112 -^^mfi i749« 



thought the city obtained its name. Others 

 derive it from the Algonki?t word ^ebego 

 or ^ebec flgnifying that which grows nar- 

 row, becaufe the river becomes narrower as 

 it comes nearer to the town. 



The river St. Lawrencey is exa(5lly a 

 quarter of a French mile, or three quarters 

 of an Englijh mile broad at ^ebec. The 

 fait water never comes up to the town in it, 

 and therefore the inhabitants can make ufe 

 of the water in the river for their kitchens, 

 &c. All accounts agree that notwithftand- 

 ing the breadth of this river, and the vio- 

 lence of its courfe, efpecially during ebb, it 

 is covered with ice during the whole winter, 

 which is ftrong enough for walking, and a 

 carriage may go over it. It is faid to happen 

 frequently that, when the river has been 

 open in May, there are fuch cold nights in 

 this month, that it freezes again, and will 

 bear walking over. This is a clear proof 

 of the intenfenefs of the froft here, efpecially 

 when one conliders that which I fliall men- 

 tion immediately after, about the ebbing 

 and flowing of the tide in this river. The 

 greateft breadth of the river at its mouth, 

 is computed to be twenty-fix French miles 

 or feventy-eight EngHjlj miles, though the 

 boundary between the fea, and the river 

 cannot well be afcertained as the latter 

 gradually loofes itfelf in, and unites with 



the 



