THE CRUISE OF THE " HOBO 



193 



walk in front of the Hotel Frontenac, and 

 were the observed of all observers, as we 

 were in our camping rig of blue shirt, karki 

 trousers tucked into high moccasins, and 

 slouch hat, while many of the gentlemen 

 were in full dress. Finding a secluded 

 spot, we spent the evening in watching 

 the crowds, returning to the canal-boat at 

 ten, where we set up our cots in the hold 

 and enjoyed a good night's sleep. 



compare with that cataract, they are very 

 fine, and the visitor to Quebec who fails 

 to see them misses a great deal. 



We decided to take the steamer back to 

 Sorel, as paddling over the same ground 

 against the current would have been hard 

 and uninteresting work. 



Sorel is a quaint old town, and as we 

 happened to arrive on Saturday, early in 

 the morning, we had the pleasure of see- 



All of the Comforts of Civilisation 



For surprises and unforeseen events, give 

 me a canoe cruise. It should surely teach 

 one self-reliance, as you are continually 

 encountering new and strange situations. 



The next day we spent in visiting the 

 points of interest, going first to the citadel, 

 where, from the battlements, you obtain 

 a fine view of the surrounding country. 

 We next walked out to the "Plains, of 

 Abraham," and after seeing the monument 

 which marks the spot where General Wolfe 

 fell, came back through the Old Town, sit- 

 uated on the river front, directly under the 

 citadel. It was the quaintest and the dirt- 

 iest place I have ever seen. 



In the afternoon we visited Montmorency 

 Falls, and walked up the river about a 

 mile to the Natural Steps. Holt & Ren- 

 few, the furriers, keep quite a collection of 

 animals here, which are well worth a visit, 

 as are the falls about which I had heard 

 very conflicting reports, some people going 

 so far as to say they were as fine as Ni- 

 agara. Though they can not for a moment 



ing the country people come in to market 

 with their produce. Everything I saw here 

 — the people and their customs — reminded 

 strongly of Europe, and I could easily 

 fancy myself in some small market town 

 of France. Brooks here purchased some 

 tobacco, which the farmers cure themselves, 

 with the intention of trying it on some of 

 his unsuspecting college mates. Judging 

 from my own experience with the stuff, I 

 pity them; but Brooks -will be a sophomore 

 next year and with this mild and fragrant 

 weed in his possession should soon bring 

 the freshmen to a realization of their total 

 insignificance. 



The trip of seventy-five miles down the 

 Richelieu, we made in four days. The only 

 place on the river that is worthy of note is 

 St. Hiliare, where there is a mountain ris- 

 ing out of the flat country to a height of 

 eight hundred feet. There are several 

 beautiful country places along the banks, 

 with some of the most beautiful elms I 

 have ever seen. 



