UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 171 



for some distance back the country is elevated but little above the 

 level of the lake. Its navigation is more dangerous than that of the 

 other lakes, on account of craggy, perpendicular rocks, which pro- 

 ject many miles from the northern shore, and afford no shelter trom 

 storms. From the Canada shore, a point of iand projects several 

 miles into the lake, in a direction south-east, called Long Point. The 

 islands and banks towards the west end of the lake are said to be 

 very much infested with rattle-snakes. The shores of the lake here 

 are covered for miles around with the leaves of the large pond or 

 water lily, on which, in the summer, myriads of water snakes may 

 be seen. 



On the northern shore of this lake stand two British fortifications, 

 Maiden and Erie ; the one at its western, the other at its eastern, 

 extremity. The latter is nearly opposite to Buffaloe, and two miles 

 above Black Rock, which are on the American side. It is a strong 

 stockade fort, containing a block house and barracks. Near the form- 

 er (a stockade fort usually garrisoned by three or four hundred men) 

 is a village of the same name, which contains about 100 houses, and 

 carries on a considerable trade, chiefly in furs. 



The southern side of lake Erie, immediately on the shore, is 

 mostly a sandy beach, and the harbours are incommoded with bars of 

 sand. Back of this sandy beach the country rises, in many places 

 precipitately, sometimes abruptly, exhibiting immense ranges of 

 perpendicular rocks, (as at Cayuga) over which pass the streams, 

 falling into the lake, forming numerous beautiful cascades. 



From the west and south, several considerable rivers discharge 

 themselves into this lake. Its chief tributaries are the Miami, on which 

 fort Meigs is situated ; the Sandusky, whose bay forms the best 

 harbour on the lake, but of difficult entrance ; the Cayuga, at whose 

 mouth is the village of Cleveland, Grand river, Cattaragus, and 

 others, which will be noticed hereafter. 



The bearing of the Niagara river, from lake Erie to the falls, is 

 west of north ; thence to lake Ontario, due north. The length, in- 

 cluding its meanderings, is between thirty and thirty-five miles, 

 Above the falls it imbosoms Grand and Navy islands, both within the 

 jurisdiction of New York. The former is nearly six miles long, and 

 three wide. On the west side of this river are the forts Erie and 

 George ; and the villages of Chippeway, Queenstown and Newark. 

 Reserving our description of the falls for a future article, we pro- 

 ceed to lake Ontario. 



Ontario, the most eastern of that extensive range of lakes, sepa- 

 rating the United States from the British provinces, is bounded N. 

 by Upper Canada, W. and S. by the same province and New York, 

 and E. by New York. It is 160 miles long, and from 60 to 70 wide, 

 and lies between 43° and 45° north latitude, and 76° and 30° west 

 longitude. Its form resembles that of an ellipsis, and its circumfe- 

 rence has been variously estimated at from 450 to 600 miles. Its 

 shores are precipitous, and covered principally with beech trees, but 

 as you recede from them on the south side, you enter a fine country, 

 which extends from Niagara river, parallel with lake Ontario, to its 

 eastern extremity. This region is diversified with elevations and de- 

 pressions, spacious alluvial vales, and uplands of a warm, moist, and 

 black soil, with innumerable small lakes, streams, and springs. 

 The Genesee, Oneida, Oswego, and Black rivers, with a multitude 

 more, pass through this country, and fall into Ontario. 



