of Lake Superior 21 



William, outside of the islands. Both these assumed angles are 

 well marked. The bay deepens gradually to the west, being, near 

 Cape Verd, from four to six miles deep ; and at least 16 miles deep 

 near the river Nipigon. Its mouth is crowded with large and 

 small islands in a dense belt, leaving the body of the bay com- 

 paratively free ; not but that occasional isles are sprinkled there 

 also, and chiefly about the west end. These are both flat-topped 

 and conical, from 100 to 300 feet high, and surrounded with low 

 girdles of luxuriant verdure. One remarkable island has received 

 the name of " La Grange," from its resemblance to the long and 

 narrow barns of the Canadian peasantry. The main land every- 

 where maintains a great elevation, sometimes amounting to 1000 

 and 1500 feet, as I am informed by Lieutenant Bayfield, R.N., and 

 as my own remarks lead me to believe. It is often in high plat- 

 forms ; and usually very naked. 



I cannot give a very precise account of the number and situ- 

 ation of the islands at the mouth of the bay. They are more 

 numerous than as set down in the accompanying map, which was 

 drawn up by Mr. Thompson previous to the complete examination 

 of the coast. 1 have ventured to insert from my own notes and 

 from authentic information, a general sketch of the main and 

 islands. I have circumnavigated the latter rapidly, as a group, 

 but not individually. The most westerly island (called by the 

 French, " St. Ignace") is the largest. Lieutenant Bayfield found 

 it to be 50 miles round. Its length runs nearly east and west, and 

 much exceeds its breadth. Its greatest height is along the 

 middle, where probably a sort of table-land exists, dipping on all 

 sides in rough declivities, and frequently in precipices, whose 

 features change with the component rock. If this be porphyry, 

 the clifF is fissured vertically in long pilasters, beginning at the 

 crest of some steril height, and sustained below on a slope of 

 ruins. These cliffs are seldom straight for any length, but follow 

 the capricious and serrated outline of the hills and shores, with 

 deep ravines of loose rocks between. This form of coast prevails 

 on the south part of St. Ignatius, and is well seen at the 

 Detroit, on its outer side, (about long. 87" 48',) formed by an 



