in the open parts with a rank growth of dry-looking wild grass, and diversified by clumps of dwarfish pines and firs. There is here a small settlement of Indians and half-breeds. They furnish wood for the steamer, and likewise supply meat, fish, vegetables, etc. At dark we cast off from Little Current. Thence our passage was among woody islands, and through narrow but deep channels, the main shore of Manitoulin always within sight, and now and then opening out into a wider sheet of water, so that the whole course seems to be alternate narrow straits and small lakes. From Little Current to the Bruce Mines the distance is nearly 120 miles, and between the west end of Manitoulin and the north shore, for some distance, the channel is very broad. We passed this during the night-time. It was a clear moonlight night; and we could see by the drifting clouds that hovered above the Great Manitoulin, how rude Boreas was indulging himself with a jolly blow outside, in the lake, while not a gust moved the surface of this inside lake, through which our steamboat smoothly plowed her way. After a short stay at the mines, we proceeded onward to Saut Ste Marie, landing once more, en voyage, at Sugar Island. The village of St. Mary, or Saut Ste Marie, is so well known to most people, I shall not bore the reader with any description of it. Suffice to say, the canal on the American side has helped to build up that part at the expense of its opposite settlement. The inhabitants, however, seem to have nothing else to do besides smoking, drinking gin-slings and mint-juleps, and catching fish.

"Dr. Jackson states that the healthiness of the climate in these parts during summer months is unsurpassable, and, above all other places, is calculated to restore the health of invalids suffering from the depressive miasms of the fever-breeding Southwestern States, or the pent-up enervating atmosphere of Eastern cities.

"This route along the North Channel, for the safe conveyance of merchandise and all perishable goods, is infinitely preferable to that usually traveled across the lakes, filling up as it does a distance of not less than 460 miles of rough lake navigation by a pleasant course sheltered from storms and affording a diversity of scenery calculated to relieve the tedium of so long a voyage."

ST. JOSEPH ISLAND C. W.

THIS important island, lying in St. Mary's River, near its outlet into Lake Huron, is thus described by T. N. MOLESWORTH, provincial land surveyor, and may answer in part

for a description of Drummond and Sugar islands, lying contiguous and belonging to the United States.

"The surface along the southern and southwestern shores of St. Joseph Island is generally flat, low, and swampy, being in many places wet, and very thickly timbered. The northern, northeastern, and eastern shores, in general, rise with a gentle inclination from the shore, being swampy only for a short distance inward; and along the northerly shore of Point-au-Gravier there is a precipitous rise of about 30 feet in height. The highest hill, near the center of the island, has an elevation of about 400 feet.

"The island is generally well watered, a considerable number of streams rising in the swamps in the interior, and entering the lake. The principal one is that having its source in Lake Hilton, which enters Milford Haven with a rapid current, and having a very good mill-site near its mouth, and a constant supply of water, and also entering a safe and capacious harbor, is the best adapted for the use of the island. The other streams are of small size, but appear to have a constant supply of water.

The surface soil is almost generally a red sandy loam, or clay and sand mixed with mold; but in some places a white sand appears; in others a brown or red clay; under this there is a stiff clay, in some places of a reddish color, in others nearly white, which crumbles when exposed to the surface.

"Very little rock appears anywhere on St. Joseph Island, and only on the shore; small particles of quartz_rock rising about ten feet above the surface, appear at Payme-day-giundeg. In the channel opposite Campement D'Ours Island a mass of syenitic granite puts out in irregular points, some parts rising about 20 feet above the water. In Lot 10, Concession V.. white sandstone appears just at the edge of the water, and at the level of its surface; and in the Point-au-Gravier Concession, blue limestone appears rising abruptly from the water to the height of 30 feet-in the horizontal strata, of from six inches to a foot in thickness. It is used for making lime and building at the Bruce Mines, and by the inhabitants.

"The island is closely wooded; the timber on the hills and dry surface being maple, beech, birch--often mixed with hemlock-cedar, spruce, basswood, and elm. In some parts the timber is all maple, and a great deal of it is bird's-eye and curly maple-the latter mostly where the surface is stony. In the swamps the timber is cedar, spruce, balsam, hemlock, pine, and tamarack-generally growing very densely in most of the swamps-the cedar predominating-in some, the tamarack or

spruce

"With regard to the capabilities of the island for settlement, about two thirds of its surface will probably be available—the remaining third being swamps of little use except as meadows at a future period.

"Its soil is of good quality for agricultural purposes, raising wheat, oats, potatoes, turnips, carrots, peas, beans, Indian corn, and melons equally well with lands in other parts of the province. The mining regions will afford a favorable market for the surplus agricultural produce raised upon the island, which lies in the course of, and possesses stopping-places for, the American and Canadian steamers proceeding to the Saut Ste Marie and Lake Superior.

"The snow disappearing off the clearings about the middle of April, the farmers commence farming operations a few days later: there are very few frosts after that time to injure any crops. The harvest commences about the middle of August. There is an abundance of fine fish in the waters around the island, and small fisheries are carried on in the following places. Tenby Bay. (White fish are caught extensively after the middle of October.) Campement des Matelots, or St. Joseph. (Black bass, pike, and white-fish very abundant.) Opposite Sugar Island there is a herring fishery; and in Mud Lake, opposite the Campement des Matelots, on the American shore, there is a considerable pickerel fishery. Besides these there are abundance of pike, trout, and maskalonge in all the waters round the island, which are very serviceable to the inhabitants. There are a few moose and red deer, and a number of black bears on the island, besides foxes, hares, etc.

"The lake freezes over generally before the middle of December, the ice clearing off in the spring about the 1st May; and the snow lies permanently on the ground from the middle of December to the middle of April; its average depth is from two to three feet, its greatest about four feet. The lowest range of the thermometer is in February, when it reaches 23° below zero (Fahr.), for perhaps a fortnight, the average cold being from 10° above to 10° below zero. In June, July, and August the highest range is sometimes 100° above zero; average range 70° to 80°."

This island has been recently surveyed, and the lands sold under the direction of the Crown Land Department of Canada, thus offering inducements for settlement and cultivation.

SAUT STE MARIE, capital of Chippewa Co., Mich., is advantageously situated on St. Mary's River, or Strait, 350 miles N.N.W. of Detroit, and 15 miles from the foot of Lake Superior, in N. lat. 46° 31'. The rapids at this place, giving the name to the settlements on both sides of the river, have a descent of 20 feet, within the distance of a mile, and form the natural limit of navigation. The Ship Canal, however, which has recently been constructed on the American side, obviates this difficulty. Steamers of a large class now pass through the locks into Lake Superior, greatly facilitating trade and commerce. The village on the American side is pleasantly situated near the foot of the rapids, and contains a court-house and jail; a Baptist, a Methodist, and a Roman Catholic church; 15 or 20 stores and storehouses, besides a few manufacturing establishments, and about 1,000 inhabitants. Many of the inhabitants and Indians in the vicinity are engaged in the fur trade and fisheries, the latter being an important and profitable occupation. Summer visitors flock to this place and the Lake Superior country for health and pleasure. There are two hotels on the American side, and one on the Canadian side of the river, affording good accommodations.

FORT BRADY is an old and important United States military post contiguous to this frontier village, where is stationed a regular garrison of troops. It commands the St. Mary's River and the approach to the mouth of the canal.

SAUT STE MARIE, C. W., is a scattered settlement, where is located a part of the Hudson Bay Company. Here is a steamboat landing, an hotel, and two or three stores, including the Hudson Bay Company's; and it has from 200 to 300 inhabitants. Indians of the Chippewa tribe reside in the vicinity in considerable numbers, they having the exclusive right to take fish in the waters contiguous to the rapids. They also employ themselves in running the rapids in their frail canoes, when desired by citizens or strangers-this being one of the most exhilarating enjoyments for those fond of aquatic sports. (See Engraving.)