^56 Topographical Notices. 



hundred and fifty feet in elevation, is the continuation of 

 the one forming the great range of rapids above described. 

 About a mile from the Chenaux the ground begins to fall 

 away to the westward ; so that from this singular formation 

 of the country, the waters which take their rise a mile or 

 two from this part of the Ottawa, after making a circuit by 

 the Musk-rat and des Allumettes lakes, of nearly one 

 hundred miles, again approach within a few hundred yards 

 of their source. 



The Musk-rat lake lays about eight miles south-wcsterlv 

 fi'om the Portage du Fort. A good road has been opened 

 for several years from the portage to the lake, which, 

 with the river of the same name, affords from the end of 

 the road, a smooth uninterrupted navigation, nearly to the 

 upper des Allumettes lake, the last two miles along only 

 being rapid. This has long formed the winter way of the 

 lumberers to the higher parts of the river. The whole 

 distance from the Portage du Fort to the mouth of the 

 Musk-rat river (about three miles from foot of the des 

 Alhunettes) does not exceed twenty-eight miles, which is 

 little more than half the length of the route between the 

 same points, by the Grand river. 



The comparative ease and expedition with which the des 

 Allumettes lake may be reached by this route, even in 

 summer, by using small light canoes, has given rise 

 to the idea, that it aflbrds a very favourable opportunity 

 for surmounting the rapids on the neighboring parts of 

 the Ottawa, whenever their improvement shall be seriously 

 contemplated. In returning 1 ascended the Musk-rat 

 river and lake, and leaving the Portage du Fort road 

 to the left, followed up ihe lake waters eight or ten miles 

 fiirthcr, along a chain of smaller basins, from which, by 



