Topographical Notices. 285 



Muskoka, is probably between six and seven hundred feet 

 above the level of lake Huron. F^roni the descent of this 

 river being cliiefly in falls, 1 had, with the assistance of a 

 pocket level, a good opportunity of forming an opinion. 



From the 'i urtle lakes to the mouth of the Little river, 

 are about ten portages, all of moderate length. At two of 

 them, are said to be falls of fifteen or twenty feet, and the 

 rest are along the side of small falls and rapids, which, at 

 several |)laces, would not occasion any carrying, if there 

 was a larger stream of water. Jn addition to these, are 

 three or four more gentle rapids, ascended by pulling. The 

 whole together can hardly fail to compose a somewhat 

 greater descent than those on the western side of the route, 

 and therefore the smooth water of the Ottawa, above the 

 Deux Rivieres, is, with little doubt, below the surface of 

 lake Huron. 



The length of the French river is stated to be seventy miles; 

 the route, through lake Nipissing, thirty to forty miles; 

 and from thence to the Ottawa, about fifty. But here also, 

 the actual distances will probably be found much less than 

 usually stated by common account. On the latest charts, 

 the mouth of the French river apj)ears nearly in latitude 46" 

 and longitude 80° 45'. From various data, the Matawoen 

 cannot be far from latitude 40" 30', and longitude yS" 45'. 

 With a considerable allowance, then, for winding, though 

 the route is said to be generally a direct one, it cannot 

 altogether nmch exceed one hundred and twenty miles; 

 making the whole distance on this line from Montreal to 

 the Huron, under fourhuiulred and fifty miles. 



The country along the Nipissing route, will, I am per- 

 suaded, be found of u very diO'erent nature from what has 

 been commonly reported. To the south parliculurly, the 



