260 Topographical Notices. 



miles, and with a very uniform breadth not exceeding half 

 a mile. 



The lands all along the Musk-rat river seem to be of 

 excellent quality, though not chiefly timbered with hard- 

 wood. A good clay soil prevails on both sides of this stream, 

 (amidst a variety of other trees) the finest red pine, and 

 constituting from situation, soil, and timber, the most 

 valuable land in this part of the country, before the lum- 

 bermen had commenced their operations upon it ; but the 

 full grown red pine is now mostly cut away from the 

 vicinity of the water. The finest square timber which has 

 yet descended the Ottawa, and nearly all the i*ed pine 

 spars (for which the choicest trees only will answer) have 

 been cut in this neighborhood, and from actual examination 

 I am convinced that much of the land producing this 

 valuable commodity in such perfection, is suitable for 

 cultivation. 



About the great rice pond, and the channel leading from 

 it to the Musk-rat lake, the lands are fertile. Several 

 farms have been commenced in this neighboi-hood, one of 

 which is not less than fifty acres in extent, and a road has 

 been formed to a large bay on the lower des Allumettes, 

 only two or three miles distant, on which also there is 

 some settlement. 



On the Musk-rat lake, the lower part of the eastern 

 shore is formed of low rocky hills, with a growth principally 

 of poor red pine, Avhich, however, from every accoiint, 

 does not continue far from the water. About the head of 

 the lake is some of the finest land I ever saw, a strong free 

 clay, and yet with a moderate growth of timber. This tract, 

 extending several miles along and back from the eastern 

 shore, is in a fair way of being settled. There is already a 



