miles of Chicago came to a low 

 swampy country' which occupies several hours to pass. 



"July 14th— arrived at Chicago at 9M> A. M. the Lake 

 Steamer Illinois had left half an hour only before our arrival 

 — were of course much disappointed and have to wait two 

 days for the Great Western. 



"15th passed at Chicago — rather a dull place — a good hotel 

 called the Lake House— and the air from the lake cool and 

 refreshing to those coming from a southern climate. 



"16th. took passage on board the fine Lake Steamer Great 

 Western — distance to Bnffaloe computed at 1200 miles — from 

 the novelty found lake travelling quite agreeable the coolness 

 of the air and purity and clearness of the water quite a con- 

 trast to that of the Mississippi. 



"17th. Had an interesting view of the Manitou and other 

 islands at head of Lake Michigan — all as well as the main 

 shore appeared uninhabited, except the west side where we 

 have passed several little towns in the territory call Wis- 

 consin. 



"18th, at one o'clock this morning came to at the Island 

 of Michilimakinae — being a clear moonlight went on shore 

 intending to have left the boat and remained a couple of days 

 but found the accomodations for travellers very indifferent 

 — found a number of Indians encamped — they had arrived the 

 day before in their bark canoes — the place has much the ap- 

 pearance of a Canadian village — the Fort is on a command- 

 ing position above the town — the place is celebrated for the 

 purity of its climate, and tho in the midst of summer found a, 

 great coat very comfortable — at half past ten in the morning 

 observed a brightness in the sky in one direction which first 

 took for Aurora Borealis but the brilliancy increasing found 

 it to be in the East and to be 



'Aurora fairest goddess of the morn' 



"19th. Sail'd thro the wide spread waters of Lake Huron 

 and at ten o'clock this morning arrived at the city of Detroit 

 — being Sunday morning found the good people at church — 

 went in for a few minutes to the Presbyterian — and then to 

 the Catholic church — they were singing the anthem, the 

 female voices were pleasing and unaffected — there are a num- 

 ber of paintings, the most conspicuous next to the altar piece 



