CATARACTS, AND INUNDATIONS. 



an half, and sink as much in an equal portion of time, so that in 

 fifteen years this watery cycle, if it may be so termed, is completed: 

 a change similar to what has been reported of the Caspian, but 

 performed in one quarter of the time. According to the French 

 charts, the circumference of lake Superior is about fifteen hundred 

 miles. Carver is of opinion, that " if it were coasted round, and 

 the utmost extent of every bay taken, it would exceed sixteen 

 hundred." He coasted near twelve hundred miles on the north 

 and east shores : f( When it was calm,*' says he, " and the sun 

 shone bright, I could sit in my canoe, where the depth was upward 

 of six fathoms, and could plainly see huge piles of stone at the 

 bottom. The water at this time was as pure and transparent as the 

 air, and my canoe seemed as if it hung suspended in that ele- 

 ment. It was impossible to look attentively through this limpid 

 medium at the rocks below, for even a few minutes, without feel- 

 ing the head swim, and the eyes no longer able to view the dazzling 

 scene." This occurred in the month of July, and although the 

 surface of the water, from the heat of the atmosphere, was warm, 

 yet on letting down a cup to the depth of about a fathom, the 

 water drawn thence was so excessively cold, that it had nearly the 

 same effect as ice, when taken into the mouth. This lake is said to 

 receive nearly forty rivers and streams of water; the two principal 

 rivers are the Nipegon, or Alauipegon, and the Michipicooton, the 

 one from the north, and the other from the west. By means of 

 the latter, a communication is formed with the lakes Bourbon or 

 Christianeux, Winnepeek, and duBois; and in this river some have 

 traced the St. Laurence. A small river on the west, before it 

 enters the lake, has a perpendicular fall from the top of a mountain, 

 of more than six hundred feet, through a very narrow channel. 

 The only passage through which the waters of lake Superior are 

 discharged, is St. Mary's strait, already spoken of. There are 

 many islands in this lake, two of \\hich are very extensive; the 

 largest has been named hie lioijal, the other Philiipaux, which 

 last is supposed to be nearly an hundred miles from east to west, 

 but in no part more than forty miles from north to south. Miropau 

 Isle is likewise of considerable extent ; at the entrance of West 

 bay is a cluster of small islands called " the twelve Apostles. On 

 the south side of the lake is u peninsula, which spreads into the 



