Topographical Notices. 281 



The rock along tliis part of the route, is of the same des- 

 cription as that of the iifigliboring heights, which appear 

 to be entirely composed of varieties of granite. Near the 

 river it differs miicli in its appearance, being sometimes 

 round and solid, often broken and craggy, and in some 

 places lying in regular beds, di|)ping towards the water. 



The distance of the Matawoen from Bytown, (by the route 

 of the Quelle Butte,) 1 conceive to be abount one hundred 

 and eighty miles, which would, of course, make the whole 

 distance from Montreal not more than three hundred. It 

 Las hitherto been commonly stated to be four hundred 

 miles, but there has been a most extraordinary system of 

 ex:iggeration, in estimating every inch of this route. The 

 Deep river, for example, which is called twelve leagues, 

 we only took seven hours and a half to ascend, paddling 

 leisurely ; and therefore 1 am confident it is not more tlian 

 eight and a lialf, for the stream is less rapid here than in any 

 part of the river, and, as may be expected, the exaggerations 

 increase with the current. 



In this space of one hundred and eiglity miles, we have 

 Been that there are seven main interruptions. First, the 

 CLuudicre rapids, in all five miles ; the Chats, two miles j 

 the Calumet rapids, about six and a half miles, and per- 

 haps two more by the channel ; the Quelle Butte, about 

 one mile and a quarter; the Deux Joachims, about three 

 quarters of a mile, by the portage; the Rocher Capitaine, 

 about one mile and a half; and the Deux Rivieres, two 

 miles. 



If there is any use in guess work, I should say that the 

 descent of the four last mentioned is rather less than that 

 of the three first, and does not surpass two hundred feet.— 

 The Quelle Butte has decidedly the bmullcst fall of the 



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