- 
. 
he) 
of a part of the Saguenay Country. 135 
neither soil nor climate can therefore be bad. Having broken 
the thermometers in the early stage of our journey, all our re- 
ports are deficient in thermometrical observations, Judging 
from our feelings and the agricultural facts above mentioned, 
there appears to be no difference between the climate on Lake 
St. Joho and that at Quebec. Mountains bound the view to 
southward of the Post, and at no great distance among these, 
we heard that a large deposite of a mineral, which from the de- 
scription given of it, must be steatite-or soapstone, is found. It 
probably marks the primary character of the mountains in which 
it occurs ; near them the junction of the primary and secondary 
rocks may be expected to take place. We did not sec it, for 
the clay-slate, although usually a primary rock, is here, by its 
alternation with fetid limestone, evidently of the transition or se- 
condary class. 
After crossing a turbulent sea, we arrived once more on our 
way back, at the mouth of La Belle Riviere, having completed 
the circuit of Lake St. John. 
Before we take leave of this lake, we will here intrcduce 
a few remarks upon the general fertility of the land in its neigh- 
bourhood, which have occurred to us as explanatory of the cause 
of it. 
When first the reports* of the House of Assembly respect- 
ing the Saguenay Country came under our observation, we were 
at aloss to account for this fertility. We imagined Lake St. 
John and the surrounding country to be, as it really is, a large 
basin, of which the lake is the lowest portion, with rivers run- 
ning into it from all points of the compass save one, and bear« 
ing 
tll lan ION R tS AL ALD AND 
* With regard to these reports, it is only justice to say, that after havin 
attentively examined them, we think they are as creditable to the individua 
who collected them as they are to the persons from whom they were obtain- 
ed. We have, generally speaking, found them to be correct, and it will be 
seen that the latest reports rather confirm than afford any new information 
respecting the fertility of the soil and its capabilities for settling. Both Mr. 
Tasche’s and Mr. Panet's plans also, considering they are mere sketches, 
ate very faithful. 
