358 CLIMATE SOIL. 



and severity of the attack, however, depends in a great mea 

 sure on the situation of individuals being aggravated by fa 

 tigue, imperfect clothing, bad food, and a damp house.* 



The surface of Upper Canada is remarkable for want of 

 hills, but much of it is considerably undulating ; arid where 

 this formation prevailed, I generally found the soil of inferior 

 quality. The soil is variable in all districts ; much of it is 

 very bad ; and it may generally be termed of medium quality. 

 I could only judge of the soil by its natural appearance, which 

 would be improved by cultivation. In all parts of the coun- 



* The following extracts are from the correspondence of my brother 

 Charles, dated Detroit, 7th August, 1834 : 



&quot; Through how many exciting scenes have I passed since we parted! 

 For two months tossed upon a stormy sea, with a disagreeable captain, in 

 a crazy vessel ! seen the most sublime of nature s works, a stormy sea, 

 and such a storm ! stood on deck when not a soul, from the captain to the 

 cabin-boy, expected to live ten minutes ! I have experienced delight con 

 sequent on deliverance; leaped with joy at the sight of land ; aamired the 

 fairy scenery of Long Island and the Hudson when the orchards were in 

 full blossom, and it is a sight of indescribable beauty ! I have travelled up 

 the North river, at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, in the finest steam 

 boats in the world shot along the rail- roads crawled on the canals been 

 shaken in stage-coaches and crossed lakes Erie and Ontario, which for 

 magnitude deserve the names of inland seas. 1 have walked since the 7th 

 of June 210 miles in Upper Canada, 200 in Ohio, 50 in Pennsylvania, 160 

 in Illinois, and 150 in Indiana and Michigan ; in all nearly 800 miles. 

 Some say, the thermometer stood from 95 to 101 degrees in the shade. 

 Often were my clothes as wet with perspiration as if I had waded a river; 

 still I never experienced that lazy, listless feeling I have done during warm 

 weather in Scotland. My appetite was always keen, and it still continues 

 so.&quot; 



After residing in Upper Canada, on a second visit, for the space of about 

 20 days, he writes from Cleveland, &quot; Do not be astonished at learning 

 I have got the ague. I have had three shaking days, my appetite is en 

 tirely gone. One day I feel quite well, and the next as helpless as a child ; 

 and, altogether, the ague is not a pleasant companion. I shall endeavour 

 to bear it patiently.&quot; 



From Cincinnati he writes, &quot; When I wrote about fourteen days ago, 

 I was suffering from fever and ague, and had made up my mind to have it 

 for a companion for some months ; but it only stayed with me a week. By 

 medicine and care I succeeded in banishing it, and now feel quite well. It 

 was brought on by carelessness and a desire to travel cheaply. I have no 

 doubt it will have a good effect in making me more careful in future.&quot; 



