40 



Harmon's journal. 



Friday^ Y3. Grand Portage, where we arriv- 

 ed late this evening. This place lies in the 48th 

 degree of north latitude ; and is said to be nine 

 hundred miles from the Soult St Maries, and 

 eighteen hundred from Montreal. The Fort, 

 which is twenty four rods by thirty, is built on 

 the margin of a bay, at the foot of a hill or moun- 

 tain, of considerable height. Within the fort, 

 there is a considerable number of dwelling houses, 

 shops and stores, all of which appear to be slight 

 buildings, and designed only for present conven- 

 ience. The houses are surrounded by palisades, 

 which are about eighteen inches in diameter, and 

 are sunk nearly three feet in the ground, and rise 

 about fifteen feet above it. The bay is so shallow 

 that the vessel cannot approach the shore, unless 

 she is almost without lading. There is a conside- 

 rable island, directly opposite to the fort, which 

 shelters the vessel from the winds that blow from 

 the Lake ; and Avhich renders this, a tolerably 

 good harbour. There is also another fort, which 

 stands about two hundred rods from this, belong- 

 ing to the X. Y. Company, under which firm, a 

 number of merchants of Montreal and Quebec, 

 &c. now carry on a trade into this part of the 

 country. It is only three years since they nrade 

 an establishment here : and as yet, they have had 

 but little success. 



