308 Topographical Notices. 



at the Cedar lake on the twenty-fifth day after leaving him. 

 He had procured a chart of the lower part of the Nesswabic, 

 and was prepared to start punctually on the thirtieth day. 

 It was well for him that we had not been delayed beyond 

 that time, as his safe descent, alone and inexperienced in 

 such a channel, would have been almost impossible. 



It occupied us altogether twelve days to repass from 

 Penetanguishine to the lake des Allumettes. Our ti'avelling 

 was not expeditious, the men being obliged to pass twice 

 over the portages, and it being often very difficult to get 

 our three fathomed canoe through the uncleared tracks. 

 — Had I kept my old route instead of ascending the 

 Severn, and afterwards turning south by the Madawaska 

 waters, we should probably have regained the Ottawa in 

 ten days. By the sources of the Nesswabic, a good route for 

 canoes (considering the elevation of the country) might be 

 easily opened the whole way from lake Huron to the Cedar 

 lake. Little rapid water is encountered on this route, and 

 none of the portages, in all about forty-five, exceed three 

 quarters of a mile. If these were widened where necessary 

 and some fallen trees and drift wood removed from the 

 upper parts of the rivers, a well manned canoe might pass 

 between the two points in four or five days. From the 

 Cedar lake to the Ottawa, the various routes are difficult or 

 circuitous, as before explained, and the only apparent way 

 to obtain expeditious access here, is by a road up the 

 Maskinonge valley. 



From every appearance of the country along the upper 

 parts of the Nesswabic, and the whole of the Muskoka 

 river, I have no doubt that a fair proportion of it is fit for 

 settlement and cultivation. On this line, the lands 

 throughout appear to be composed of the lighter soils, and 



