84 FROM BLOMIDON TO SMOKY. 



It was assuredly a magnificent view, and one 

 which will in time lead many feet to the ledges 

 now mainly enjoyed by berry-pickers, bears in- 

 cluded. To the west lay barrens similar to those 

 which are said to cover the interior of this part 

 of Cape Breton. Rocks, bushes, bare ledges, 

 and hollows filled with sphagnum or pools of 

 amber water were the prevailing elements in a 

 country which now and then sustained a patch 

 of low spruces or a larger body of mixed woods. 

 The east was ocean, limitless and blue. But at 

 our feet were the wild details of the great preci- 

 pice which fell away from us twelve hundred 

 feet to the waves. Over it several large black 

 birds were sailing, and the first croak which came 

 echoing up the cliffs from them disclosed their 

 identity : they were not crows, but ravens. I 

 had been told that when I reached Smoky I must 

 keep an eye open for ravens ; and true enough, 

 here they were. 



Our view northward was limited by the fact 

 that the foreground was filled by the great mass 

 of mountain which we were next to cross in order 

 to look down upon Ingonish. Nevertheless, a 

 wide expanse of ocean showed in the northeast, 

 and the heads of distant mountains crowded to- 

 gether in the northwest. Between sea and moun- 

 tains we could catch one glimpse of a nearer head- 

 land, with a church steeple rising from a village at 



