324 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



odour from the sea during a storm, an odour of Neptune 

 that cannot have escaped the notice of any person who 

 has seen the ocean. From the lake there was no per- 

 ceptible smell, though the air had a peculiar freshness 

 about it, and, being winter time, was piercingly cold. 

 Neither was there any weed thrown up, or clinging about 

 the rocks, as would be the case on the sea-coast. Marine 

 creatures were absent also, except gulls, which hovered 

 overhead in myriads, screaming loudly. No such flocks 

 of gulls are ever seen on the British coasts. There are 

 some insignificant crustaceans and molluscs on the shores 

 of the lakes, but of these I will defer speaking till I have 

 done with the cliffs. 



At the time of the storm referred to there was no 

 sign of ice forming on any part of the lake, but the spray 

 froze on the rocks, making them exceedingly slippery. 

 Subsequently there was ice on parts of the coast, ex- 

 tending out some distance from the shore, of sufficient 

 width to enable people to walk and sleigh on it, until it 

 packed. This ice was mostly in small sheltered bays. 

 Where the waves had full action on it, it either was 

 washed away during storms, or never found at all. The 

 great lakes are never frozen over. I do not deny that 

 the reason given by scientific men, the great depth of 

 the water, is the true one, but I want evidence of it. 



It is sad ; but I often find myself doubtful of the 

 accuracy of much that is called science. It is quite 

 likely that I am sinning myself as a writer, that I am 

 provoking punishment by presuming to differ from 

 " established opinions." Well, I must die in the breach. 

 I never turn, back until I am quite convinced. I do not 

 say that I think that many of the theories and doctrines 

 of the modern naturalist and scientist are mere delusions 

 of fantastic brains. / know it. That goes miles beyond 

 thinking. 



To get back to the ice. A depth of eight hundred 

 feet may be the reason that Lake Superior never freezes. 



