Topographical Notices. 255 



litllc idea, in going up the river, as to tlie amount of the 

 fall on this part of it, but having returned by the route of 

 the Musk-rat lake, in which direction the whole descent 

 of the ridge is comprised, within the space of a nnle or 

 two — I think it may bn from ninety to one hundred and 

 twenty feet. 



It is impossible to ascertain any thing of the nature of 

 the lands hereabouts, merely frouj j)assing up the canoe 

 route ; the shores arc hardly ever discovered with certainty, 

 on account of the great number of islands, uhich appear 

 nearly all of a very rocky nature, and are covered with a 

 dense growth of pine, cedar, &c. This is also the growth 

 of the main shores, where they can be distinguished; no 

 hardwood being visible from the C/tenuiix upwards, exceptr 

 ing on one or two low islands. I Avas informed, however, 

 by some people who have taken up their residence at the 

 mountain fall, that on the north side, behind the fir-tim- 

 bcred shore, a good level tract of land extends from the 

 Portage du Fort, to the neighborhood of the Grand Calumet 

 rapid, and for many miles into the country. Oa the south 

 side of these rai)ids, the Grand Calumet island presents a 

 very barrcji ajjpearance, nor, by all accounts, is there a 

 great extent of good soil on any part of it; it has, however, 

 been rich in led pine— many large rafts have been taken 

 from thence, nor is the island yet exhausted. 



The south shore of the river, from the Chenaux to the 

 Portage du Fort, is composed of a pinc-timbcrtd ridge, 

 which, in viewing from the watei-, I had noted down as a 

 barren height ; but having occasion to traverse it in 

 returning, I found it to consist of a good strong clay, the 

 growth being principally large white pine, with some 

 hardwood. The ridge, apparently not exceeding one 



