60 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION". 



sublime views of a most illimitable and magnificent water pros- 

 pect. If tlie poetic muses are ever to bave a new Parnassus in 

 America, tbey should inevitably fix on Micbilimackinac. Hygeia, 

 too, sbould place her temple here, for it bas one of the purest, 

 driest, clearest, and most healthful atmospheres. 



We remained encamped upon this lovely island six days, while 

 awaiting the arrival of supplies and provisions for the journey, 

 or their being prepared for transportation by hand over the 

 northern portages. Meats, bread, Indian corn, and flour, had to 

 be put in kegs, or stout linen bags. 



The traders and old citizens said so much about the difficulties 

 and toils of these northern portages that we did not know but 

 what we, ourselves, were to be put in bags ; but we escaped that 

 process. This delay gave us the opportunity of more closely 

 examining the island. It is about three and a half miles long, two 

 in its greatest width, and nine in circumference. The site of Fort 

 Holmes, the apex, is three hundred and twelve feet above the 

 lake. The eastern margin consists of precipitous cliffs, which, 

 in many places, overhang the w^ater, and furnish a picturesque 

 rocky-fringe, as it were, to the .elevated plain. The whole rock 

 formation is calcareous. It exhibits the effects of a powerful di- 

 luvial action at early periods, as well as the continued influence 

 of elemental action, still at work. Large portions of the cliffs 

 have been precipitated upon the beach, where the process of de- 

 gradation has been carried on by the waves. A most striking 

 instance of sucli precipitations is to be witnessed at the eastern 

 cliff", called Robinson's Folly, wbich fell, by its own gravitation, 

 within the period of tradition. The formation, at this point, for- 

 merly overhung the beach, commanding a fine view of the lake 

 and islands in all directions, in consequence of which it was oc- 

 cupied with a summer-house, by the officers of the British garri- 

 son, after the abandonment of the old peninsular fort, about 1780. 



The miueralogical features of the island are not without inte- 

 rest. I examined the large fragments of debris, which are still 

 prominent, and which exhibit comparatively fresh fractures. 

 The rock contains a portion of sparry matter, which is arranged 

 in reticuli:T3, filled with white cai-b§liate of lime, in such a state 

 of loose disintegration that the weather soon converts it to the 

 condition of agaric mineral. These reticulae are commonly 



