Topographical Notices. 283 



ftnd suitable direction, tlii? fine river, without a doubt, is 

 almost every ihiiii; \vc could wish. Tlie adoption of this 

 route would lead to a |)art of lake Huron, considerably to 

 the north of that, towards which researches have not yet 

 been directed ; but this surely is no objection. As u point 

 of general coniuiunication, the outlet of tlie French river 

 ap|)ears uneijuaHed on the lake; and the route, from its 

 northern direction, would benefit a nuich greater portion 

 of the country than any other line of iniprovcincnt which 

 has been contemplated. 



When once the ridge of the heights is fairly passed by 

 the gorge of the Ottawa, there is every reason to believe 

 that no insurmountable obstacles remain. For njany 

 miles on the Upper Canada side, the highlands are nearly 

 ill the same form as on the other, soon declining back from 

 the ridge seen from the Ottawa and of course to lake 

 Nipissing and the sources of the Little river, both of which 

 receive considerable accession of water from the south. — 

 From the general figure of the country, therefore, wo nuiy 

 expect thchc waters to occupy a comparatively low line 

 through it, and every information I have been able to 

 obtain, has contributed to confirm this idea. I saw no 

 part of ilic Xipissing route, but after traversing the high 

 country in the direction of I'cnetanguishine, my inquiries 

 were naturally turned to the northward. The following 

 particulars are the result, and may be dejiended upon as 

 generally correct, having been corroborated from vjuious 

 <|uarterii. 



On the French liivcr, there arc only three obstructions, 

 where it is indispensibic to make portjiges. 'I'he first is the 

 Rccollct, eight to twelve miles fronj the outlet. It is a fall 

 fifteen or twenty feel high, with hardly any addition of rapid 



