Topographical Notices. 243 



Topographical Notices of the Country lying 

 between the Mouth of the Rideau and 

 Penetanguishine, on Lake Huron, by 

 Alexander Sherriff, Esquire. 



The extent of country along the Ottawa River, above its 

 present settlements, and stretching from thence to Lake 

 Huron, forms perhaps the most important portion of Upper 

 Canada, yet to be explored with a view to settlement. — 

 Inhabitants on the Ottawa arc particularly interested in 

 ascertaining the nature of this region, as the future pro- 

 gress of improvement of every kind, in this part of Canada, 

 evidently depends mainly upon it. For some years back it 

 has been a subject of regret that the settlements in the 

 neighl)orhood of this fine river, after thinly extending 

 along the lake of the tUats, have nearly conjc to a stand. 

 The chief cause is evidently the iiuiccessiblc nature of 

 the country beyond that lake, from the obstruclioiis in 

 the navigation, and the total want of good roads in the 

 direction of the vacant lands; and another circumstance 

 which has silently operated in causing a remissness with 

 regard to removing these obstacles, is a general o|)iniou 

 (to<j hastily tak..Mi up from people caring lillle ab(mt the 

 extension of population) that the nature of the country on 

 the higher parlo of the Ottawa is nut such as to warrant 

 any unuHuul exertion lu funvurd itti ?e(tli>uient. 



