17-2 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



tion of the waters, had tumbled down, and no doubt agi- 

 tated the lake for miles around. 



This view, gives some ideas of the continuation of this 

 rock-bound shore, in the sections of which the walls are 

 formed. All along the cornice of these rocks the colour 

 is white, and stained with brown, as if by time, and the 

 action of the elements; and here and there huge fragments 

 are broken oil" as if by the same agents. Their bases are 

 uniformly, or nearly so, of yellow sand stone. The whole, 

 looks like the work of art; and as if, I have before said, 

 giants had been the workmen. 



The Governor, on parting from me in the morning, bade 

 me, very formally, farewell — said he was very sorry to 

 leave me, but that we should meet at the Sault. There I 

 expected myself I should have the pleasure of seeing him, 

 and not before. I knew these sketches must occupy Mr. 

 Lewis for some time; and so made my mind up to have 

 a lonely voyage to the St. Mary's. 



Sun-set brought us to the Grand Marais, having come 

 sixty miles to-day. We encamped on the same spot where 

 our tent was pitched in going up, and now, doubtless, for 

 the last time. We are at least twenty miles behind the 

 Governor and our party — and perliaps one hundred in ad- 

 vance of the military. About nine miles from the Grand 

 Marais passed some Indians encamping for the night. Got 

 some fish of them; and gave them in exchange pork and 

 flour. The chief came wading into the lake, holding out 

 his hand, saying, " Boo- Shoo — Boo-Shoo," — and on re- 

 ceiving the pork and flour, was confounded at his unex- 

 pected good luck, and seemed grateful. Thermometer, 

 sun-down, 66°. 



The moon is at her full. The stars are nearly all quench- 

 ed in her unusual splendour. The firmament looks like 

 one vast mirror, and this lovely bay resembles it. It would 

 be difficult, from the appearance, to determine which is the 

 original, and which the reflection. On landing, I walked 

 down on the bar, where, on going up, we had exercised 

 ourselves so freely. But the evening — the varied and 

 golden light in the west, and the full moon, silent, and 

 silvery, and bright, and thoughts of home absorbed my 

 reflections — and here it was I felt all the force and beauty 

 of the following lines: — 



'■' The moon is up, and yet it is not night — 

 Sun-set divides the day with her — a sea 

 Of glory streams along the Alpine height — 



Heaven is free 

 From clouds, but of all colours seem to be 

 Melted to one vast Iris of the west, 

 Where the day joins the past eternity. 

 While on the other hand, meek Dian's crest 



Floats through the azure air. 



A single star is at her side, and reigns 



With her o'er half the lovely heav'n ; but still 



Yon sunny sea heaves brightly, and remains, 

 Fill'd with the face of heav'n, which, from afar 

 Comes down upon the waters j all its hues, 

 From the rich sun-set to the rising star. 

 Their magical variety diffuse : 

 And now they change ; a paler shadow strews 

 Its mantle o'er the mountains ; parting day 

 Dies like the dolphin, whom each pang imbues 

 With a new colour as it gasps away, 

 The last still loveliest — till all is grey." — 



While contemplating the stillness, and wrapt in the sil- 

 very mantle of this night-scenery, I heard a footstep — on 

 looking round, I recognized it to be one of my men — the 

 steersman. " Sir," said he, << I have come to say, that if 

 it is your pleasure, now that we have eaten and rested, we 

 are willing to go on — the night is bright, and we will make 

 your pallet in the canoe." I assented, when the canoe was 

 soon in the water, the tent down, the pallet that had been 

 spread, rolled up, and in half an hour, and at ten o'clock, 

 we were going out of this bay, and gliding over the surf of 

 the lake as it broke upon the beach. The stillness which I 

 had been enjoying, was broken by the chaunting of the 

 voyageurs. I stretched myself down on my pallet, that 

 was unrolled and spread out on the bottom of the canoe, 

 and pulling my blankets over me, went to sleep. Thermo- 

 meter, sun-rise, 58°. 



Friday, August ISfTt. — The voyageurs have been gra- 

 tified. Their object was to overtake and pass the Go- 

 vernor and the rest of the company whilst they slept. At 

 half past one, the entire silence awaking me, I lifted my 

 head, and looking out, saw five barges drawn up on the 

 shore, and the smoke of the fires at which the company had 

 cooked their evening repast; and at three, the provision 

 barges, and those who had been despatched to the Onta- 

 nagon, and who also got ahead of me whilst I was delayed 

 before the Pictured rocks, and just beyond, at Twin river, 

 the Governor, Mr. Holliday, and Mr. Johnson. I had got 

 into a doze again, but every thing becoming so perfectly 

 still, I was awakened, and looking out, saw the tents, and 

 that all was silent. We passed them all, and continued on 

 to White-fish point, where we breakfasted. Just as we had 

 embarked, after breakfast, we saw in the distance the lit- 

 tle fleet. I soon discovered the determination of the voy- 

 ageurs was to make the entire traverse of this immense 

 bay, from White-fish, to Gross point. It is true, the 

 morning was calm ; but there is danger in the undertak- 

 ing, and it is never attempted but under the fairest prospects. 

 We had proceeded but about one-third of the way, when 

 the wind breezed up, and fortunately for us, it was fair. 

 We put our sail, and scudded before it. When two- 

 thirds of the way across, we saw, by standing up in the 

 canoe, the boats following— their sails just visible. We 



