16 On the Geography and Geology 



from the Peek River, defended by islets. The rocks here are 

 smooth and covered with tripe de roche and lichens, on which 

 persons have traced names and figures as at the Great Written 

 Rocks. 



The rivers of this interval are not remarkable. I do not know 

 their names. About three miles and a half from the Otter's Head, 

 a moderately large river descends into the lake by three slanting 

 falls, into which the stream is divided, close to the lake, by two 

 high crags. Above these three channels is a small basin, into 

 ■which the river pours from a still higher level ; the whole descent 

 being about 50 feet. It is a very lively and interesting scene. 



The River Peek takes its name from an Indian word, signifying 

 mud ; as it pours out an ash-coloured, and when swollen, a reddish 

 yellow water tinging the lake for a mile or two around, and de- 

 rived from certain beds of white and yellow clay. Eighty yards 

 broad at its mouth, (but soon after, widening for a short space to 

 200,) it issues with a gentle current at the south-east end of the 

 bottom of Peek Bay, a straight line, half a mile long, of sand 

 drifts, tufted with pines. For 90 miles inland, this river flows 

 slowly and equably, with frequent bends, and a breadth the same 

 as at the mouth : its banks and vicinity throughout most, if not 

 all, of this distance, are of sand and large beds of clay, princi- 

 pally white ; which, although narrower higher up, near Lake Su- 

 perior, are little short of a mile broad, in low undulations, and 

 girded on both sides by greenstone heights. At the above dis- 

 tance of 90 miles is the first fall, succeeded by two others, the 

 third being 120 miles from Lake Superior, and passing through a 

 sand hill 200 feet high, over which a portage is made by traders. 

 This last fall is high and has worn its way to the primitive rock 

 beneath the sand. Shortly above this, the river divides into three 

 small branches. The Peek River is the usual route to Long 

 Lake, 180 or 200 miles from Lake Superior, by the circuitous route 

 in canoes. After leaving Peek River, a series of brooks and 

 ponds leads to the lake, ranging nearly parallel with Lake Su- 

 perior, and 75 miles long, but only from half a mile to a mile 



