$6 ^^mfi 1749' 



confids of fand, and the rifing grounds along 

 it are pretty high. When the wmd is very 

 violent here, it raifes the fand, and blows it 

 about the ftreets, making it very troublefome^ 

 to walk in them. The nuns, which are about 

 twenty-two in number, are reckoned very 

 ingenious iq all kinds of needle-work. 

 This town formerly ilourifhed more than 

 any other in Canaduy for the Indians 

 brought their goods to it from all fides ; but 

 fince that time they go to Montreal and 

 §luebec, and to the EngliJJ:), on account 

 of their wars with the Iroquefe^ or Five 

 Nations, and for feveral other reafons, fo that 

 this town \^ at prefent very much reduced 

 by it. Its prefent inhabitants live chiefly 

 by agriculture, though the neighbouring 

 iron-works may ferve in fome meafure to 

 fupport them. About an EngUfo mile be- 

 low the town, a great river falls into the 

 river St. Lawrence^ but firfl divides into 

 three branches, fo that it appears as if three 

 rivers difembogued themfelves there. This 

 has given occafion to call the river and this 

 town, Trois Rivieres (the T^hree Rivers). 



The tide goes about a French mile above 

 ^rois Rivieres, though it is fo trifling asto be 

 hardly obfervable. But about the equinoxes, 

 and at the new moons and full moons in fpring 

 and autuQin, the difference between the 



higheft 



