Topograpliical Xoticcs. 249 



The breadth of the channel varies from fifty to near one 

 Iiundred feet. 



Tlie stone ot' the Chats ranids, and fur thirty or forty 

 miles farther up the river, is eliiefly a soft, white, coarse- 

 grained limestone. It appears to wear fast Miiere exposed 

 to the action of the water, and generally near the rap'ids 

 lays in large disjointed angnlar masses. It would afford, 

 every where, an excellent material for rough work ; and 

 no doubt, solid (jnarries of the Sj)ecies could be found, fit 

 for any purpose whatever. 



'I'he Lake of the Clutts, commencing from the head of 

 rapiils, is froni one to two miles broad, and about sixteen 

 miles long, nearly in a straight direction north-west by 

 west. IJesides the Mississipi, two considerable rivers flow 

 into tlie C7<«Av lake from the south, — the Madawaska, 

 passing through the township of M'Xab, and the Bonnc- 

 chere, through that of Ilorton. These townships have a 

 fine boUl coast along their whole extent on the Ottawa, on 

 which are some good fai'ms of consi<Icrable size ; their 

 interior, however, is yet but thinly peopled, and is commonly 

 reported to contain a great proportion of iuditferent land. 

 Much, however, of what is now rejected, as I am credibly 

 infornied, consists of a serviceable clay poil, principallv 

 covered with the fir species, and which will be found 

 acceptable enough when poj)ulation increases about the 

 river. 



It i« a conjinon opinion that land without a growth of 

 hard-wood is unworthy of occnpaiion ; but this idea, though 

 it may generally hold good (arlher sou'h, '•hould l)'.'entirily 

 lo«t (iight of in exploring these northern parts of Canada. — 

 Tlie white pine frecpu'ntly forms the main growth on cxcel- 

 Uut clay soils, with but a ^mall mixture of hardwood, and 



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