268 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



About 40 tributary streams fall into this lake. The most consider i- 

 ble ones are the Nipigon from the north, the Michipicoton from the 

 N. E.,and the St Louis from the west; to which may be added the 

 Donagon from the south, not on account of its magnitude, but the 

 abundance of virgin copper found on and near its banks. 



The grand portage, in the rout to the Canadian fur depot, fort 

 Chipewyan, is situated on the north side of Lake Superior in lat. 48° 

 north, and long. 90° west. At the entrance of the bay is an island which 

 screens the harbour from all winds, except the south. Vessels, owing 

 to the shallowness of the water, are obliged to anchor nearly a mile 

 from the shore. The bottom of the bay, which forms an amphithea- 

 tre, is cleared of wood and inclosed; and on the left corner of it, 

 beneath a hill 300 or 400 feet high, and crowned by others of still 

 greater altitude, is the fort, picketed in with cedar pallisadoes. 



The aspect of the country bordering on Lake Superior is by no 

 means promising. The rocks appear to have been over-run by fire, 

 and the stunted trees that once grew there, are seen lying along their 

 surface. Amongst this fallen timber, grow briars, hurtle-berries, 

 goose-berries, rasp-berries, ike. which allure bears in great num- 

 bers. Beyond these rocky banks are found a few moose and fallow 

 deer. The soil immediately on the confines of the lake has not 

 proved very pi^opitious to agricultural productions. Potatoes are the 

 only article found worth cultivating. This barrenness is thought to be 

 owing to the cold damp fogs of the lake, and the moisture of the 

 ground, occasioned by the springs issuing from beneath the hills. 

 There are however meadows in the vicinity of Lake Superior, that 

 yield hay in abundance ; and at a small distance from the shores, no 

 doubt many species of grain might be cultivated to advantage, should 

 serious attempts at agriculture ever be made. 



The inhabitants found along the coasts of this lake are all of the 

 Algonquin nation of Indians, and do not exceed 150 familes. They 

 live chiefly upon fish. 



Not more than one-tenth part of the water, discharged into Lake Su- 

 perior by its numerous rivers, passes out by any visible means ; owing, 

 it has been supposed, to the superabundant evaporation. The only 

 outlet of this lake is from the S. E. corner, through St. Mary's river, 

 which is about 70 miles long. Near its upper end is a rapid, which falls 

 25 feet in three-fourths of a mile, and which canoes may descend with 

 skilful pilots, but which they cannot ascend. The prospect at this 

 outlet of Lake Superior is one of the finest in the world; exhibiting 

 on your right hand beautiful little isles extending a great distance 

 ahead ; and on your left a diversified succession of promontories, bays 

 creeks, &c. almost down to lake Huron. 



Lake Huron, into which you enter through St. Mary's river, is 

 the next in magnitude to Lake Superior. It is of a triangular form. 

 It is 250 miles long, by 150 broad ; and lies between 43° 30' and 46° 

 30' north latitude, and 80° and 84° 30' west longitude. 



Its circumference is about 1000 miles. As you approach it, through 

 the river St. Mary's its entrance is interspersed with a large cluster 

 of Islands, the principal of which is St. Joseph's, 120 miles in circuit. 

 The northern shore of this lake consists chiefly of rocky embank- 

 ments, backed at some distance by highlands. The south-east shore 

 is sterile, being composed of sand and small stones. The south-west 



