304 Topographical Notices, 



lake, about six miles distant from the great fall. 



There are altogether fourteen portages on this river, and 

 the difference in level of the two lakes, is, I think, about 

 two hundred and fifty feet. The channel here is not 

 remarkably M'inding except at two points, for a few miles. 

 The course continues much the same as on the upper parts 

 of the river, averaging about S. S. W. until half way 

 between the lakes, when it makes a decided turn nearly 

 westward for the remaining part of the route. The lands 

 retain their promising appearance along this part of the 

 river, being almost every where covered with timber of 

 nearly the same description as that in the centre of the 

 country. In returning 1 examined the vicinity of most of 

 the portages, and almost invariably found a light soil of 

 fair quality, though frequently imeven and strong, as might 

 be expected near the falls. 



The large stream which flows in from the north at the 

 lower part of this run, is the same by which, and the south 

 river, (as before hinted) there is a canoe route to lake 

 Nipissing. On a lake about two days journey up this 

 branch, is a trading station to which the common route is, 

 not by the Muskoka, but along a considerable river flowing 

 out of, or through a large lake not far to the westward of 

 the station, and entering lake Huron, (as 1 am told,) about 

 thirty miles from the French river. It is called the 

 Neyetewa, and the country along its upper parts, and on 

 the northern branch of the Muskoka, is said to be much 

 of the same nature as that which we passed through. 



The last Muskoka lake is a great body of water extending 

 chiefly north-westerly, and containing hundreds of islands, 

 some of them very large, but appearing mostly barren. 

 From the entrance of the river, the route runs westerly 



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