"TIDE RIP"— MINGAN HARBOR. 255 



be, while the low and sandy, or the high and cliff-like sides of the 

 neighboring islands grew nearer and nearer, to fall slowly behind us 

 and grow dim in the distance, as the point toward which we were 

 aiming grew each moment plainer and plainer. 



We were between the mainland and a few low islands on our left, 

 when suddenly we struck a most remarkable " tide rip," as it is 

 called. The rippling of the water, with low, even lappings, sending 

 forth music like the laugh of "Laughing Water," extended all around 

 and about us, a mile at least in each direction. Cross currents 

 made long furrows here, while there, broad sheets presented the 

 same even ripple as far as the eye could reach. On through this 

 charming and fascinating little place we slowly glided, as we hstened 

 to the merry waters and feasted our eyes on the playful ripples, 

 watching our sure approach to the harbor now so near us. Flocks 

 of ducks, hurrying to and fro, passed us on our right and left, while 

 gulls and other birds sported around and above us, or floated on 

 the surface of the water, often a few rods only from the bow of our 

 vessel as we glided along. At last we reached harbor, and were 

 soon safely anchored. 



Mingan harbor is a narrow but deep stretch of water open to the 

 sea on the east and west, with the mainland on the north, and Min- 

 gan Island on the south. Of Mingan Island I can say little ; it is a 

 low piece of land, long and narrow with a foundation of sand which 

 is visible here and there along its surface. The main body of the 

 island seems to be composed of a series of rocks deposited in layers 

 one above the other, and forming low, irregularly faced cliffs, with 

 slate-like cleavage and fracture, which are nearly or quite perpen- 

 dicular in outHne. The upper surface of this mass bends in various 

 directions, while its height is twenty to forty feet above the sea. 

 Low, stunted firs abound everywhere, so that the island forms a not 

 unattractive sight in this really romantic little spot. 



On the mainland, or Mingan proper, contrary to what might be 

 expected from the appearance of the island opposite, an entirely 

 different formation exists. Nowhere along the coast, for a consid- 

 erable distance at least, does a rock of any size appear, either in 



