Topographical Notices. 287 



Allumettes in two days, and on my return I followed this 

 route. There are about twenty short portages altogetlier, 

 eleven of which are within eiglit miles of the Trout lake, 

 passinir a number of snuill falls and some rapids. The 

 remaining descent is almost entirely in rapids, forming an 

 expeditious route downwards, but rather hazardous, from 

 the rugged nature of the channel. About fifteen miles 

 from its mouth, the river forms a smooth broad channel, 

 ten or twelve miles in length ; and, about ten miles below 

 the Trout lake, another expansion for fom* or five miles, 

 called Lake Traverse, With these two exceptions, there 

 is not U»ree miles together of quiet water in the whole of 

 this river. 



From Trout lake half way down, the Nesswabic winds 

 its course entirely through masses of rock. Nearer its 

 mouth the banks are less elevated, with some soil of a poor 

 sandy nature. Both above and below the Trout lake, the 

 shores of this river present a considerable elevation towards 

 the Ottawa. About the outlet of this piece of water, for a 

 short way, there is very little rise visible in that direction, 

 nor can there be nnich, as the Maskinonge valley is only a 

 few miles distant. This seems to be the only pass througii 

 the ridge by which a communication can be easily formed 

 towardii the interior. 



Ten nules below Trout lake, the north shore rises into 

 steep hills of solid, and often bare rock, upwards of three 

 hundred feet high, which closely follow the river for about 

 twenty niik-K. Trou) one of these hills, aboui halfway to 

 the des Allumettes, I obtained an extensive view to the 

 south. i.Ivery where appears a succession of small round 

 bilU; rock, or sand at the best, densely covered with fir, 

 chiefly red pine and tamarack, thiidy iwterspersed with 



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