298 Topographical Notices. 



siderable, probably exceeding one hundred and fifty feet. 

 The stream from these lakes is soon joined by another 

 from the south, and forms a western branch of the Mada- 

 waska, which is followed for some way. On this part of 

 the route, the country is very pleasant, consisting of a 

 succession of hard-wood hills of moderate declivity, and 

 the portages are generally over an excellent soil, though 

 often encumbered with loose stones. As we descend the 

 waters of the Madawaska, these favorable appearances 

 begin to give way. Swamps and rocky ridges become 

 frequent near the river, and the pine gradually thickens 

 on the hils. In short, the whole country seems decidedly 

 to change for the worse. 



Aboui twenty miles from the Muskoka, the route leaves 

 this branch, and bearing more northerly, proceeds seven 

 or eight miles across a poor stony tract, by several small 

 lakes and rough ill tracked portages. The last of these, 

 not less than three miles long, over rather better soil, 

 conducts to the Abeunga, or, as commonly pronounced, 

 Peonga lakes, which are among the finest in the interior, 

 and form the principal reservoirs of the Madawaska river. 

 The first lake of this name extends northerly, in a winding 

 direction, one or two miles broad, but of the length I could 

 form no idea, as the route only passes up it, about four miles 

 to the outlet, near which there is a trading house belonging 

 to the Company, occupied in the hunting season. After 

 gliding down a swift clear stream, for two or three hundred 

 feet, the second Peonga lake opens to the view, four or 

 five miles in extent, to the north-east, and with a consi- 

 derable breadth, though its appearance is much diminished 

 by a hard-wood island, containing some hundred acres. 

 To the north of these lakes, are long, sloping, rising 



