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xlit A GENERAL HISTORY

The principal ones are, the St. Louis, the Nipigon, the Pic, and the
Michipicoten. Indeed, the extent of country from which any of them
flow, or take their courfe, in any direction, cannot admit of it, in confe-
quence of the ridge of land that feparates them from the rivers that
empty themfelves into Hudfon’s-Bay, the gulph of Mexico, and the
waters that fall in Lake Michegan, which afterwards become a part of

the St. Laurence.

This vaft colle&tion of water is often covered with fog, particularly
when the wind is from the Eaft, which, driving againft the high barren
rocks on the North and Weft fhore, diffolves in torrents of rain. It
is very generally faid, that the ftorms on this lake are denoted by a {well
on the preceding day; but this circumftance did not appear from my
obfervation to be a regular phenomenon, as the fwells more frequently

fubfided without any fubfequent wind.

Along the furrounding rocks of this immenfe lake, evident marks
appear of the decreafe of its water, by the lines. obfervable along them.
The fpace, however, between the higheft and the loweft, is not fo great
as in the fmaller lakes, as it does not amount to more than fix feet, the

former being very faint.

The inhabitants that are found along the coaft of this water, are all of
the Algonquin nation, the whole of which do not exceed 150 families.*

* Jn the year 1668, when the firft miffionaries vifited the South of this lake, they found the
country full of inhabitants. They relate, that, about this time a band of the Nepifingues, who were
converted, emigrated to the Nipigon country, which is to the North of Lake Superior. Few of their
defcendants are now remaining, and not a trace of the religion communicated to them is: to be

Thefe

difcovered.