NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION, 85 



Point, called Namikong* by the Indians. Thus far, wc had been 

 imbayed in an arm of the lake which embraces Parisian Island, 

 another link of the sandstone formation ; but hero the lake, stretch- 

 ing westwardly, displays itself in all its magnificence. On the left, 

 spreads a long line of sandy coast ; on the right, an illimitable 

 expanse of water, which was bounded only by the horizon. Be- 

 yond these features, there is not a prominent object to catch the 

 eye. The magnificence which first pleases, at last tires. The 

 change of course brought the wind ahead, and we were soon 

 compelled to land on these bleak sandy wastes. While thus 

 detained, an express canoe from St, Mary's reached us with letters. 

 A couple of hours were employed in dispatching this canoe on its 

 return ; meantime the wind lulled, and we went on ten miles and 

 encamped on the sands. 



The next morning, we were again in motion at five o'clock. 

 Twelve miles coasting along this unvaried shore, brought us to 

 the mouth of a stream called Neezhoda, Seepe,f or Twin Eiver, 

 which is imprecisely called Two-Hearted River by the traders. 

 The peculiarity of this stream consists in the union of two sepa- 

 rate rivers, near the point of its outlet. Seven leagues beyond 

 this spot brought us to the inlet called Grande Marais. Imme- 

 diately west of this begins an elevated naked coast of sand-dunes, 

 called Gitche Nagow,:}: or La Grande Sables. To comprehend 

 the geology of this coast, it is necessary to state that it con- 

 sists of several heavy strata of the drift era, reaching a height 

 of two or three hundred feet, with a precipitous front on the lake. 

 The sands driven up by the lake are blown over these heights, 

 forming a heavy deposit. It is this sandy deposit, falling down 

 the face of the precipice, that appears to convert the whole for- 

 mation into dunes, whereon the sandy coating rests, like a veil, 

 over the pebble and clay-drift. Their desert and Sahara-like ap- 

 pearance is quite impressive to the travellers who visit these coasts 

 in boats or canoes. The number of rapacious birds which are ob- 

 served about these heights, adds to the interest of the prospect. 

 Dr. Wolcott, and some other members of the party who ascended 

 the formation, reported a small lake on this elevation. The sands 



* From na, excellent; amik, beaver; and ong, a place. 

 J From oda, a heart ; neezh, two ; and seebe, a river. 

 J From ndgoic, sand ; and gilche, great. 



