134 



UNITED STATRS. 



with flint and marine petrefactions, but the other 

 strata are generally slate and excellent free-stone. 

 In 1795, the variation of the magnetic needle at the 

 town of Erie, was deg. 43 min. east. 



Lake Ontario. 



Lake Ontario is situated between forty-three and 

 forty-five degrees north latitude, and between one 

 and five degrees west longitude from Philadelphia. 

 Its form is nearly oval. Its greatest length is from 

 south-west to north-east, and its circumference about 

 six hundred miles. It abounds with fish of an ex-, 

 cellent flavour, among which are the Oswego bass^ 

 weighing three or four pounds. Its banks in many 

 places are steep, and the southern sliore is covered 

 principally with beech trees, and the lands appear 

 good. It receives the waters of the Chenesee river 

 from the south, and of Onendoga, at fort Oswego, 

 from the south-east by which it communicates^ 

 through lake Oneida and Wood Creek, with Mo- 

 hawk river. On the north-east, this lake dischai%es 

 itself through the river Cataraqui, (which at Montreal 

 takes the name of St. Lawrence) into the Atlantic 

 ocean. It is asserted, that these lakes fill once in 

 seven years, and that 1794 was the year when X\\&f^ 

 would be full ; but as we are unacquainted with any 

 laws of nature, by which this periodical efi'ect should 

 be produced, v/e may with propriety doubt the fact. 

 ^ - About 8 miles from the west end of lake Ontario, 

 is a curious cavern, which the Messisaugas Indians 

 caU Manito ah wigwam ^ or house of Mie devil. The 

 mountains which border on the lake, at this place 

 break off abruptly, and form a precipice of 200 feet 



