NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR 337 



years and more since that of which I am writing the 

 marvels of Superior are but little known to civilised man ; 

 and there are vast tracts of both the lake and the adjoin- 

 ing country that are wholly unexplored. At this time 

 those tracts were far more numerous and extensive than 

 they are at the present day, but Lake Superior lies wide 

 of all established routes, and is a troublesome spot to 

 reach from any of the great cities of either Canada or the 

 States. Were it otherwise, it would undoubtedly be far 

 more frequently visited by travellers for pleasure. 



For many miles beyond the Palisade the coast is ex- 

 ceedingly rugged and broken, rendered enchanting by 

 patches of beautiful forest trees clinging to the rocks, and 

 sometimes coming quite down to the water's edge. Con- 

 sidering the latitude, and the nature of the country, I 

 expected to see a far greater profusion of firs and pines. 

 These trees were often conspicuous by their entire absence. 

 The great majority of the trees were of broad-leaved 

 species, sometimes intermingled with firs, and occasionally 

 the latter held the sway. It is unusual for the two classes 

 of trees to be much mixed together in American forests. 

 Even among broad-leaved kinds, one species generally 

 predominates, ousting and destroying all others. 



Here and there torrents rush furiously through 

 channels in the rocks. Sometimes vistas are obtainable 

 up these channels, showing a long series of bounding 

 cataracts, overhung, or entirely arched, by splendid trees ; 

 and not infrequently huge uprooted trees are whirled 

 down into the lake. These become a floating danger, and 

 have been the cause of disaster to small craft when run 

 foul of in the dark. The largest cascade in this part is that 

 formed by Beaver River, which, especially in whiter, throws 

 a considerable body of water into the lake. There is a 

 recess here called Beaver Bay, which is one of the safest 

 harbours of refuge on all the shores of Superior. 



I have already said that no considerable river 

 empties itself into Superior. The rivers scarcely deserve 



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