248 Topographical Notices. 



enterprising individuals are proposing to establish next 

 summer. Its support is chiefly looked for in the increasing 

 lumber trade of the river, the settlements alone being insuf- 

 ficient to afford an inducement ; but the undertaking itself 

 will have a great tendency to increase the population. 



Immediately above the falls is a continued heavy rapid, 

 amidst numerous islands, for nearly two miles, the M'hole 

 interruption going by the name of the Chats Rapids, aiid 

 making, it is supposed, a descent of fifty or sixty feet. — 

 Apparently these rapids form a very serious obstacle to the 

 future improvement of the river; but I have good hopes 

 that on examination they will be found capable of being very 

 easily surmounted, by taking advantage of a detached 

 channel on the south side. 



The Mississipi river enters the Chats lake a mile or two 

 above tlie rapids, and this channel, popularly called the 

 Mississipi Snigh, {chetial) leads from the backwater near 

 its mouth, to the foot of the rapids ; the supply of water 

 being entirely regulated by the level of the lake. Along 

 the basin below the falls, the main shore consists of a steep 

 bank of compact blue clay, about thirty-five feet high, 

 which sweeps round (towards the Mississipi Snigh) almost 

 on a complete level, and joins it about half a mile from 

 the basin. On this channel the remaining ascent, probably 

 about fifteen feet, is accomplished in a mile, or so, of little 

 detached rapids, and it then presents a run of smooth water 

 to the mouth of the Mississipi; tlie whole distance from 

 the Chaudierc to the Chats lake being about three and a 

 half miles. I ascended the river by the common route, 

 through the middle of the rapids, and returned by the 

 Mississipi Snigh, which, when the Ottawa is at a medium 

 height, affords the easiest and safest route in descending. — 



