Topographical Notices. 291 



river channel, being' merely the connection of a range of 

 lakes, extending nearly south through the table land. Of 

 these, there are four principal, and several smaller ones, 

 some of them only separated by narrow still channels, and 

 others by short swift streams of inconsiderable descent. — 

 The largest of these lakes do not a|)pear to extend six miles 

 HI any direction, though the route did not always enable 

 me to judge exactly of their size. They vary much in 

 shape, several being deeply indented with bays, and others 

 finely checquered with islands. The shores are invariably 

 bold, though hardly ever precipitous, but rising one or 

 two hundred feet into gentle hills, and long swelling 

 ridges, covered with the finest hard-wood, generally with 

 a small mixture of white pine. 



The scenery is of the most pleasant and inviting nature, 

 totally differing from the wild romantic views along the 

 Ottawa, and indeed from any thing I had before seen in 

 the country. It is rare, in the uncultivated parts of Canada, 

 to see beauty and fertility combined. Generally the 

 richest lands have a dreary, and, often too truly, an un- 

 healthy aspect. Here, amidst the most enlivening scenery, 

 there is every appearance of fertility ; anil both from the 

 nature of the soil and waters, an assurance of the country 

 being of the most healthy nature. 



While pine abounds across the whole country in the 

 greatest perfection. Red pine is not seen on this route 

 after leaving the Cedar lake ; nor did 1 observe a single 

 white oak, from the neighborhood of* the Ottawa, until 

 ap|tri<aching lake Huron. Maple is the princijial tree 

 about here, perhap-. comiiosing half the f«)rest. IJirch and 

 beech arc in aliout cjpial proi)ortions, and bass-wood and 

 elm rather more rare. 



