( 43 ) 



fxeur de la Motte could not forefee this Jncon- 

 veniency as we were then in polTefllon of Hud ion's 

 bay. 



The fituation of Michillimakinac is moil ad- 

 vantageous for traffic. This poft ftands between 

 three great lakes lake Michigan which is three 

 hundred leagues in circuit, without mentioning the 

 great bay which falls into it Jake Huron which is 

 three hundred and fifty leagues in circumference, 

 and is in form of a triangle ; and Jake Superior, 

 which is five hundred leagues round ; all three are 

 navigable for the large ft fort of boats, and the 

 two firft are feparated only by a fmall ftrait, 

 which has alfo water fufficient for the fame velTels, 

 which may alfo without any obftacle fail all over 

 lake Erie as far as Niagara. It is true that there is 

 no communication between lake Huron and lake 

 Superior, but by a channel two and twenty leagues 

 long, and very much incommoded with rapid cur- 

 rents, which do not hinder canoes from going to 

 Michillimakinac, loaded with all the commodities 

 which lake Superior and its mores afford. 



This lake is two hundred leagues in length from 

 eaft to weft, and in feveral places fourfcore leagues 

 broad from north to fouth ; the whole fouth coaft 

 is fandy and pretty (height ; it would be danger- 

 ous to be furprized by a north wind on it, and 

 the north more is much more commodious for 

 navigation, it being entirely lined with rocks, 

 which form little harbours, where you may fhelter 

 yourfelf with the greateft eafe ; and nothing is 

 more neceffary to thofe who fail in canoes on this 

 lake, in which travellers have remarked a pheno- 

 menon which is Angular enough. 



When 



