90 Capt. Bayfield's Notes on 



gations may lead, by the discovery of fossils, to their true history and relative 

 age. I am, however, averse from applying to them the term diluvial, because 

 the regularity of their stratification vt^ould seem to be due to a cause less 

 violent and longer continued, than is consistent with our ideas of diluvial 

 action. 



These immense deposits abound on all parts of the north coast of the St. 

 Lawrence, which we have visited ; nor are they wanting on the south coast. 

 The soil which they supply is by no means good, but is sufficient for the 

 growth of large pines, and may be not altogether unsusceptible of cultivation. 



These formations must not, however, be confounded with the alluvial de- 

 posits at the mouths of the rivers, the latter being chiefly due to the currents 

 undermining the soft banks, composed of the former. 



Alluvial accumulations of this description, occur extensively at Pointe Mille 

 Vaches and Port Neuf, as well as at the entrance of the Bersimis, Outard, 

 Manicouagan, and other rivers. 



The extensive Manicouagan shoals have doubtlessly been formed by the 

 two last rivers, especially the Outard, whose course for eight or nine miles, 

 from the falls to the sea, is through the soft strata just mentioned. 



On approaching Outard bay after the time of high water, the sea was of the colour of sand, and 

 had it not been previously ascertained that there were nearly 1 00 fathoms of water, we should 

 have supposed that a sand bank existed close to the surface of the sea. When the vessel sailed 

 into the discoloured water the effect was very remarkable. She cut through and displaced the 

 thin stratum of comparatively fresh and discoloured water, displaying the clear blue sea beneath, 

 and left a blue line wherever she passed. The discoloured water was ascertained to be derived 

 from the Outard river, charged with sedimentary matter ; and was so widely diffused as to cover 

 the whole bay, and the sea for several miles. 



3. The same granitic rocks, with stratified deposits in the valleys, and allu- 

 vial formations at the entrances of the rivers, compose the coast and country, 

 from Pointe de Monts to the Seven Islands, a distance of 60 miles. The 

 rocks constituting the Seven Islands abound with hornblende. 



In the bay of the Seven Islands is a very extensive alluvial formation, ele- 

 vated only a few feet above the present level of the sea at high water. 



Walking inland from the sandy beach, which extends for many miles to the eastward, I counted 

 seven parallel sand ridges in a distance of about a mile ; evidently ancient beaches which formed, 

 at different successive epochs, the margin of the sea. The number of these beaches and the nature 

 of the wood which covers them, would seem to show, that those furthest inland are very ancient. 

 On removing the thin covering of vegetable matter, 1 found in several of the ridges, clam shells 

 perfectly similar to those which abound on the present shore. That the beaches were formed by 

 the combined action of the sea and adjacent rivers, continued during an immense period of time, 

 there can be no doubt ; and on comparing Des Barres' plan of this bay with our survey, no appre- 



