74 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



the same animal seen in its summer and winter dress. To the 

 Indian, this animal is valuable for its quills, which are djed of 

 bright colors, to ornament their dresses, moccasons, shot-pouches, 

 and other choice fabrics of deer skin, or birch bark. This animal 

 has four claws on the fore paw, and five on the hinder oiies. It 

 has small ears hid in the hair, and a bushy tail, with coarse black 

 and white hair. The specimen killed would weigh eight pounds. 



Soon after coming out from this indentation of the lake, we 

 came in sight of Point Detour, on turning which, from E. to N., 

 we found no longer use for sails. Mackenzie places this point 

 in north latitude 45° 54'. 



The geology" of this coast appears manifest. Secondary com- 

 pact limestone appears in place, in low situations, on the reef of 

 Outard Island and Point, and in the approach to Point Detour. 

 A ridge of calcareous highlands appears on the mainland east of 

 Michilimackinac, stretching off towards Sault de Ste. Marie, in a 

 northeast direction. This ridge appears to belong to a low 

 mountain chain, of which the Island of Michilimackinac may be 

 deemed as one of the geological links. Just before turning, we 

 passed a very heavy angular block of limestone, much covered 

 with moss, which could not have been far removed, in the drift 

 era, from its parent bed. The largest angle of this stone, which 

 I have since examined, must be eight or ten feet. This block is 

 of the ortho-cerite stratum of Drummond Island. The shores 

 are heavily charged with various members of the boulder drift, 

 with a fringe beyond them of spruce and firs, giving one the idea 

 of a cold, exposed, and most unfavorable coast. Turning the 

 Point of Detour, we ascended the strait a few miles, and encamped 

 on its west shore, off Frying-pan Island, at a point directly oppo- 

 site the British post of Drummond Island, which we could not 

 perceive, but the direction of which was clearly denoted by the 

 sound of the evening buoies. 



The entrance into this strait forms a magnificent scene of waters 

 and islands, of which a map conveys but a faint conception. The 

 straits here appeared to be illimitable, we seemed to be in a 

 world of waters. It is stated to be thirty miles across to Point 

 Thessalon. The large group of the Manatouline Islands, stretch- 

 ing transversely through Lake Huron, terminates with the isle 

 Drummond — a name bestowed in compliment to the bold leader, 



