UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 269 



aide of the lake presents immediately on the shore, the same aspect; 

 but about a mile back of this commences a fine rich soil. 



On the S. W. side of lake Huron lies Saganau bay, about 80 miles 

 long, and varying from 18 to 20 in width. Thunder Bay, so denominated 

 from the frequency of that awful phenomenon, accompanied by storms 5 

 lies about half way between Saganau Bay, and the north-east corner 

 of the lake. Near the last bay the waters of lake Simcoe fall into 

 Huron from the east. Some few of the Chippeway Indians live scat- 

 tered round this part of Huron. 



The islands of Lake Huron are numerous, and some of them 

 large. The most important ones however lie without the limits of 

 the United Sates. Of these, the chief is St. Joseph's, on which the 

 British have had their most western military establishment, ever since 

 the year 1 794, at which time they surrendered, what were called the 

 upper posts to the American government. To this post, many of the In- 

 dians of the North -We stern Territory resort annually, for the purposes 

 of trafficking with, and receiving presents from the British. Along 

 the northern shore of this lake there is a chain of islands, called Ma- 

 natoulin, signifying the place of spirits, which is held sacred by the 

 Indians. Fort Michilimackinac stands upon an island of the same name, 

 situated in the west corner of Lake Huron, near its communication 

 with Lake Michigan. The island is seven miles in circumference. It 

 abounds in excellent springs, and is high and healthy ; rising all around 

 gradually from the shores to the centre.* The fort is handsomely situ- 

 ated, and commands the harbour, which is a beautiful basin of water 

 five or six fathoms deep, well sheltered from the winds. The village 

 on this island contained in 1810 about 300 inhabitants, chiefly French 

 Canadians ; and a brisk trade was carried on with the neighbouring 

 Indians. The export of furs was valued in 1804 at g238,236, and the 

 duties received on goods imported from the British possessions, 

 amounted to g60,OOo\ 



From the northern side of this Lake there is what the Canadians 

 term a back passage, leading to Montreal ; which may be denominated 

 a part of the great high way of the fur trade. It commences in the 

 mouth of French river, which falls into Lake Huron in lat. 45° 53' N. 

 and passes up that river into Lake Nepissing ; thence to the head of 

 French river, where there is a portage of two miles, over the high- 

 lands, to the Utawas river ; and thence down that river to its junc- 

 tion with the St. Lawrence, about ten miles above Montreal. This 

 passage is interrupted by numerous rocks, cataracts and rapids, in both 

 the Utawas and French rivers ; the different portages amount to six 

 miles. Along this rout pass and repass semi-annually between 350 and. 

 400 persons, engaged in the fur trade .t 



Lake Michigan. We now leave that range of lakes, constituting 

 the boundary between the United States and Canada, and shall notice 

 Michigan, which lies wholly within the jurisdiction of the former. 

 This lake is 280 miles long, and from 60 to 70 broad, and lies between 

 42° 10' and 46° 30' north latitude, and, 85° and 87° west longitude. 

 It is about 900 miles in circumference, and navigable for vessels of 

 any burden. The islands are inconsiderable and lie chiefly in the 



• It resembles a turtle's back, whence it derives its name, MichilimackinaCj, 

 :hat is, Turtle, 

 t M'Kenzie's History of the Fur Trade. 



