NARRATIVE. 91 



Afterwards he carried us by a path running back of the house 

 past the opening of the shaft, through a clearing planted with pota- 

 toes, and a young orchard of cherry, apple and pear trees, down to 

 the cove on the other side of the point, whence we sailed across the 

 strait to Spar Island. 



This island receives its name from a vein of calc-spar, some twenty 

 feet wide, quite pure and white, except where brilliantly colored by 

 metallic salts, running across the island and down into the lake on 

 the other side, visible with a phosphorescent light for a considerable 

 distance under water. This is the locality of most of the specimens 

 we had seen at the oflSce ; splendid masses of white translucent spar, 

 tinged with brilliant blue and green by the associated minerals. We 

 noticed drift-scratches on the outer side of the island, having a direc- 

 tion nearly E. and W. 



The day was showery, with driving thundery clouds and mist, 

 through which we got a fine view of Pie Island, dim and majestic in 

 the distance. We were driven for shelter into an unfinished build- 

 ing of squared logs, which the company are erecting with a view to 

 continuing the mining operations which have of late been suspended 

 on the island. Such a building (about forty feet square and of two 

 stories,) they say can be put up in four or five days. On our way 

 back the weather improved, and we had a good view westward of hills 

 over hills towards Pigeon River, the boundary between the United 

 States and Canada, distant about twenty miles. 



When we got back towards evening, we found the miners amusing 

 themselves after their day's work, by pitching, or " putting " stones, 

 and I was surprised to find the puny Canadians had rather the advan- 

 tage of the burly Cornish men. Mr. Robinson invited us to supper, 

 and I believe none of us experienced any of the difficulty of the 

 traveller, who, after a trip over the prairies, found hjmself, on his 

 return to civilized life, constantly tempted to draw his feet up into his 

 chair. In our case the benches were felt to be a decided improve- 

 ment. 



After supper Mr. R. carried us into a shaft they are sinking at the 

 foot of the cliff. Here we got fine specimens of Iceland spar. No 

 ore had as yet been sent to market from this mine, but the prospects 

 seemed favorable, and the whole establishment had a thriving look. 



