Topographical Notices. 259 



des Alliimettcs and Musk-rat lakes, would almost equally 

 partake in the advantage, in addition to the facilities of 

 their natural route by the latter lake. 



Were it only sought to pass by the formidable obstruction 

 of the Calumet rapids, by a railway, or good common road, 

 certainly no other line could enter into competition with 

 that by the Musk-rat waters. The road from the Portage 

 du Fort to the lake, though 1 did not pass along it, is well 

 known to run over a suitable and level soil, and from evei*y 

 accouut, might be continued on favorable ground to the 

 foot of the upper des AUnmettes, bringing us at once to 

 the uninterrupted navigation extending near fifty miles 

 along that lake and the deep river. This road would be 

 about twenty-five miles in length, and mostly through 

 lands fit fur cultivation. As far as I could ascertain, nearly 

 the whole of the considerable space between the Musk-rat 

 run of water and the great bend on the Ottawa, is fit for 

 settlement. Along the Kocher Fendu there is said to be a 

 wide extent of hard-wood land. The large point between 

 Coulonge lake and the lower des Allumettes, is known to 

 be almust throughout of the same nature, and on the lower 

 part of the des Allumettes, the soil is also generally good. 



From the head of the two mile of rapids near its mouth, 

 the Musk-rat river forms a deep still winding channel, 

 gradually widening from one to two or three hundred (ect, 

 and at last spreading into an extensive muddy pond, covered 

 with weeds and wild rice, about which 1 saw more wild 

 ducks and geese than in all the rest of the journey. Leav- 

 ing this pond, the river contiiuies in a fine broad channel 

 about one mile and a half larther, when the Musk-rat 

 lake opens to view nearly from one end to the other, 

 extending remarkably direct to the S.S.W. nine or ten 



