Topographical Notices. SOI 



near the surface, it would probably be found, on more 

 thorough examination, a fit and beautiful material for 



building. 



These falls may be considered as the western verge of 

 the interior table lands. In a direct line this point is pro- 

 bably about twenty miles from the division of the waters. 

 The route of the Muskoka, thus far, continues nearly in the 

 same direction as that on the upper parts of the Nesswabic, 

 and the whole direct breadth of the level country on this 

 route appears to be about fifty miles. The perpendicular 

 rise within this space, from either side to the height of land, 

 I should not suppose to exceed seventy feet. 



The streams running in every direction from these 



uplands, have a much more steady supply of water, and 



are far purer than the lower tributaries of the Ottawa. 



The channels are generally very moderate in breadth, 



appearing to be little troubled with floods, which, from 



the marks along the shores, seldom seem to rise above two 



feet (peri)endicularly) in the streams, and fifteen or eighteen 



inches in the lakes. These favorable distinctions are 



readily accounted for in the form and natiue of this interior 



country, consisting of a vast level, generally with a light 



free soil devoi<l of marsh, and interspersed with hundreds 



of small deep reservoirs, retaining and refining the water 



again and again, before it passes to the n»ain rivers. 



The singular facilities which this plain country possesses 

 for water communication, within itself, must be evident. 

 Were there any po'^sibility of leading a population into it, 

 the channels and basins of still water, intersecting it in 

 every direction, might quickly be completed into u rami- 

 fication of water ways, which for general utility, and 

 natural beatiiy could scarcely find a parallel. Snllicicntly 



