270 Topographical Notices. 



des Allumeltes are some hard-wood lands, but the principal 

 timber is the red pine. 



The north channel, called the Quelle Butte Chenal, has a 

 pretty direct course, nearly west, about eighteen miles, 

 being reckoned about eight miles shorter than the route by 

 the lakes, and is always followed by the voyageurs. For 

 the first two or three miles, the channel is uniform, seldom 

 more than a hundred yards wide ; and it then opens out, 

 forming a succession of small lakes, which afford a variety 

 of pleasant scenery. The hills are constantly in view, 

 sometimes approaching to the edge of the water ; their 

 usual dark woods of tamarac and pine, varigated by the 

 light foliage of the dwarf birch, and a few of the hills 

 entirely covered with the latter. 



On the north, the hard -wood land continues along the 

 Chenal for a few miles, after which, the stony heights 

 closing in ui)on the shore, there are no farther signs of 

 fertility on that side. Along the island we see little but 

 red pine sands for half the way, when there is a change 

 , for the better, and the lands possess a very favorable 

 appearance, nearly to the head of the island. 



About halfway up the Quelle^Butte Chenal there is a 

 swift rush of water, for one or two hundred feet, called the 

 Chapeau rapid, hardly sufiicicnt, however, to arrest 

 the course a steam-boat. In fact one of our canoee 

 ascended it by the force of her paddles alone. There is no 

 further obstruction, till we reach the Quelle Butte rapids, 

 within two miles of the head of the island ; so that with the 

 above trifling exception, this channel completes an un- 

 broken navigation, from the head of the Grand Calumet 

 rapid, of about forty five miles. 



The Quelle Butte rapids consist of two short interruptions, 



