Topographical Notices. 273 



the general form of this part of tlie country. From the 

 foot of the Deep river, the bed of the Ottawa lays between 

 west and north-west, for at least fifty miles, as may be 

 clistingiiislicd from the northern heights. About the end 

 of tills space, we can perceive that the ridge extends across 

 the river, with an inferim- height, and takes a southerly 

 direction, gradually rising again to an elevation equal to 

 that on the Lower Canada side. A great branch of these 

 barren highlands extends in a gradual slo|>c, quite to the 

 lake dcs .'\llumettes, occupying ten or twelve miles of its 

 southern coast, above the Musk-rat river. This extension 

 of the heights forms, with the main ri<lges on both sides of 

 the river, a great scmi-ciicular valley, stretching about 

 forty miles np the channel, and near twenty miles into 

 the country, at the broadest place. Excepting a rough 

 ridge along the Ottawa, this valley appears to be fertile as 

 far as the nature of the timber can be distinguished from 

 the hill. About the middle and broadest place, it presents 

 a very gradual ascent to the heights, so that there is liardly 

 any decided ridge for some miles ; and at this point, as I 

 afterwards ar^certaitied, the interruption of rough country 

 towards the interior hard wood lands, cannot exceed six 

 or eight miles. 



A considerable bay extends into this valley from the lake 

 de« Allutnettes; and it is penetrated for several miles 

 farther, by a singular channel of gtill water, forming a 

 fuccessiou of narrow straits and small lakes, which are 

 •nly Rcparated from the Ottawa, by a little fall one or two 

 feet in height, at the hea<l of the bay. Into this channel 

 flow two >itrcams, the largest proceeding from a piece of 

 water, three or four miles long, called the Maskinongt' 

 lake, whiclij as near as I could learn, lays about ten miles 



