50 July 1749. 



in the midft of fummer; fo that we found 

 it difficult to get forward. But it is to be 

 obferved that fort St. John was only built 

 laft fummer, when this road was firft made, 

 and confequerrtly it could not yet have ac- 

 quired a proper degree of folidity. Two 

 hundred and fixty men were three months 

 at work, in making this road ; for which 

 they were fed at the expence of the go- 

 vernment, and each received thirty fols 

 every day j and I was told that they would 

 again refume the work next autumn. The 

 country hereabouts is low and woody, and 

 of courfe the refidence of millions of gnats 

 and flies, which were very troublefome to 

 us. After we had gone about three French 

 miles, we came out of the woods, and the 

 ground feemed to have been formerly a 

 rnarfh, which was now dried up. From 

 hence we had a pretty good profpedl on all 

 fides. On our right hand at a great dif- 

 taace we faw two high mountains, rifing 

 remarkably above the reft ; and they were 

 not far from fort ChampMn* We could 

 likewife from hence fee the high mountain 

 which lies near Montreal; and our road went 

 on nearly in a ftraight line. Soon after, we got 

 again upon wet and low grounds, and after 

 that into a wood which confided chiefly of 



the 



