NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 49 



observations. Tlie shores of Lake St. Clair are ibrmcd of a fertile 

 alluvium, resting on drift. There are some heavy boulders of 

 primitive rock resting on this, which denote a vast held of ibrmer 

 drift action around the shores of these lakes. 



The wind abated about eleven o'clock on the morning of the 

 26th, when the men commenced loading the canoes. It was 

 twelve before we embarked. The mode of their embarkation >is 

 peculiar. The canoes, Avhen laden, are hauled out in deep water ; 

 the men then catch up the sitters on their backs, and deposit tliem 

 in their respective seats; when this was done, they struck up one 

 of their animated songs, and we glided over the smooth surface 

 of the lake with rapidity, holding our course parallel with its 

 shores, generally, until reaching a prominent point of land near 

 Huron River.* 



From Point Huron we crossed the lake, to reach the central mouth 

 of the St. Clair River, thereby saving a tedious circuit ; by the time 

 we had half accomplished the transit, we encountered a head wind, 

 which put' the strength of the men severely to the test, and re- 

 tarded our reaching the mouth of the river till dark. The River 

 St. Clair has several mouths, which branch off above through a 

 broad delta, creating large islands. These channels discharge a 

 vast amount of argillaceous drift and mud, which has so far filled 

 up the lake itself, that there is anchorage, I believe, in every part 

 of it; and the principal ship channel is scooped, by the force of 

 the current, out of a very compact blue clay — the geological resi- 

 duum of ancient formations of clay-slates in the upper country. 



The shores are often but a few inches above, and often a few 

 inches heloiv the surface, where they give origin to a growth of 

 reeds, flags, and other aquatic plants, which remind tlil traveller 

 of similar productions at the Balize of the Mississippi. In this 

 nilotic region, myriads of water-fowls find a favorite resort. To 

 us, however, these jets of alluvial formation, bearing high grass 

 and rushes were as so many friendly arms stretched out to shelter 

 us from the wind ; but they were found to be so low and wet, that 

 we were compelled to urge our way through them, in search of a 



* Now called Clinton River, a change made by Act of Legislature, the frequent 

 repetition of this name by the French having been found inconvenient in the lake 

 geography. 1853. 



4 



