40 



position vvitli the rapids, and are paits of natural bari'iers between a 

 higher level westward and a lower level eastward. At places may be 

 noticed sand ridges. These lie between ancient mouths of rivers, some 

 of which remain to this day, as the Indian, Muskrat, and Petawawa, 

 while others are quite extinct. Following these sand ridges mentioned ^ 

 or in the direction of the diverging rivei-s, we invariably come 

 gradually to higher ridges of native rock. The Chalk River Plain 

 wants only the grass to give ns a beautiful and extensive tract of 

 prairie land, but as it is wretchedly barren sand, nothing will grow on 

 it to any extent except ferns, small pines and blueberries, the latter in 

 great abundance. 



b. Eastward from Pembroke the sand stretches struggle with the 

 rising and rocky bases of distant hills which skirt the Ottawa from 

 VVestmeath in the direction of Renfrew town. At last the old hills 

 Avith their stores of marble get the upper hand, and the sand tracts are 

 terminated for a time. 



c. Back from the Ottawa and between Pembroke and Renfrew 

 there is another factor to be taken into consideration. This stretch of 

 nearly forty miles, "extending beyond our present limits, is variegated 

 with sand, clay and irregular hills of rock. One low and very even 

 clay bed contains over 1,000 acres of good and well cultivated land. 

 Before passing to the Quebec side of the river a few facts may be 

 given which will afterwards form a grounilwork of some explanatory 

 remarks. 



There ai^e many small patches of sand varying from say ten acres 

 to a few square yards. Most of these are easily understood. 'J'he 

 operations which are forming the smaller are going on in the presence 

 of the observer. The larger accumulations are met with sudJenhj after 

 passing ridges of rock in the direction of the running water, while they 

 gradually disappear as we approach the next range, ^yherever there 

 is a small sand patch there is an old but weather-worn ridge of rock 

 close at hand. Nearly always the order is this : Hard massive rock, 

 next large angular boulders of the same, then rolling stones, after 

 which come pebbles, then coarse, followed by fine, sand. Tlie first is 

 always up stream, while the others range in regular order, ending with 

 fine sand farthest down the current. Where there are clay beds mixed 



