Up the Ottawa. 97 



renders all the coolness and activity of those who are trying 

 to escape the avalanche of no avail. 



Taking the steamer " Queen Victoria" at Grenville, which 

 is always waiting, on the arrival of the train, the route lies 

 through a densely wooded country, in many places in as 

 primitive a state as when the Jesuit missionaries first sailed 

 up this river ; the current is gentle, and the scenery is 

 diversified by numerous islands, the foliage of whose trees 

 seems almost to touch the water, and by the glimpses which 

 are obtained of the infant settlements upon the skirts of the 

 forest and the margin of the stream. Six miles from Gren- 

 ville the steamer touches at the small town of L'Orignal, 

 on the Upper Canada side. This is the stopping place for 

 those who wish to visit Caledonia Springs, nine -miles 

 distant. The medicinal qualities of these springs (the " Plan- 

 tagenet Water" of commerce) have of late years attracted 

 considerable attention, especially among those who are 

 troubled with rheumatic or cutaneous affections. It is said 

 the medicinal properties of these springs were first discovered 

 by pigeons flocking in large quantities to them ; and the well 

 known penchant of that bird for any salt substance led to an 

 investigation, which resulted in the waters being brought 

 into notice. The "season" here, which may be styled the 

 Canadian Harrowgate, is during the heats of August ; and to 

 the invalid seeking a quiet locality, with agreeable society, 

 this place will afford both. Nothing further of note occurs 

 till we pass Thurso, a flourishing village, doing a large busi- 

 ness in lumber, and Buckingham, near the junction of the 

 River du Lievre. The latter is a village of about 2,000 

 inhabitants, five miles from the Ottawa River, mostly con- 

 nected with the lumber trade, a very large quantity being 

 floated down the river which runs through the village, the 

 mills there employing a large number of hands, and turning 

 out about 40,000,000 feet per annum. Buckingham, within 

 twenty miles of Ottawa, is a very picturesque village, there 



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