274 Topographical Notices. 



west from the dcs AUumettcs, and is but a few feet above its 

 level. The inlet which tliese waters afford for several 

 miles, will, no doubt, be found of considerable importance 

 whpn the settlement of this part of the country is seriously 

 undertaken ; as it is apparent that the only eligible route 

 for a main road from the Ottawa to the great hard-wood 

 table land, is through the Maskinonge valley. 



I had entertained hopes of being able to make my way 

 towards lake Huron, up the yalley, t^nd so obtain a more 

 distinct knowledge of this interesting line of country j but 

 after attempting it for five or six miles, we found it impos- 

 sible, there being no canoe route whatever through it to 

 the westward ; and indeed the run of water seems quite 

 insufficient to admit of one. From the appearance of this 

 great hollow, one would expect it to be a main conductor 

 from the inland lakes. The waters, however, not only 

 from the interior, but from the vi'.'inity of the higher parts 

 of the Ottawa, are carried round the extremity of the yalley, 

 forming, with streams from other points, a large river, 

 which continues its course in a singular manner, closely 

 along the verge of the heights, and enters the des AUu- 

 mettes, about five miles below the outlet of the Maskinong^. 



This river, as far as I have seen, is the largest of the Upper 

 Canada tributaries. With little exception, it traverses 

 the whole country, inclining towards the Ottawa, from the 

 Musk-rat to the Little river, a distance of nearly one 

 hundred miles by the parent stream. The water which it 

 discharges is of course very considerable, nearly equal, 1 

 think, in the autumn, to that of the Ridcau, in the ordinary 

 flood of the spring. About six miles from the inouth of 

 this river, there is a large branch to the south-west, called 

 the Pittoiwjiis, on whigh is a considerable lake of the same 



