124 RICE LAKE OTANABEE. 



tance of Peterborough, forms an uninteresting sail, being a 

 dense forest on both sides, with three or four log-huts in the 

 course of sixteen miles. Above the rapids, at Peterborough, 

 the river runs with considerable impetuosity, the banks be 

 come diversified, in size equalling the largest river in Britain, 

 and its water-power, if properly developed, of considerable 

 magnitude. 



The surface, from Coburg to Rice Lake, is highly undu 

 lating, and, if cleared, would perhaps be picturesque ; the 

 soil gradually falling off, becoming poor sand, with timber of 

 inferior size, and all kinds of crops bad. For miles, before 

 reaching the lake, the road leads through thinly scattered oak 

 trees, called plaines, or oak openings, covered with stunted 

 underwood, with external indications of extreme sterility ; but 

 farther experience enables me to say, the appearance of the 

 plaines is not owing to quality of soil, but to the herbage 

 being annually burned. 



To the west of the Otanabee, and on the banks of the lake, 

 is a considerable clearance formed by government for the 

 Massagur tribe of Indians, and called Indian Village, ad 

 joining which is the residence of Captain Anderson, prettily 

 situated. 



The soil of the small clearances on the Otanabee, above 

 Peterborough is not of very fine quality, and mingled with 

 large stones, but seemed to improve on receding from the 

 river. On cleared ground there was scarcely a plant of clover, 

 or even of grass, with the exception of timothy, the seed of 

 which had been sown. At the time of visiting this district I 

 was inclined to think unfavourably of the soil from the want 

 of clovers and grasses, but extended observation convinced 

 me this circumstance had no connexion with the quality of 

 soil, and would not operate unfavourably against the prosperity 

 of these plants when their seeds are sown. 



Near the banks of the Otanabee, a dark-coloured caterpillar 

 had devoured some fields of timothy grass, with exception of 

 the culms, and the insect had extended its ravages partially to 

 Indian corn and wheat, but red clover was untouched, grow 

 ing amongst timothy which had been entirely consumed. 

 I could learn nothing of its natural history ; but its attacks 



