110 | ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
been sent from Drummond Island. At 4 past 8 we passed the first 
Rapid on the Straits of St. Mary and at 4 past 2 in the morning we 
reached the Sault de Ste. Marie. 
Monday 25th [June]. Arrived at the Sault at $ past 2. For 
Breakfast we had the famous White Fish. All that I had heard of its 
excellent Quality and Taste fell far short of its real Excellence. La 
Hontan who travelled in this Country in 1684 says it is the only Fish 
which Sauce spoils.*. I should say it is the most delicate tasted Fish 
I ever eat. After Breakfast visited the Stores, &e. In 1814 the Ameri- 
cans burnt all the North West [Company’s] Property which they 
found here. A Trait of savage Cruelty on their Part shows the Spirit 
by which they were actuated; a poor Horse which they had used for the 
Conveyance of the Goods to their Boats was left in the Shafts of a Cart 
close to a Building which they set on Fire and the poor Animal was 
burnt to Death. We then passed over to the American Side, the South, 
and called upon a Mr. Johnston an Irish Gentleman and Fur Trader 
who is married to an Indian Chief’s? Daughter by whom he has a large 
Family more black than white. His Property was likewise destroyed to 
the Amount of £8000. His Son was very polite and accompanied us 
to a Spot where we had an excellent View of the Falls of St. Mary. 
The River St. Mary is the Strait which connects Lake Huron with 
Lake Superior and the Sault de St. Mary is the largest Rapid of three 
which impede the Navigation between the two Lakes. The River here 
is about two miles in Breadth and the Rapid falls over a Ridge of Rocks 
about 23 Feet over a space of half a mile. There are ten beautiful 
Islands in the middle covered with the most magnificent trees and the 
Banks on each side of the River have equally this Attraction. The 
dark Foliage and the beautiful Verdure of the long Grass form a fine 
contrast with the snowy Whiteness and bright Foam of the Cataract. 
The Number of Indian Tents, the Villages on each Side, the Canoes 
fishing in the middle of the Rapid, form, united, the most beautiful, 
romantic Scenery.. We found here ten Lodges of the Chippeways called 
by the French Saulteurs from their encamping on the Banks of the 
Rapid to fish. We were introduced to the Chief, a venerable old man 

1 This sort of white fish, in my opinion, is the only one in all these lakes that 
can be called good ; and indeed it goes beyond all other sorts of river fish. Above 
all, it has one singular property, namely, that all sorts of sauces spoil it, so that it 
is always eat either boiled or broiled without any manner of seasoning.” Baron 
Lahontan’s Travels in Canada, 2nd Ed., London 1735, 2 vols. 8vo. Letter xiv. from 
Pinkerton’s General Collection of Voyages and Travels, London, 1812, vol. xiii., 
p. 299. 
Wabogid or White Fisher was the name of this Chief. For a short account of 
Mr. Johnston, see Henry Journals (ed. Coues, New York, 1897), Index s. v. 
