mediate land is a level prairie, stretching in every direction as far as the eye can reach. Its extreme elevation above the surface of the lake, is seventeen feet; and that feeble barrier is all that is interposed between this mighty mass of water and the rich valley of the Mississippi, which it overhangs, like an avalanche on the summit of the Alps."*

It has long been known, that boats can pass by water from the Illinois to Lake Michigan. An explanation of this singular fact, is given by the last cited Writer from personal observation. Between the Des Pleines and Lake Michigan, but to the east of the Portage path, there is an extensive morass, called the Saganashkee marsh. This, in a wet season, assumes the appearance of a lake, the surface of which, however, is so entirely overspread with the broad leaves and yellow flower of the large water-lily, that it would be difficult for a boat, without a skilful pilot, to find her way through it. “This lake generally discharges itself into the Des Pleines; but, when that river is

North American Review, No. lix. p. 361. "There is not, perhaps, on the globe," remarks this Writer, "a spot where such a mighty physical revolution could be produced with so little human labour, as by opening a communication between Lake Michigan and some of the upper tributaries of the Illinois. It would be a inatter of curious speculation, to calculate the consequences of turning to the Gulf of Mexico, one of those immense reservoirs which are the fountains of the St. Lawrence. The Delta of the Mississippi would be inundated and destroyed, and its low bottoms overflowed by a deluge whose extent and duration no man can estimate. A gradual diminution would take place in the waters of Lake Michigan, which would be felt in Huron and Erie ; and Chicago would present some of the imposing features of the entrance into the Niagara river." It has been proposed to open a canal between the Chicago and the Illinois. The elevation of the head of the latter above the level of the ocean, is assumed by Major Long to be, in round numbers, 450 feet; about 120 feet below the surface of Lake Erie.-James, vol. iii. p. 265.

high, its waters fill the channel of communication, and flow into the lake. The voyageur enters this channel, and follows the track made by some other boat, or works his own way, slowly and laboriously. As he approaches the natural termination of the marsh, the water becomes more and more shallow, and his progress more and more difficult. He at length arrives at the boundary, and finds himself at the summit level of the country. An inclined plane of seven miles in extent, and with a depression of seventeen feet, stretches between him and Lake Michigan. And we very much doubt, whether the water of the Des Pleines ever surmounted this summit level, and mingled with the Chicago, until this route had been frequently passed. The communication at present existing, has apparently been effected, in a long course of years, by drawing the boats through the mud at the extremity of the marsh, and thus forming a small channel, which is soon increased by the velocity of the current, occasioned by the rapid descent of the country towards the lake. This channel is called the Rigolet, and bears every appearance of the origin we have assigned to it. A boat descends it with great rapidity, and about two miles from the marsh, enters the Chicago creek, a deep and sluggish stream, at this point on a level with the lake.” *

What has been called the valley or basin of the Mississippi, might then, it has been remarked, with almost equal accuracy be called the basin of the St. Lawrence, of the Saskatchiwine, or of Mackenzie's River; since these different channels serve as drains to the same immense plain extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northern Sea. From this remarkable

* North American Review, No. lix. pp. 361, 2.:

peculiarity in the configuration of the new continent, the vast extent and unbroken continuity of its low and level plains, results the amazing length of the rivers which water this part of the globe, and many of which mingle, in the early part of their course, those waters which are destined for different estuaries.*

Before we proceed to give a more particular de scription of the mighty streams which water this region, the chain of lakes, or fresh-water seas, which separate the United States from British America, first claim our attention. These are five in number, namely, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

Lake Superior, the largest and most northern of these lakes, (formerly known under the names of Lake Tracy and Lake Condé,) is situated between latitude 46° 30′ and 49° N., and longitude 84° and 92° 10′ W., and forms the largest body of fresh water on the globe. Its greatest length from E. to W. is 410 miles; its greatest breadth, 120 miles; and its cir cumference has been variously estimated at 1200 and 1500 miles.† It receives the waters of forty different streams, which it discharges at its southeastern extremity, through the straits of St. Mary into Lake Huron. It has been conjectured, indeed,

Thus, the Orinoco and the Rio Negro, a tributary to the Amazons, communicate by the Cassiquiare; and a similar branch unites the Beni and the Madera. The head streams of the Paraguay, it is also believed, communicate, in the rainy season, with those of the Amazons.

According to Mackenzie, following its shores and bays, 1200 miles. According to Faden's calculation, (Description of Canada, 1813,) 1525 miles.-Mackenzie, p. xl. Warden, vol. i. p. 60. Malte Brun says, "more than 500 leagues in circumference." In Carey and Lea's Atlas, this lake is said to be 350 miles long, (its mean length probably being intended,) and its mean breadth, 100.

that not more than a tenth part passes through this channel, the rest escaping by evaporation. Along the northern shore, there is great depth of water. The rocks rise from 300 to 1500 feet, and, during a strong wind, render the navigation dangerous: it would be still more so, were it not for the harbours formed by numerous islands near the entrance of inlets and bays, where vessels find shelter. The southern side of the lake is a sandy beach, without any bay or inlet, but interspersed with limestone rocks, rising 100 feet above the water, and rendering the navigation not less dangerous. The largest island, called Isle Royale, situated near the north-western coast, is 100 miles in length by about 40 in breadth. The lake abounds with fish, which constitutes the principal food of the Algonquin Indians on its

borders.

Lake Huron (formerly called Lake Algonquin or Orleans) lies between latitude 42° 30′ and 46° 30′ N., and longitude 80° and 84° W. Its length from east to west, is 220 miles; its breadth varies from 60 to 200 miles; and its circumference is about 1100 miles; the total extent of surface being estimated at 20,000 square miles. Near the centre, its depth is said to be unfathomable. Besides the waters of Lake Superior, which it receives, through a series of rapid descents,

* Warden, vol. i. p. 61.—When the wind blows from the east, the waters are driven against the high rocks of the northern and western shore, where they form a thick vapour resembling rain; and this action of the wind creates an irregular ebb and flow. This never exceeds ten or twelve inches; but the strong traces of the water on the rocks of the shore, shew that, at no very remote period, they were elevated six feet above the present level. Some years ago, Mackenzie states, the waters suddenly withdrew near the Great Portage; then rushed back with great velocity above the common mark; and, after rising and falling during several hours, they settled at their usual level.-Mackenzie, pp. xlii. xliii.,

at its north-western extremity, those of Lake Michigan discharge themselves into it, on the western side, by a channel six miles in length, called the Straits of Michillimackinac, at the mouth of which is the island of the same name, situated in latitude 45° 54'.* On the eastern side, it receives, through the channel of the Swan River, the waters of Lake Simcoe; and on the northern coast, by the French River, those of Lake Nipissing, which is 25 leagues in length. Several other streams, issuing from small lakes, run also into the eastern side. The only outlet of the united waters of Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron, is the rapid river of St. Clair, which, by the accession of other streams, is changed into a lake of the same name, about 90 miles in circumference. A strait, from half a mile to three miles in breadth, called the Detroit, unites this basin with Lake Erie.

Lake Michigan (formerly called Lake Illinois and Lake Dauphin) extends from the western angle of Lake Huron in a southerly direction, and is separated from Lake Superior by a tongue of land about 30 leagues in length. It lies wholly within the territory of the United States, between the parallels of 42° and 46°. Its length, from north to south, is 260 miles by a mean breadth of 50, and its circumference is 945 miles, containing an area of 10,368,000 acres. Its waters are said to be unfathomable. On the N.W.

"Before the late war, the island of Michillimackinac was the great place of resort among Indian traders and the factors of Montreal, who met there annually about the 1st of May, and remained two months for the exchange of peltries with the manufactures of Europe. After the capitulation of General Hull, Fort Michillimackinac, the most northerly military post in the United States, fell into the hands of the English, who were obliged to abandon it after the capture of their fleet on Lake Erie (in 1813)."-Warden, vol. i, p. 70.