130 Geographical Collections. 



navigation is interrupted by many impediments of rocks and rapids, which are 

 minutely described in Col. Bouchette's work, p. 322. 



The whole length of this river, cannot be less than 100 miles. The country 

 from which it collects its waters, is of a triangular shape, each side being about 

 60 miles, the vertex being at the embouchure into lake St. Peter, and the base a 

 line extending from the south point of J\lemphramagog to the easterly point of 

 lake St, Francis. The area will therefore be about 1500 square miles, or equal 

 to 15 ordinary townships. In the north its shape is very narrow. 



In some parts of its northerly course, it is closely approached by the Nicolet, 

 which flows nearly in the same direction a few miles to the east. 



Between the St. Francis and the Richelieu, the River Yamaska has its course, 

 and as nearly parallel to the former as the irregularities of all rivers can be sup- 

 posed to permit. Its south-west, and remotest branch, ;;riginates near the Pro- 

 vince line in the Township of Sutton. This branch runs westerly for nearly 

 thirty miles, in the course of which it is joined by the north-east branch. It then 

 runs north for about thirty miles, receiving the Tortue from the east, and falls into 

 the upper end of lake St. Peter, a few miles above the mouth of the St. Francis. 



The region which its waters form is nearly an isosceles triangle, having for its 

 base a line of 30 miles, and each of its equal sides about 50. It covers therefore, 

 nearly 700 square miles. 



The river Nicolet has its sources in the Townships of Shipton and Tingwick. 

 It consists of two principal branches, distinguished by the names of the eastern 

 and western, which unite about 20 miles from the embouchure. The distance in 

 a straight line, from the source to the mouth, seems to be about GO miles : and 

 the breadth of the space which it waters about 1 2. It collects therefore the wa- 

 ters of about 720 square miles. It is honoured above the other rivers in Canada 

 by being the site of a seat of learning established by the late Catholic Bishop, and 

 entitled, " The College of Nicolet," It appears not to have been accurately sur- 

 veyed ; but, by the report of the Indians, is navigable for canoes nearly the whole 

 of its course. 



The waters which fertilized the lands lying between the Nicolet and the Chau- 

 diere, are collected and conveyed into the St, Lawrence by the Becancour, a river 

 of very devious course. It rises in the townships of Broughton and Leeds, and 

 after running nearly 25 miles north-west into Nelson, flows almost directly west 

 about 45 miles, when at Bulstrode and Aston it again directs its course to the 

 north, and falls into the great receptacle of Canadian waters by two channels 

 separated by the island of Dorval. The scenery on its banks has been much 

 admired. 



The direct distance from its source to its mouth seems to be about 60 miles, and 

 the breadth of country through which it winds, about 25, It therefore receives 

 the waters falling upon an extent of nearly 1,500 square miles. 



The most easterly of the rivers of this class, which fall into the south side of 

 the St, liawrence is the Chaudiere, in magnitude equal, if not superior, to the St. 

 Francis. It has its origin in the springs which feed Lake Megantic, a body of 

 water about 10 miles in length, and 3 or 4 in breadth, and still retaining its In- 

 dian name. This river flows northerly from this Lake 40 miles to Aubert Gallion, 

 and then north-westerly into the St, Lawrence, It abounds in falls, one of which 

 is particularly celebrated for its beauty and surrounding scenery. But the same 

 cause which contributes so much to the grandeur of its appearance, renders it un- 

 serviceable as a water communication. It receives in its course, the Beaurivage, 

 and other streams which do not appear to have been minutely explored. 



The length of country which it traverses is about 100 miles, and the breadth 

 probably not much less, for the most part, than 30, The extent of land, therefore, 

 which it clears from redundant waters, must be 2500 or 3000 square miles, 



Seyond this stream to the east, run the Echemin and the devious River-du- 

 Sud ; but they do not possess such magnitude as to entitle them to be described 

 tinder this head. 



Beyond these, we meet with no rivers worthy of notice till we arrive at the St. 



