52 July 17 A9' 



ilill very fertile, fo that there is no occafion 

 for leaving it \y as fallow. The forefts are 

 pretty much cleared, and it is to be feared 

 that there will be a time, when wood will 

 become very fcarce. Such was the appear- 

 ance of the country quite up to Prairie, 

 and the river St, Lawrence, which laft we 

 had now always in fight ; and, in a word 

 this country was, in my opinion the fineft 

 of North- Ajiierica, which I had hitherto 

 feen. ' 



About dinner-time we arrived at Prai- 

 rie, which is iituated on a little rifing 

 ground near the river St. hawrence. We 

 itaid here this day, becaufe I intended to 

 vi(it the places in this neighbourhood, be- 

 fore I went on. 



Prairie de la Magdelene is a fmall village 

 on the eaflern fide of the river St. Lawrence, 

 about two French miles and a half from 

 Montreal, which place lies N. W. from 

 hence, on the other fide of the river. All 

 the country round Prairie is quite Hat, and 

 has hardly any rifings. On all fides are 

 large corn-fields, meadows, and paftures. 

 On the weflern fide, the river St. Lawrence 

 paiTes by, and has here a breadth of a French 

 mile and a half, if not more. Mofl of the 

 houfes in Prairie are built of timber, with 

 Hoping wooden roofs, and the crevices in 



the 



