( 2§2 ) 



been there, but had feen it only in a tranfient nlan- 

 ner, as one fees the fea in a harbour. It is the 

 common opinion, that this lake is fix hundred 

 leagues in circumference ; that there is no paffage 

 to it but through roads almoft impracticable ; that 

 all its banks are delightful that the climate is very 

 temperate, though it lies to the north- weft of Lake 

 Superior, where it is extremely cold, and that it 

 contains fo great a number of illands, that it is cal- 

 led in that country, the Lah of IJlands ; fome In- 

 dians Call it Michinipi, which fignifies the Great Wa- 

 ter ; and it feems in effect to be the refervoir or 

 fource of the greateft rivers, and all the great lakes 

 of North- America ; for on feveral accounts, all the 

 following rivers are faid to have their rife from it \ 

 the river Bourbon, which -runs into Hudfon's-Bay ; 

 the river St. Laurence, which carries its waters to 

 the ocean ; the Miflifilppi, which fails into the 

 gulph of Mexico*, the Miflfouri, wh ; ch mixes with 

 this laft, and till their junction is in nothing inferior to 

 it ; and a fifth, which runs as they fay, weft ward, 

 and consequently difcharges its waters into the South- 

 Sea. It is a great pity that this lake was not known 

 to thole learned men who have fought for the ter- 

 reftrial paradife all over the world ; it might have 

 been placed here with at lead as great propriety as 

 in Scandinavia. I do not, however, warrant all 

 thefe facts, which are fupported only by the accounts 

 of travellers, and much lefs what the Indians have 

 related, that in the neighbourhood of the Lake of 

 the Aftiniboiis, there are men refembling the Europe- 

 ans, who are fettled in a country where gold and 

 fiiver are fo common, that they are employed in 

 the meaneft ufes. Father Marquette, who difco- 

 vered the MilMippi in \6ju fays in his relation, 

 that the Indians not only talked to him of the river 

 which runs from this lake well ward, but likewife 



added 



