of being sucked into the vast vortex of the falls: to avoid this, small poles have been fixed together from the reservoir to the mill (upwards of a mile) and floating-about the distance of eighteen or twenty feet from the shore; they are kept off the shore in their places by poles projecting from the shore; and thus the chain of poles, rising and falling with the waters, and always floating on the surface, make a kind of canal, into which the logs are launched one by one, and so carried from the reservoir to the mill.

Below the falls is a place called the whirlpool, where the river has apparently made an effort to break its way through to the westward, but, not having power to do so, has left an elbow, (where there is a constant and great eddy), and broke through the more penetrable strata to the northward.

Fort Erie is situated at the eastern extremity of lake Erie, where-its waters narrow into the Niagara river. There is a small old fort here, with a good new blockhouse; a company of soldiers are quartered here, as there are also at Fort Chippewa, for the purposes of transporting the public

stores.

Fort Erie has frequently suffered from the westerly gales, which occasion the lake sometimes to rise very considerably. The new fort is projected on a small height in the rear of the present garrison. In passing along the northern shore of lake Erie, westward from Fort Erie, nothing very material occurs till you are impercep

tibly intercepted by Long Point bay; the principal feature within this distance is the Point Abino, a shelter for vessels, which find here a good anchorage. The Grand River discharges itself into the lake about 24 miles beyond Point Abino; its entrance being covered by a rocky island, at a small distance from the shore. Between Point Abino and the Grand River is a sugar-loaf hill, which affords a good land-mark for vessels.

The townships in this quarter are settling very fast, and several mills are already erected.

In Woodhouse and Charlotteville, which lie immediately within the long promontory, there is a great space of country, thinly timbered, and without underwood, which greatly facilitates cultivation; it is well calculated for roads, and is sufficiently open for the carriages used in Europe, looking more like a royal forest than the uncultivated lands of nature.

Above Turkey Point, on the heights, is the townplot of Charlotteville; and at the extremity of the point is the site of the projected wharfs and docks, with a good channel leading to it. Within the Point is an extensive marsh, where the settlers feed great numbers of cattle, which are driven to different parts of the province for consump tion. Long Point is a peninsula projecting from the south-west angle of the township of Walsingham eastward into the lake, about 20 miles, making an arm which forms a very large bay. Where the peninsula joins to the main there is a creek,

which, when the waters are high, is of sufficient depth for boats to pass from within the bay, over the neck into the lake; and, when the waters are low, the distance is so short that the batteaux are easily hauled over. Pottohawk Point is a small projection from Long Point, within, and connected nearly with, Turkey Point, by a chain of rushy islands, running across the uppermost part of the bay.

From Charlotteville there is a good road through the country to the Mohawk village on the Grand River.

Proceeding westward from Long Point, you pass Kettle Creek and river Barbut, about 25 miles of coast, where the banks of the lake are high, until you arrive at Landguard, formerly called Point aux Pins; from hence there is a short communication by land to Chatham, at the forks of the river Thames.

Leaving Landguard you arrive at Point Pelé, or the South Foreland, which makes a great projection into the lake; and having doubled that point, you enter the settlements made by the loyalists in the townships of Mersea, Gosfield, and Colchester; and, having continued westward through those townships, you arrive at Malden, situated at the mouth of the strait, or river Detroit.

The military post of Amherstburgh is in the township of Malden, opposite to the isle au Bois Blanc, to which it furnishes a small detachment, and commands the east channel of Detroit. There

is a good and safe anchorage between the island and the main shore, which is well adapted for wharfs, and has other conveniences for naval or commercial purposes. In going up the Detroit, you pass a low marshy island, called Turkey island, or Fighting island, near four miles long. The channel on the west side of this island is the best, and the town of Sandwich presents itself on a small plain, close to the bank of the river. This town has been laid out for the reception of the British merchants, who, agreeably to the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, made their election of remaining British subjects. It is rapidly increasing; there is a good windmill in front of the town: the Huron church is at its northern extremity, and the shore is well calculated for the building of wharfs, and for the security of vessels in the winter. The district gaol and court-house are erected here, and small parks for the convenience of the town are laid out in its rear, and given to the builders of the first houses.

There are several windmills on the Detroit, and an orchard adjoining almost every house. The settlers are numerous, and the improvements handsome and extensive. When the fruit trees are in blossom, the prospect, as you pass through the strait, is perhaps as delightful as any in the world.

Leaving it, you pass Hog island, and enter lake St. Clair, which is small in comparison to either Ontario or Erie, and shallow throughout: it re ceives the waters of lakes Superior, Michigan, and

F

Huron, by a long channel from north to south, called river Sinclair, or St. Clair; it also receives the waters of the Thames, which fall into the lake on the south-east side. About the mouth of this . river are large extensive marshes, or natural meadows, which, with the exception of small tracts of woodland on the banks of the river, and a few woody islands, extend about twelve miles up the country, and about four or five miles in depth, affording hay sufficient for a numerous settlement, and abundance to spare.

About 15 miles up the river Thames is the town of Chatham, situated in a fork of it, on a very desirable spot, so well protected, and so central, that, as the population increases, it will doubtless become a large and flourishing place: a block-house was erected here by His Excellency Major-General Simcoe, and it was made a depôt for the fine whale boats, which were built by his Excellency's directions. Indeed it possesses many advantages: the point is extremely well suited for the launching of vessels, and the river is sufficiently deep for those of any size; so that a secure arsenal and building place, and an excellent dock, might be made in the lesser branch of the forks, upon which there is now a mill.

Firs are easily floated down from the pinery above, and other kinds of timber necessary for ship building may be procured by water carriage.

Its greatest disadvantage is the bar across its embouchure into lake St. Clair; but that is of suffi