UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 267 



in the eastern states run parallel with the mountains ; but in the 

 middle and southern states, on the Atlantic side, the principal rivers 

 intersect the mountains nearly at right angles. 



Lakes. ...There are few scenes better calculated to inspire the mind 

 with feelings and ideas of the grandeur and sublimity of nature, in 

 her operations, than the contemplation of that prodigious chain of 

 lakes, or inland seas, which forms the northern boundary of the United 

 States. Though uniformly grand in her productions on this side of 

 the globe, she seems, in the formation of these vast bodies of fresh 

 water, to have put forth all her strength. They are not merely in- 

 sulated bodies of water, but communicate with one another, in suc- 

 cession, and may be considered as the great fountains of the river 

 St. Lawrence. 



These lakes have no regular tides, and never freeze over. Some 

 of the streams, however, by which they communicate with one another, 

 are frozen over, during the severity of winter. We shall begin with 

 Lake Sufierior, which, with its tributary streams, we view as the 

 source of the great river St. Lawrence ; and as we proceed along the 

 lakes and their concatenating waters, we shall consider and describe 

 them as appendages and continuations of that noble river. Lake 

 Superior is the largest body of fresh water in the world. It is 400 

 miles in length, and 120 in breadth; and lies between 46° 31' and 

 48° 40' north lat., and 84° and 92° 10" west long. Its circum- 

 fence, including the meanderings of its various bays, has been esti- 

 mated at 1200, 1500 and even 1600 miles. The waves of this lake, 

 agitated by a storm, resemble those of the ocean, run as high, and its 

 navigation is equally dangerous. It is often covered with fogs, 

 especially when the wind is from the east, which, driven against the 

 barren rocks on the N. and W. dissolve in torrents of rain. Its waters 

 are clear, deep, and abound in a great variety of excellent fish, such 

 as trout, sturgeon, pickeril, pike, red and white carp, black bass, her- 

 ring, Stc. The tiscamany, or white fish, which weighs from four to 

 sixteen pounds, is of a very superior quality in these waters. 



Imbosomed in Lake Superior, lie a large number of islands, two 

 of which, Philip and Royal isles, are of considerable magnitude, and 

 in the treaty of Paris they are particularly specified, as lying on the 

 American side of the boundary line. The latter, situated near theN.W. 

 shore of the lake is the largest, being 100 miles long and about 40 

 wide. There is a multitude of smaller islands, many of which are 

 not yet fully explored. Copper is found in some of them, particularly 

 those along the eastern coast of the lake. It was in the solitude of some 

 of these islands, that the imaginations of the natives fixed the resi- 

 dence of the Great Spirit. On the south side of the lake is a large 

 cape or promontory, extending 60 miles in length, and denominat- 

 ed point Shagoimigo or Chigomigan. From this point of land, east- 

 ward, the southern shore of the lake is an almost continued sandy 

 beach, interspersed with rocky precipices of lime stone, rising some- 

 'imes to 100 feet in height, without a bay. The banks, in ge- 

 neral, from the same point westward, on the south side of the lake, 

 are of a strong clay, mixed with stones. Along the north shore of 

 Lake Superior is the safest navigation, as it is a continued mountain- 

 ous embankment of rock, varying from 300 to 1500 feet in height. 

 There are also along this shore numerous coves and sandy bays, 

 which are sheltered from the swell of the lake by islands, and afford 

 '-ommodious harbours and landing places. 



