Topogrnphiail Notices. 275 



name, *itn:Ue(l bctucn the sources of tlic Madawaska and 

 the Bomieclii-re. The main river continue? vi westerly 

 course, in an undivided channel, to tlie verge of the elevated 

 table land>, when it branches out into a number of streaius, 

 forming an infmity of small lakes in every direction. I 

 could hear of no distinct nimiG for the lower main channel 

 of these waters ; but tlie branch exteiulinjj farthest into the 

 interior, is called by the Indians, the Nesswabic, whicli, 

 therefore, may be considered as the proper designation of 

 the whole river. 



Alotig the XesswalJic is the only canoe route from the 

 des Allnmettes towards the Huron rivers. Tliis route is 

 one of the utmost difticulties for the first forty or fifty miles, 

 the river being, as far as the level country, almost a 

 constant succession of rapids, which cannot be ascended in 

 less than seven days, by a light canoe in the dry season, 

 and is hardly ever attempted at any other time. The upper 

 parts of the Nesswabic, however, may be reached without 

 the arduous ascent of its main channel. As before noticed, 

 some of its branches make a near api)roach to the Ottawa, 

 beyond the Deep river, an<l by these there is more than 

 one route into the heart of the country. Aniong the rest is 

 one leading from the neighborhood of the Deux Kivii^res 

 raj)id, about fifty miles above the des Allnmettes, of which 

 1 was fortunate enough to procure a chart from some 

 Indians at the lake. VVc could not expect to save much 

 time or labor by following any of these routes, which 

 require much portaging, and are of conrse circuitous ; but 

 they afford the advantage of a much more extensive survey 

 of the Ottawa than I had expected to obtinn, and also the 

 preservation of our bark catioes, on which every thing 

 dep«-nde<l, made it in a numner necessary to avoid the 



