Topographical Notices. 29^ 



a furlong across, and from this, a long straight passage, 

 with bohl hard-\\ou(l shores of the finest foliage, gradually 

 titpers to the breadth of thirty or forty feet, through which, at 

 the distance of about a mile are seen the shores of a more 

 extensive sheet of water — altogether it is a curious and 

 beautiful scene. The northern shores of this lake have 

 even a richer appearance than any thing I had yet met 

 with. After rising somewhat abruptly to a height of sixty or 

 eighty feet, they continue in a level sweep round the lake, 

 covered with the most luxuriant maple woods, and without 

 any pine. Though the bed of the water has here risen consi- 

 derably, yet the adjoining land is not higher than that along 

 the range of lakes farther down the river: and there is every 

 appearance of the ground to the northward continuing on 

 a fertile level, to the streams flowing towards lake Nipissing, 

 which are only a few miles distant. 



The lake which we had now reached, is within the 

 Mississagua hunting bounds, and along the south shore, 

 1 was directed to look for tho portages leading to the 

 Huron waters. From the Cedar lake, thus far, it had 

 proved a three days' journey, travelling lei>urely, though, 

 by the help of Constant's chart, without much delay in 

 tracing out the route. After a little searching we found 

 a portage-path which led to a small lake, and from thence 

 aiK:ending a brook still belonging to the eastern waters, we 

 soon arrived at another carrying place, which, from its 

 Westerly direction, and being distinctly tracked and marki-d, 

 1 did not doubt to l)e the |)roper route. Having proceeded 

 along it nearly a mile, we were met by an Indian, only the 

 second we had seen since leaving the Ottawa. It could 

 not have occurred in better time, fov 1 now found that we 

 liad mibiK:d the main route, anil begun to follow an interior 

 hunting track. 



