Quebec and its Environs. 19 



saw-mills lie just below the falls. Montmorenci Falls in 

 winter are a favorite resort for the residents of Quebec, who 

 drive there, warmly wrapped up in buffalo robes, in their 

 light carioles or sleighs ; and carrying with them a basket 

 well stocked, enjoy what is unknown elsewhere in mid- 

 winter, a picnic on the snow. The foam and spray rising 

 from the foot of the falls accumulate in the shape of ice, 

 forming a cone sometimes nearly 100 feet high. A second 

 one of less size is also formed, which is greatly (the higher 

 cone, only by the more hardy and venturesome) made use 

 of by visitors for " coasting " and " toboggining ; " that is, 

 having ascended to the summit, they entrust themselves to 

 their small sleigh or toboggin, as the case may be, and slide 

 down at full speed, gaining a velocity every instant, which 

 carries them sometimes half a mile or more on the surround- 

 ing level ice. It requires, however, the expertness of boys 

 used to " coasting" to steer straight down the incline, and it not . 

 unfrequently happens that two or three upsets, though gener- 

 ally without any serious consequences, take place. The cold 

 is not felt by those engaged in the sport, so thoroughly does 

 the exercise warm the blood. We do not know of any 

 exercise more invigorating than guiding a toboggin at full 

 speed down an incline of 45 ° when two or three ladies are 

 clinging on behind, and we recommend all who have never 

 enjoyed this sport, to try their hands, if only for once, at this 

 entirely Canadian amusement. A toboggin is a light Indian 

 sleigh made of very thin wood and curled over in front, and 

 used chiefly by pleasure parties in sliding down hill sides 

 covered with crusted but lightly packed snow — small sleighs 

 with runners are chiefly used at the ice cones. From the 

 summit of the large ice-cone, the glassy sides slope down 

 evenly in all directions ; one, leading down swift into the huge 

 boiling caldron at the foot of the cascade, the other, the side up 

 which we climb. A few years ago the soldiers of the garrison 

 held a picnic here in winter, when the cone was excavated 



