LAKES. 



131 



■west and east, among which is the river St. Joseph, 

 very rapid and full of islands. It springs from a 

 number of small lakes, a little to the north-west of 

 the Miami village, and runs north-west into the 

 south-east part of the lake. On the north side of 

 this river is fort St. Joseph, from which there is a 

 road, bearing north of east, to Detroit. The Pow- 

 tewatamie Indians, who have about two hundred 

 fighting men, inhabit this river opposite fort St. 

 Joseph. 



Between lake Michigan on the west, and lakes 

 Huron, St. Clair, and the west end of Erie on the 

 east, is a fine tract of country, peninsulated, more 

 than 250 miles in length, and from 150 to 200 iu 

 breadth. The banks of the lakes, for a few miles 

 inland, are sandy and barren, producing a few pines, 

 shrub-oaks and cedars. Back of this from either 

 lake, the timber is heavy and good, and the soil 

 luxuriant. 



Lake St. Clair* 



Lake St. Clair lies about half way between lake 

 Huron and lake Erie, and is about ninety miles in 

 circumference. It receives the waters of the three 

 great lakes, Superior, Michigan and Huron, and 

 discharges them through the river or strait (called 

 Detroit) or (the Strait) into lake Erie. This lake 

 is of an oval form, and navigable for large vessels. 

 The fort of Detroit is situated on the western bank 

 of the river of the same name, about nine miles be- 

 low lake St. Clair. The settlements are extended 

 op both sides of the strait or river for many miles 

 towards lake Erie, and some few above the fort. 



