THE 



QUARTERLY JOURNAL* 



October, 1824^. 



Art. I. Notes on the Geography and Geology of Lake 

 Superior. By John J. Bigsby, M.D., F.R.S., and M.G.S. 



[Communicated by the Author.] 



X HE following pages contain the substance of my notes on the 

 geography and geology of Lake Superior, made in the summer of 

 1823, during two journeys between the Falls of St. Mary and the 

 Grand Portage, on the north coast of that lake, an interval of 445 

 miles. These journeys occupied a period of six weeks, and were 

 performed in a birch-bark canoe ; a mode of travelling particularly 

 favourable to minute observation, as it compels very frequent dis- 

 embarkation, and a constant proximity to the shores. 



I have rendered this communication more useful and compfete,, 

 by introducing numerous detached facts from authentic private 

 sources ; and by adding, principally from Mr. Schoolcraft's * Nar- 

 rative of Travels through the Great Lakes to the head waters of 

 the Mississippi, a brief summary of the leading features of the south 

 shore of Lake Superior. 



For the accompanying map f , I return my best thanks to David 



• Indian agent for the United States at the Falls of St. Mary. I acknowledge, 

 ■with great pleasure, the personal attentions of this gentleman, and his li- 

 berality in the interchange of geological facts. 



t See Plate I. 



Vol. XVHL B 



