Topographical Notices. 269 



Oa leaving- lake Coulongc, after passing some low 

 i^laiul^, Avc arrive at tlie foot of the great island ties Allu- 

 niettcs, about two miles distant from the lake, by which 

 the waters of the Ottawa are again divided for many miles. 



At the point of division, the whole of the surrounding 

 shores liavca fertile ap|)earance, though no very extensive 

 view of them is obtained. For a little way below the Island 

 the river is not nuich more than a furlong in breadth and 

 the current very strong. Here Mr. Simpson, Governor of 

 the Company, passed us in his return from a northern tour, 

 impelled by the strength of the stream and ten or twelve 

 stout paddles, almost with the velocity of the wind. Im- 

 mediately after, we fell in with a very diflcrcnt personage, 

 a settler, who had made his selection on the Lower Canada 

 side, apparently but a day or two before, his family and 

 luggage being still scattered among the bushes. The 

 adventiu-er was standing on the beach very composedlv, 

 Willi his hands in his pockets. His intention, lie said, was 

 to clear land and lumber some ; and, he might have 

 added, to keep a rum and whiskey shop, when he could 

 obtain a supply. Certainly, no better situation could have 

 been pitched upon for this junction of occui)ations. 



1 had no ojiportunily of seeing the southern division of 

 the waters, from this point to the u|)per des Allumettcs 



lake, but the following is the general description of it: 



Nearly from the foot of the island, this part of the river 

 forms a swift current or gentle rapid, for three or four miles 

 amidst numerous islands. Beyond this is the lower lake 

 des Allumettcs, a fine jjicce of water, upwards of ten 

 miles long and two or three broad. Jktween it and the 

 uj>per lake, is a moderate rapid, a mile in length, easily 

 descended by canoes. Along the island, on the lower lake 



