CHAPTER VII.
It will be assisting the reader, ere we proceed to detail the operations at the commencement of hostilities, to give a brief description, not only of the lakes and straits which constitute the water boundaries of Upper Canada, and of the towns and military posts distributed along them, as existing in the year 1812, but also of the territory of Michigan, which was surrendered, with Detroit, to Major-General Brock.
The distances are given in British statute miles.
The most remote piece of water on this frontier worthy of notice is Lake Superior, a body of fresh water unequalled by any upon the face of the globe.

Lake Superior is of a triangular form; in length 381, in breadth 161, and in circumference about 1,150 miles.

Among its islands is one nearly two-thirds as large as Jamaica.

Out of Lake Superior a very rapid current flows, over immense masses of rock, along a channel of 27 miles in length, called St.Mary's River, into Lake Huron, at the head of which is the British island of St.Joseph, containing a small garrison.
This isolated post is distant about 350 miles by water from Amherstburg, which contained the nearest British garrison.
Lake Huron is in length, from west to east, 218 miles; in breadth, 180; and in circumference, through its numerous curvatures, 812 miles.

Except the island of St.Joseph, and one or two trading establishments belonging to the north-west company, the shores of this lake were in a state of nature, or inhabited only by Indians.