266 Topographical Notices. 



these, on the north bank of the lake, is the Company's 

 establishment, called Fort Coulonge, a double row of neat 

 white-washed buildings, contributing much to enliven the 

 scecery. Lake Coulonge is about seven miles long, and 

 in some places, nearly two broad. Along its Upper Canada 

 shore, the lands continue to have a most favorable appear- 

 ance, gradually ascending from the water, with a flourish- 

 ing growth of hard-wood, and a little white pine. On this 

 side, opposite their station, the Company have a farm of 

 sixty or seventy acres, and a little below this are two small 

 clearances lately commenced. I have already mentioned 

 that the space of country between this lake and that of the 

 lower des Allumettes, consists, nearly throughout, of hard- 

 wood lands. This tract is now well known, and uniformly 

 spoken of as being of the best quality. The Upper Canada 

 coast, on this part of the river, is almost entirely hard-wood 

 land, for nearly thirty miles. Commencing some where 

 near the middle of the Rocher Fendu, it continues of this 

 nature, with very little interruption, to the mouth of the 

 Musk-rat river, on the upper lake des Allumettes. 



On the Lower Canada side, the river being now closely 

 skirted by the hills, the appearance of fertility becomes 

 more rare. The barren aspect of these heights, towards 

 the Ottawa, has a tendency to convey discouraging ideas of 

 the country beyond them ; but from every thing I could 

 learn, there is no reason to infer that this sterility extends 

 to any great distance. It is, indeed, very difficult to 

 obtain distinct information respecting this back country 3 

 but as even the-vague account I may furnish of this subject, 

 is better than none, 1 will here sum up the chief particulars 

 which I have gathered concerning it. 



From the Grand river, these northern heights have every 



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