[GARRY] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 95 
dent of Supplies. When these Canals are finished the Grand River will 
become navigable. At the Top of the Canal we found an encampment 
of the Staff Corps commanded by Captain Duvernet and [?] Le Merrick* 
who received us most hospitably. Mrs. Duvernet, an Italian Lady, 
appeared to be a very agreeable amiable Woman. At seven o’clock we 
embarked and at about eight encamped and drank Tea with a Mr. Grant 
formerly in the service of the North West [Company]. Returned to 
our Encampment where we passed a most wretched Night, the ground 
very wet, attacked by Mosquitoes and I awoke in the morning with all 
the Horror of Rheumatism and Misery in Perspective. 
Thursday 14th [June]. At two o’clock in the morning we em- 
barked. Owing to the Rapids we only made the Day before twelve 
Leagues. 
A Décharge is a place where the Goods are carried, a Portage where 
both the Goods and Canoe [are carried]. In our Walk through the 
Woods the Day before we passed several Maple Trees which had been 
tapped for the Juice with which they make a very nice Sugar. It is 
done simply by boiling and skimming the Top which produces the Sugar. 
It is nice tasted, having a pleasant bitter and at the same time sweet 
Taste and acts on some Constitutions medicinally. 
From the Long Sault to the Chaudière, a space of about 60 miles, 
the River narrows to about 14 to 2 miles. The Banks on each side are 
low but presenting the most beautiful Appearance. Here you have 
Nature in all its Beauty, Wildness, and Decay. As the Trees now are 
probably the Appearance has been the same for Ages. Next to the beau- 
tiful Elm with its clean elegant stem and full Top you have the Trunk 
of the withered Oak which the first Blast of the wind will throw amongst 
the beautiful Verdure of long grass, Shrub and Flowers below, forming 
a Contrast of perfect Beauty and almost frightful Decay. 
The Weather was at Intervals raining when we were dreadfully 
annoyed by the Mosquitoes. The sturdy Canadians little minding their 
stings were covered with Blood and our sufferings on many occasions 
were dreadful. For the Protection of our Faces we had Veils but when 
we were exposed to their Attacks it was a misery in the most frightful 
Shape. After paddling about 55 miles we passed on our left a very 
beautiful Waterfall called the Rideau which gives the Name to the 
River which here falls in a perpendicular Height of about 60 Feet and 
50 yards in Breadth over a Rock and having the Appearance of a Cur- 
tain. Near to it is a second Fall of the same character but the Fall is 
less and such is the Power of Contrast that this likewise beautiful Fall 


1 Or de Memite. 
