DETROIT RIVER AMHERSTBURGH. 215 



amongst reeds, and find the marshes of the Detroit an excel 

 lent cover. There are squirrels of various kinds, striped, 

 black, and brown ; the former li ve in the ground, and the two 

 latter are occasionally shot and used as food. Racoons are 

 often hunted, and valued on account of their skins. 



The river Detroit issues from Lake St Clair, and falls into 

 Lake Erie, after a south-west course of about twenty-eight 

 miles. The waters of the greatest lakes in the world, Supe 

 rior, Huron, and Michigan, pass through the channel of the 

 Detroit, which, at the narrowest point, is about 800 yards 

 wide, and above as well as below this place, expands several 

 miles in breadth. The current seems to run at a rate of be 

 tween two and three miles an hour, and the water is as limpid 

 as that of the purest spring, except when slightly tinged with 

 earth, caused by the waves during a tempest. The largest 

 steam- vessels pass up at all times, and navies might contend 

 on its waters. 



The village of Amherstburgh is situated near the conflu 

 ence of Detroit river with Lake Erie, opposite to a small 

 island, between which and Amherstburgh the main body of 

 water passes. The houses are almost entirely of wood, 

 arranged into streets at right angles with each other, and 

 almost all bespeaking poverty and meanness. There are Ca 

 tholic, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian places of worship, 

 besides schools, and the population is about 500. Most of the 

 inhabitants are of French descent. Trade is very limited, 

 and thought to be declining. Every vessel passing up and 

 down the Detroit comes within 100 yards of the pier, w r hich 

 is at all times accessible to the largest class. Fort Maldon, 

 a paltry mud erection, is situated on the banks of the Detroit, 

 about half a mile from the village, and the military reserve 

 around the fort, which is the best of pasturage, is occupied as 

 common. Amherstburgh is one of the oldest places in Canada, 

 situated in its finest climate, the best British port on Lake 

 Erie, and in beauty and healthiness of situation, inferior to no 

 place in America; yet every thing, with exception of two 

 handsome residences below the town, seems in a state of list 

 less decay. I have no doubt there are better days in store for 

 Amherstburgh. 



