NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 191 



place is surrounded by the woodlands and forests, and seems 

 destined to be an important lake-port * The Algonquin name 

 for this place is Boatchweekwaid, a term which describes an ec- 

 centric or abrupt bay, or inlet. Nothing could more truly depict 

 its singular position ; it is, in fact, a kind of cul-de-sac — a dupli- 

 cature of Lake Michigan, with the coast-shore of which it lies 

 parallel for about ninety miles. 



The singular configuration of this bay appears to be the chief 

 cause of the appearances of a tide at the point where it is entered by 

 Fox Eiver. This phenomenon was early noticed by the French. 

 La Hontan mentions it in 1689. Charlevoix remarks on it in 

 1721, and suggests its probable cause, which is, in his opinion, 

 explained by the fact that Lakes Michigan and Huron, alternately 

 empty themselves into each other through the Straits of Michili- 

 mackinac. The effects of such a flux and reflux, under the 

 power of the winds, would appear to place Green Bay in the posi- 

 tion of a siphon, on the west of Lake Michigan, and go far to 

 account for the singular fluctuations of the current at the mouth 

 of the Fox Eiver. On reaching this spot of the rising and falling 

 of the lake waters. Governor Cass caused observations to be made, 

 which he greatly extended at a subsequent period.f These give 

 no countenance to the theory of regular tides, but denote the 

 changes in the level of the waters to be eccentrically irregular, 

 and dependent, so far as the observations extend, altogether on 

 the condition of the winds and currents of the lakes. 



Something analogous to this is perceived in the Baltic, which 

 has no regular tides, and therefore experiences no difference of 

 height, except when the wind blows violently. " At such times," 

 says Pennant,:}: "there is a current in and out of the Baltic, ac- 

 cording to the points they blow from, which forces the water 



* Green Bat. This town has just (1854) been incorporated as a city, the anti- 

 cipations respecting it having been slow in being realized. It has now an esti- 

 mated population of 3,000, with several churches in a healthy and flourishing state, 

 two printing presses, a post-office, collectorship, and thriving agricultural and com- 

 mercial advantages, which will be fully realized when the internal improvements in 

 process of construction through the Fox and Wisconsin valleys are finished. Its 

 extreme salubrity has, it seems, been disregarded by emigrants. 



f American Journal of Science, vol. xvii. 



X Arctic Geology. 



