LAKE ERIE. 
157 
Or returning from our ramble in the woods 
to the margin of the lake, we were agreeably 
surprised to find the wind quite favourable for 
prosecuting our voyage, and in a few minutes 
afterwards heard the signal gun, and saw the 
ship's boat coming for the purpose of taking 
us from shore. We got on board in time for 
dinner, but did not proceed on our voyage 
until midnight ; so high a sea still continued 
running in the lake, that the captain thought 
it imprudent to venture out of the bay before 
that time. In the morning we found ourselves 
under the rich bold lands on the southern side 
of the lake ; the water was smooth, the sky 
serene, and every one felt pleased with the 
voyage. It was on this day that we beheld 
the cloud over the Falls of Niagara, as I before 
mentioned, at the great distance of fifty-four 
miles. 
Lake Erie is of an elliptical form ; in length 
about three hundred miles, and in breadth, 
at the widest part, about ninety. The depth 
of water in this lake is not more than twenty 
fathoms, and in calm weather vessels may se¬ 
curely ride at anchor in any part of it; but 
when stormy, the anchorage in an open part 
of the lake is not safe, the sands at bottom not 
being firm, and the anchors apt therefore to 
lose their hold. Whenever there is a gale of 
wind, the waters immediately become turbid. 
