NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 83 



CHAPTER V. 



Embark at the head of the portage at St. Mary's. — Entrance into Lake Superior — • 

 Journey and incidents along its coasts — Great Sand Dunes — Pictured Rocks — 

 Grand Island — Keweena peninsula and portage — Incidents thence to Ontonagon 

 River. 



Having accomplislied the object of our visit, at tliis place, 

 no time was lost in pushing our way into the basin of Lake 

 Superior. The distance to it is computed to be fifteen miles 

 above the Sault. It was nine o'clock of the morning following 

 the day of the treat}*, when the men began to take the canoes up 

 the raj)ids, and transport the provisions and baggage. This 

 occupied nearly the whole of the day. Taking leave of Lieu- 

 tenant Pierce, who returned with his command, from this point, 

 and our hospitable hostess, we proceeded to the head of the port- 

 age, long before the canoes and stores all arrived. To while 

 away the time, while the men were thus employed, we tried our 

 skill at rifle shooting. It was six o'clock in the evening before 

 the work of transportation was finished, and the canoes loaded, 

 when we embarked. The view from the head of the portage is 

 imposing. The river spreads out like an arm of the sea. In the 

 distance appear the mountains of Lake Superior. 



We proceeded two leagues, and encamped at Point aus Pins, 

 on the Canadian shore. At six o'clock the next morning we 

 were again in our canoes, and crossed the strait, which is here 

 several leagues wide, to the west, or Point Iroquois Cape. In this 

 traverse we first beheld the entrance into Lake Superior. The 

 scene is magnificent, and I could fully subscribe to the remark 

 made by Carver, " that the entrance into Lake Superior affords 

 one of the most pleasing prospects in the world." The morning 

 was clear and pleasant, with a favoring breeze, but a tempest of 

 wind and rain arose, with severe thunder, soon after we had 



