Topographical Notices, 307 



Huron, a sudden change takes place, and nothing is now 

 teen but low, solid, and frequently bare masses of rock. 

 We readied the immense expanse of water the seventeenth 

 of September, the eigliteenth day from the Ottawa, and 

 a long swell from the boundless north-west drove our 7iow 

 little canoe speedily into the bay of Penetanguishine. 



No contrast can be more complete than that of the fine 

 sloping hard-wood lands surrounding this spacious inlet, 

 and the bleak granite coasts and islands immediately to 

 the northward. Proceeding down the bay, we soon per- 

 ceived that the settlement of its shores was in the act of 

 commencement. At various points were small new inroads 

 into the forest, with buildings apparently but of a few 

 days standing. On a|)proaching one of these, a voice in the 

 broad Yorkshire dialect, directed us round a point into tlie 

 gmaller cove on which is the naval station. 



One cannot view this noble bay and its vicinity, forming 

 a position at once beautiful, fertile, and central, between 

 the older settlements of Upper Canada, and the great 

 western navigation of the lakes, Avithout feeling a surprise 

 that it should have remained in a state of nature to so late a 

 day. As a port, however, Penclanguishine seems to have 

 one serious disadvantage. From its retired situation at 

 the bottom of the Georgian bay, and the prevalence of strong 

 north-west winds at particular seasons, it is often a matter 

 of the greatest difficulty for vessels to gain from hence the 

 body of the lake. The master of a schooner which hajipened 

 lo be at the station, informed me that in the previous 

 aututuu he had spent twenty-five days in attempting to 

 beat round Cabot's hea<l, and, if I remember right, was 

 obliged after all to winter his vessel in the bay. 



la rcturniuj^, 1 fell in with the man who had remained 



