RIVER LIFE. 251 



tural point of view, it has been remarked, by competent judges, 

 that " there were never greater natural advantages offered to the 

 farmer than are to be found upon this river," and that it " will" 

 in time " become, as it is destined by nature to be, the granary 

 of the North." 



Among the most interesting objects to be met are the Ox-bow 

 and Aroostook Falls. The former consists of a crook in the riv- 

 er, which " forms a curvature of one mile, while the neck of land 

 included between the two portions of the curve is but twenty rods 

 across, so that it is customary for the Indians to carry their ca- 

 noes over this portage." The faUs occur near its junction with 

 the St. John's. " The water is very rapid, and rushes over ledges 

 of slate and limestone rocks for three fourths of a mile." " Then 

 the river precipitates itself over a steep and broken ledge fifteen 

 feet into a wide basin below." In the rocks there are "pot- 

 holes," " five feet in diameter and four feet deep," " worn in the 

 limestone by the grinding motion of rounded stones moved by the 

 impetuous current." 



The reader will see in the cut a picturesque view of a section 

 of this beautiful water-fall, with its high ledges, overhung with 

 a heavy growth of cedar-trees. The countiy in the vicinity of 

 the falls " becomes more elevated, and lofty precipices of lime- 

 stone and calciferous slate rise on each bank of the river, while 

 the country in the rear is broken, hilly, and covered with an 

 abundant mixed growth of forest trees." 



"We next turn our attention to the " Mirimachi," one of the 

 principal rivers of the province, " which falls into the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence in 47° 10' north latitude, 64° 40' west longitude, 

 forming at its estuary a capacious bay, with several islands, and 

 a ship channel for vessels of seven hundred tons burden, and nav- 

 igable upward of thirty miles from the sea. Chatham, Doug- 

 lass, and Newcastle are the principal towns, situated on the banks 

 of the river, about twenty-five miles from its mouth. At these 



