172 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
tion of the waters, had tumbled down, and no doubt agi- 
tated the lake for miles around. 
This view, gives some ideas of the continuation of this 
rock-bound shore, in the sections of which the walls are 
formed. All along the cornice of these rocks the colour 
is white, and stained with brown, as if by time, and the 
action of the elements; and here and there huge fragments 
are broken off as if by the same agents. Their bases are 
uniformly, or nearly so, of yellow sand stone. The whole, 
looks like the work of art; and as if, I have before said, 
giants had been the workmen. 
The Governor, on parting from me in the morning, bade 
me, very formally, farewell — said he was very sorry to 
leave me, but that we should meet at the Sault. There I 
expected myself I should have the pleasure of seeing him, 
and not before. I knew these sketches must occupy Mr. 
Lewis for some time; and so made my mind up to have 
a lonely voyage to the St. Mary’s. 
Sun-set brought us to the Grand Marais, having come 
sixty miles to-day. We encamped on the same spot where 
our tent was pitched in going up, and now, doubtless, for 
the last time. We are at least twenty miles behind the 
Governor and our party — and perhaps one hundred in ad- 
vance of the military. About nine miles from the Grand 
Marais passed some Indians encamping for the night. Got 
some fish of them; and gave them in exchange, pork and 
flour. The chief came wading into the lake, holding out 
his hand, saying, “ Boo-Shoo — Foo-Shoo ,” — and on re- 
ceiving the pork and flour, was confounded at his unex- 
pected good luck, and seemed grateful. Thermometer, 
sun-do.wn, 66°. 
The moon is at her full. The stars are nearly all quench- 
ed in her unusual splendour. The firmament looks like 
one vast mirror, and this lovely bay resembles it. It would 
be difficult, from the appearance, to determine which is the 
original, and which the reflection. On landing, I walked 
down on the bar, where, on going up, we had exercised 
ourselves so freely. But the evening — the varied and 
golden light in the west, and the full moon, silent, and 
silvery, and bright, and thoughts of home absorbed my 
reflections— and here it was I felt all the force and beauty 
of the following lines: — 
“ The moon is up, and yet it is not night — 
Sun-set divides the day with her — a sea 
Of glory streams along the Alpine height — 
Heaven is free 
From clouds, but of all colours seem to be 
Melted to one vast Iris of the west, 
Where the day joins the past eternity. 
While on the other hand, meek Dian’s crest 
Floats through the azure air. 
A single star is at her side, and reigns 
With her o’er half the lovely heav’n; but still 
Yon sunny sea heaves brightly, and remains. 
Fill’d with the face of heav’n, which, from afar 
Comes down upon the waters ; all its hues, 
From the rich sun-set to the rising star, 
Their magical variety diffuse : 
And now they change ; a paler shadow strews 
Its mantle o’er the mountains ; parting day 
Dies like the dolphin, whom each pang imbues 
With a new colour as it gasps away, 
The last still loveliest — till all is grey.” — 
While contemplating the stillness, and wrapt in the sil- 
very mantle of this night-scenery, I heard a footstep — on 
looking round, I recognized it to be one of my men — the 
steersman. “Sir,” said he, “ I have come to say, that if 
it is your pleasure, now that we have eaten and rested, we 
are willing to go on — the night is bright, and we will make 
your pallet in the canoe.” I assented, when the canoe was 
soon in the water, the tent down, the pallet that had been 
spread, rolled up, and in half an hour, and at ten o’clock, 
we were going out of this bay, and gliding over the surf of, 
the lake as it broke upon the beach. The stillness which I 
had been enjoying, was broken by the chaunting of the 
voyageurs. I stretched myself down on my pallet, that 
was unrolled and spread out on the bottom of the canoe, 
and pulling my blankets over me, went to sleep. Thermo- 
meter, sun-rise, 58°. 
Friday , August 18 th . — The voyageurs have been gra- 
tified. Their object was to overtake and pass the Go- 
vernor and the rest of the company whilst they slept. At 
half past one, the entire silence awaking me, I lifted my 
head, and looking out, saw five barges drawn up on the jj 
shore, and the smoke of the fires at which the company had 
cooked their evening repast; and at three, the provision 
barges, and those who had been despatched to the Onta- 
nagon, and who also got ahead of me whilst I was delayed 
before the Pictured rocks, and just beyond, at Twin river, 
the Governor, Mr. Holliday, and Mr. Johnson. I had got 
into a doze again, but every thing becoming so perfectly ! 
still, I was awakened, and looking out, saw the tents, and 
that all was silent. We passed them all, and continued on 
to White-fish point, where we breakfasted. J ust as we had 
embarked, after breakfast, we saw in the distance the lit- 
tle fleet. I soon discovered the determination of the voy- 
ageurs was to make the entire traverse of this immense 
bay, from White-fish, to Gross point. It is true, the 
morning was calm ; but there is danger in the undertak- 
ing, and it is never attempted but under the fairest prospects. 
We had proceeded but about one-third of the way, when 
the wind breezed up, and fortunately for us, it was fair. 
We put our sail, and scudded before it. When two- 
thirds of the way across, we saw, by standing up in the 
canoe, the boats following— their sails just visible. We 
