The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-30
MICHIGAN.
From the Detroit Gazette.1
sc III co:;u C.I

esI
A Journal ef the Sciawassa Exploring
Party.
On Tuesday, the 9th of October, 1921,
Messrs. Baker, MsKinstry, Wing, and Reed,
left Detroit, and encamped four and half
miles north.
10fh.-Left the Pontiac road at the oak. and
passed though a rich tract of timbered land
tor-about 4 miles-timher, ash, hickory, ma
pie, bcis blanc, bois jaime, bass, &c. &C.; ar
rived at a flourishing settlement on the Huron
Of st. Clair. Near the river the appearance
OF the country is various oak plains predomi-
nae. Encamped at Judge LIE Roy's; travel
led IS miles.
11th.-Were joined by Judge LIE Roy
Heavy ram travelled a. miles. The land
here is very beautiful in many places; crossed
the river Huron near Woodworth's mills. and
encasnped at DIR. Thompson's.
l2th.-Nere joined by Dr.. Thompson
From his place We took N. N. West course.
and proceeded over tract of land which. on
an average, may be termed good. II is princi-
pal,y oak, opening with frequent dry prairies.
and good proportion of woodland. Crossed
two branches Of Paint Creek, running in an
easterly direction. Passed two small lakes.
enc Of them the source of Paint Creek. which
falls into the Huron at Woodworth's mills.
Encamped on the creek, about 80 rods from
the lake whence it issues. Offers appear to
be abundant in these waters three Of them
were seen near our camp. Travelled 10 miles.
lSth.-Passed six lakes, some very beauti-
full, one peculiarly so, at the northern bounda-
ry ofthe county of Oakland. This the French
traders call Lake SUPERIOR; which epithet is
probably intended TO designate lis extraordina-
~ beauty rather than its size. II is between
three and four miles long from N. F.. to s. w.
aud two miles wide. The land around Il rises
gradually and beautifully from the water, and
appears to be of good quality. The water is
Of the most transparent kind, and various kinds
offsh are taken 10 it by the Indians; deer are
also abundant in the country around il, and
many of their horns are strewed on the shores.
The land for five o. six miles to the north
ward of the lake, at the head of Paint Creek.
istoo broken and stony for cultivation. II is
made up Of hard ridges, low marshes. and
scrub-oal1 plains. This tract, however, is not
extensive. From the lake called Snperiour.
for about 10 miles, the land is excellent. Pass
ed beautiful opening, entirely free from tim
Der and brush, with a thick growth Of weeds
aud grass. This prairie was Internationally
cleared by those immense fires which annually
destroy much Of the timber of this peninsula
The opening has very rich soil, precisely of
the same character as the land which surrounds
it, and is entirely dry. The land around it is
tinbered with ash, elm, maple, oak, walnut,
bois blanc, bois jaime, &c. &c. the timber
THROUGH the whole of this days journey was of
a straight, clean, and handsome growth, and
the Land free from underbrusb.
Travelled this day "a miles; course N. N.
w. Encamped pear a considerable stream,
suppose to be a branch Of the Flint river. Its
course is, at this point, N. N. f.. !; its breadth
Is 30 feet, and its depth "a feet. Current
gentle.