326 



in no royal state. His cal)in wa=i a small, oven-shaped structure of bark 

 and rushes. Here he dwelt with his squaws and children, and here, 

 doubtless, he might often have heen seen, carelci-sly reclining his naked 

 form on a rush mat, or a hear skin, like au ordinary warrior." 



The other fifteen islands are situated within the first twelve miles of 

 the river, after entering it from Lake Eii(\ some of which are in view 

 of the cit}', the largest of which is Grosse Kle, on which are a number 

 of large ar.d well cultivated farms. This island is a very popular re- 

 treat for citizfMis of Detroit during the heat of summer. On some of 

 the others there are extensive stone quarries ; and on many of these, as 

 well as Belle 1-le and Peach, are extensive fisheries, where large quan- 

 tities of white fish are annually taken. Father Hennepin, who was a 

 passenger on the "Griffin," the first vessel that crossed Lake Erie, in 

 1()79, in his description of the scenery along the route, says, "the isl' 

 and-* are the fii est in the world; the strait is finer than Niagara; the 

 banks are vast meadows, and the prospect is terminated with some hills 

 covered with vinevards, tives bearing good fruit, groves and forests so 

 ■well disposed that one woidd think that nature alone could not have 

 made, without the help of art, so charming a jirospect." The streams 

 empt} iiig into the strait, are, on the Canada side, the river aux Canards, 

 and on the American shore, the Huron river, Monquagon creek, river 

 Ecorse, river Rouge, May's creek, below the city, and Bloody Run and 

 Conner's creek above. 



The viilagHS on the Canada shore, are Amherstburgh, near the en- 

 trance to L;ike Erie, Sandwich, about three miles below Detroit, and 

 Windsor, directly o|>posite the city. On the American shore, Gibifllter, 

 opp(vsite Amln'istUmgh, TriMilon, opposite Grosse I&le, and Wyandotte, 

 about ten miles below the city. 



Fort Mahh-n is situated just above the village of Amherstburgh, in 

 Canada; and Fort Wayne is situated on the American shore, on the 

 Sand Hill, about three miles below the city. 



THE CLIMATE. 



The climate of Detroit is tem|)erate; snow falls at from six to eight- 

 een inches deep, and never rentaiiis more thnii a few weeks. The trans- 

 ition from the cold of spring to the hent of summer is raj>id; from 

 Bumtner to winter gradual and prolonged. As general characteristics* 



