upon the Lakes Erie and Huron1, and one on Lake Superior, of from fifty
to feventy tons bdrthexi. 'This beings thêréfiM'e, the depot fyt tranfports,
the Montreal canoes, on their arrival; were forwarded ovfeftLake' Superior,
with only five men in 'each ; the others were fent to Michilim'akinae
for additional canoes, which were required to profecute the trade, and
theft take a lading there, or at St. Mary’s, and follow the others. At
length, they all arrive at the Grande Portage, which is one hundred and
fixty leagues from St. Mary’s, and fituated on a pleafant bay on the North
fide o f the lake, in latitude 48. North and longitude go. Weft from Greenwich,
where the compafs has not above five degrees Eaft variation.
A t the entrance of the bay is an ifland which fcreefis the harbour from
every wind except the South. The Ihallownefs of the water, however,
renders it neceflary for the veffel to anchor near a mile from the fhore,
where there is not more than fourteen feet water. This lake juftifies the
name that has been given to itY the Falls o f St. Mary, which Is %
Northern extremity, being in latitude 46. *|ï. North,' and 'in longitude
84 Weft, where there is no variation of the cbmpafs whatever, White its
Southern extremity', at the River St. Louis',1 is in Iatifude’4^. 45; North-»
and longitude 92/10. Weft: its gréateft breadth & onè aM
twenty milbs, and its circumference, including its various bays, is not lefs
than one thoufand two hundred miles.' Along its Nofth fhöfè' is the' fafeft
navigation, as it is aCofitinued mountainous “enibankmënt ó f rock/from
thred hnttdred to onè thoüfand five hundred feet in height. There arè
numerous coves apd fandy bays to land, which "are frequently ftiehered
iflands from the fwell of the lake. This is particularly the Oafe at
the diftartèeófonè hundred miles1 to the Eaftwardof the Grande Portage,
and is called'the Pays Plat
This
carryiftg-pkcein this river, and is &boul fcWo thoufaftd and thirty-five
paèéi. It is -a high hdlfopmountaini Trom the upper part of this Pop*
tage 'the biirrènt is fteâdÿ/sand is only'a branch o f the Utawas River,
which juins'the main channel; that keeps' à more Southern cóftrfe, at the
diftaneéîôf twelve computed leagues. Six leagues further it forms Lake
Góulorïgè, Which is about’four leagues in length : from thence it proceeds
throtigh the cnàrtnels of the Allumettes "to the Portage, where part Of the
ladha^ 4 s taken bût, and ' èahied three hundred and forty-two paces.
Then "füeCééds the Portage des Ailu mettes, which is but twenty-five
paces, over aYóóktlifficuIt óf acfcefe; ànd but a very foort dtftance from
Lake Cotilonge. Frortr-Pbrtage deChenes tb this fpot, is a fine deerhunting
country,-and the- land in manylpkrtS- vefy fit'foó' cultivation.
From hêftce the river fprCads wideband Hs'full o f iflarids, with fome current
for teven leagues», to the beginning of Gr&tife, or Heep River,
which runs in the1 form of a canal, about a mile and an half wide, for
àbout fhfrty-fiX mites ; '%öündêd upon' thé 'North h/Véry high, rocks,
land bfoihe-South,fftnd fandy; it is intercepted by falls
and cataraâs;: fa that the Portagbs p f the two [Joachiris aliftofljoin.
The ftrft3 â’; ftïftO-hundrédaSia;tw e n ty^ pdéês/the neîxt férett hundred
and twenty, and hoth ve^y bad roads.1 IFrorh .a ftbàdÿ eftrfent öif
nine mites tó the River du Möïnë, where there has generally been a trading
houle*; the:ftream then becomes ftrong for four leagues, when a rapid
fucceeds,> whteh-requires two trips, Afitttewdyoawardistfte Décharge,
and cfofeto it, the Portage of the Roche Capitaine, teven höhdred and
nmety-feven paces in length. From hence two trips are made through
a narrow channel o f the Roche Capitaine, made by an ifland four miles
in length. A ftrong current now fncceeds, for about fix leagues to the
e ■ /• Portage