342 TOWN OF KAMOURASKA. 



small wlnd-maclilnes, for grinding their corn, wliich I 

 had seen attached to the barns of the habitants. Farms 

 of 80 and 160 arpents possessed them; but I had not 

 the satisfaction of seeing any of them in operation. 

 Many of them looked old, and of somewhat primitive 

 construction, so that the introduction of these mills must 

 be of comparatively ancient date. The large mill of 

 a seigneur comes to appear as a real advantage to a 

 neighbourhood — even though the moulire be heavy — 

 when we see how many other machines it supersedes, 

 and how much labour and anxiety it saves. 



Kamouraska, at the mouth of a river of the same 

 name, and a county town, is rendered lively in summer 

 by sea-bathing visitors. It is considered one of the 

 healthiest places in Lower Canada. Opposite to it are 

 a few rocky islands, of little value, between which and 

 the mainland the bed of the river is nearly dry at low 

 water. From the shore to the mountains a flat of 

 recent deposits extends, studded at intervals w^ith knolls 

 of granite and gneissoid rocks, almost destitute of soil, 

 and covered, like the rocks of Scandinavia, with dwarf 

 and stunted pines. If any doubt remained as to this 

 flat having been anciently submerged beneath the level 

 of the St Lawrence, it would be removed by the appear- 

 ance of the islands, and the almost dry inter-channels 

 which lie opposite to the modern town. Lift up the 

 present bed of the river some fifty feet more, and a new 

 stripe of similar land, studded with similar rocky 

 eminences, would be added to the existing land. 



I had travelled through rain above and mud below 

 for several hours, when, about 5 P.M., I reached the 

 river Du Loup, twelve miles beyond Kamonraska, 

 having accomplished only eighteen leagues during the 

 day. I found the inn very comfortable, however ; and 

 as I was informed that I must proceed nine leagues 

 farther before tolerable quarters were to be obtained, I 



