Topographical Notices. 27 1 



about half a mile apart. The first is a moderate rapid, 

 between one and two turlongs in length, which we ascended 

 by dint of poling and towing. Heavy canoes must, however, 

 discliargc half their cargoes for a short way. The upper 

 rapid is shorter, but has a small fall at the head. After 

 poling some way, there is a sudden turn to the right, into a 

 little still recess, and from it, the canoes are lifted a few 

 yards over a bare solid rock, into a circular basin about a 

 furlong in diameter, from which no outlet can at first be 

 perceived. The water of this basin is eight or ten feet 

 higher than that of the rapid, and on a level with the lake 

 des Allumettcs ; a very trifling excavation would lead it 

 over the rock. In every rejpcct this is naturally the most 

 complete mill-seat I ever saw. A deep narrow channel 

 leads out of these curious recesses, when the upper coasts 

 of the des Allumettcs immediately open to the view. The 

 head of the island is between one and two miles distant, 

 and the C7/r»o/ gradually widens, until it unites with the 

 the lake, here, about two miles broad, and containing 

 numerous islands. 



The upper lake des Allumettcs continues nine or ten 

 miles above the island. Near the head, it makes a com- 

 plete bend northward, to the foot of that section of the 

 Ottawa called the Deep river, when the coiuse turns 

 abruptly to the north-west. A little below the Quelle 

 lintte rapid-j, the hills recede from the shore, leaving 

 towards the lake, a wide level space, extending to the 

 Deep river, chiefly hard-wood lands. The coast, however, 

 iis is usually the case, gives no indication of fertility, being 

 alijMg the whole of this tract poor and siony. 



At the foot of the Deep river, the heights at last com- 

 pletely close upon the Ottawa, forming along its channel, 



