340 THE SOUTHERN' SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 



formations of the lower lakes, but the rock-bound coasts of Georgian 

 Bay and Lake Superior. 



Availing myself of the partial opportunities afforded by a brief 

 sojourn on some parts of the shores of Lake Superior during last 

 summer (1855) I was much interested in observing some of the 

 singular conformations produced along its varied coast lines by the 

 action of the waves or currents of that magnificent inland sea. Of 

 these, no features are so remarkable as those presented by a por- 

 tion of the extensive range of sand-stone cliffs which rear their 

 massive fronts, and project their jagged and picturesque cliffs from 

 the southern shore, soon after passing the Grand Sable : the first 

 feature of commanding interest which meets the explorer after leav- 

 ing the Rapids of Sault Ste. Marie. Here the rounded and slightly 

 undulating shores, with their coast line of sand and loose shingle, is 

 suddenly changed for a long reach of coast, still rounded in its forms, 

 but rising abruptly from the shore in dune-like masses, to a height of 

 upwards of three Imndred and fifty feet. At their base the edges of 

 the sand-stone strata are occasionally exposed by the action of the 

 waves, but the greater portion of their surface is formed by sand and 

 debris ; and the same materials loosely accumulated on their tops, 

 afford only at rare intervals sufficient soil for the trees, which else- 

 where line the whole southern shore of Lake Superior with that 

 unvarying monotony so familiar to the eye of the American traveller. 

 Beyond the Grand Sable, the coast trends rapidly to the southward 

 until it reaches the most southerly point of the lake, in the beautiful 

 and sheltered harbour behind Grand Island: which in some respects 

 reminded me of the magnificent natural harbour in the Clyde, 

 formed by the sheltering barrier of Holy Island, and the bold coast 

 of the Isle of Arran ; though in the solitude of its embayed waters 

 it presents a striking contrast to Lamlash Bay, towards which the 

 merchant fleets of the Clyde, and of the whole Irish Channel, may be 

 seen crowding all canvass to escape the dangers of a westerly gale. 

 In approaching this fine natural harbour from the east, the coast pre- 

 sents for upwards of teu miles, a range of rocky cliffs of varying 

 character and elevation, but rising in some places to a height of fully 

 two hundred feet ; and it is on a portion of this range of sand-stone 

 rocks that the French voyageurs, from one of its peculiar features, 

 conferred the name of " Les Portails,'" while they are more generally 

 known to the American traveller by that of " the Pictured Rocks." 

 To this latter name a fresh interest has been recently given by its 

 introduction into Longfellow's Indian " Song of Hiawatha," where. 



