TRIP FROM SAUT STE MARIE TO THE DIFFERENT

PORTS ON LAKE SUPERIOR.

SINCE the completion of the St. Mary's Ship Canal in the pring of 1855, steamers and propellers of a large class traverse the waters of Lake Superior, affording safe and excellent accomdations for travelers and emigrants. During the year 1856 three large steamers formed the Lake Superior Line running from Cleveland and Detroit through the canal to Superior City, at the head of Fond du Lac, and two large steamers, besides several propellers, ran from Chicago for the same destination, stopping at Mackinac, forming an almost daily communication with the different Lake Superior ports.

The steamer COLLINGWOOD also runs direct from Collingwood, C. W., to the Saut Ste Marie, enabling passengers taking the Toronto and Collingwood route to proceed direct into Lake Superior.

On leaving the Upper Landing at the Saut Ste Marie, above the rapids, the steamer soon enters Tequamenon Bay, passing IROQUOIS POINT, 15 miles distant on the south shore, while Gros Cap, on the north or Canada side, lies opposite, being about four miles asunder. This headland consists of hills of porphyry estimated to rise 6 or 700 feet above the waters of the lake. Gros Cap is a name given by the voyageurs to almost innumerable projecting headlands; but in this case appropriate-since it is the conspicuous feature at the entrance of the lake."

North of Gros Cap lies Goulais Bay, and Goulais Point, another bold headland, is seen in the distance. The whole north shore, as seen from the deck of the steamer, presents a bold and grand appearance.

TEQUAMENON BAY is about 25 miles long and as many broad, terminating at White Fish Point, 40 miles above Saut Ste Marie. Parisien Island is passed, lying near the middle of the above

bay, being attached to Canada. Opposite this island, to the north, is seen Coulée Point, and besides this, several small islands stud the north shore. Tequamenon River enters the bay from the east, discharging a large quantity of water.

MAMAINSE POINT (Little Sturgeon), opposite WHITE FISH POINT, is another bold headland, near where is situated the Quebec Copper Mining Co.'s Works, at present abandoned, owing to their being found unproductive. Some 15 or 20 miles north are located the Montreal Company's Copper Mine, which is being successfully worked. While still farther north, skirting Lake Superior, is to be found a vast mineral region, as yet only partially explored.

The scenery of Lake Superior, and the productions of its shores, which are so little known to even our professional tourists, are thus vividly described by an intelligent writer:

"Situated between latitudes forty-six and forty-nine-with an altitude of over two hundred yards above the level of the ocean, and a depth reaching far below that level-a coast of surpassing beauty and grandeur, more than twelve hundred miles in extent, and abounding in geological phenomena, varied mineral wealth, agates, cornelian, jasper, opal, and other precious stones-with its rivers, bays, estuaries, islands, presque isles, peninsulas, capes, pictured rocks, transparent lakes, leaping cascades, and bold highlands, limned with pure veins of quartz, spar, and amethystine crystals, full to repletion with mineral riches; reflecting in gorgeous majesty the sun's bright rays and the moon's mellow blush; o'ertopped with ever-verdant groves of fir, cedar, and the mountain ash; while the background is filled up with mountain upon mountain, until rising in majesty to the clouds, distance loses their inequality resting against the clear vault of heaven."

On passing White Fish Point, where may be seen a number of "sand-dunes," or hills, and a light-house 75 feet in height, the broad waters of Lake Superior are reached. The steamers usually pursue a westerly course toward Grand Island or Marquette, passing Point au Sable, 50 miles farther. During clear weather, the steep sandy hills on the south shore, ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet in height, may be seen from the deck of the

steamer.

The PICTURED ROCKS, of which almost fabulous accounts are given by travelers, are about 110 miles west of Saut Ste Marie. Here also are to be seen the Cascade Falls and the Arched Rock, both objects of great interest. The Amphitheatre, Miners' Castle, Chapel, Grand Portal, and Sail Rock, are also points of great picturesque beauty, which require to be seen to be justly appreciated.

Extract from FOSTER and WHITNEY's Report of the Geology of the Lake Superior Land District:

PICTURED ROCKS.

"The range of cliffs to which the name of the Pictured Rocks has been given, may be regarded as among the most striking and beautiful features of the scenery of the Northwest, and are well worthy the attention of the artist, the lover of the grand and beautiful, and the observer of geological phenomena.

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Although occasionally visited by travelers, a full and accurate description of this extraordinary locality has not as yet been communicated to the public.*

"The PICTURED ROCKS may be described, in general terms, as a series of sandstone bluffs extending along the shore of Lake Superior for about five miles, and rising, in most places, vertically from the water, without any beach at the base, to a height varying from fifty to nearly two hundred feet. Were they simply a line of cliffs, they might not, so far as relates to height or extent, be worthy of a rank among great natural curiosities, although such an assemblage of rocky strata, washed by the waves of the great lake, would not, under any circumstances, be destitute of grandeur. To the voyager

coasting along their base in his frail canoe they would, at all times, be an object of dread; the recoil of the surf, the rockbound coast, affording for miles no place of refuge; the lowering sky, the rising wind; all these would excite his appre

*Schoolcraft has undertaken to describe this range of cliffs, and illustrate the scenery. The sketches do not appear to have been made on the spot, or finished by one who was acquainted with the scenery, as they bear no resemblance, so far as we observed, to any of the prominent features of the Pictured Rocks.

"It is a matter of surprise that, so far as we know, none of our artists have visited this region and given to the world representations of scenery so striking, and so different from any which can be found elsewhere. We can hardly conceive of any thing more worthy of the artist's pencil; and if the tide of pleasure-travel should once be turned in this direction, it seems not unreasonable to suppose that a fashionable hotel may yet be built under the shade of the pine groves near the Chapel, and a trip thither become as common as one to Niagara now is."