travels in North Âmerlca. 



49 



L E T T E R V. 



A Journey from Quebec to Trois Rivieres (theThree Ri^vers :} 

 Ho<w they go F oft upon the Sno^. Of the Lordjhips or Manors of 

 New France. A Defcription of Beck ai^covkt, TheTraditton 

 in regard to the Name of the Ri'ver Puante (the Stinking Ri^er.) 

 A Defcription ^TroisRivieres. A Continuation of the fe^veral 

 Huntings of the Salvages, 



Mad a m. Trois Rivieres^ March 6. 



I Arrived Yefterday in this Town, after two Days Journey, and 

 though it is twenty-five Leagues diftant from ^ebec^ I could 

 have performed the Journey in twelve Hours, becaufe I came in 

 a Sledge, which the Snow and Ice makes a very eafy Way of 

 travelling in this Country during the Winter, and which doe$^ 

 not coft more than the common Carriages. The Sledge runs 

 fo fmoothly, that a iingle Horfe fuffices to draw it, and always 

 goes a Gallop. One finds at different Places frelh Horfes at à 

 a cheap Rate. In Cafe of Need one might travel this Way 

 threefcore Leagues in twenty- four Hours, much more con- 

 veniently than in the beft Poft-Chaifes. 



I lay the the firH Night at Pointe aux Tremile^y (Afpen T y-ee 



1 T jn Point) feven Leagues from the Capital, which 

 OftheLordfmps ^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^.^^^^^ ^^.^ 



ç/^ Canada. one of the good Parifties of this Country. 



The Church is large and well built, and the Inhabitants in 

 good Circumftances. In general, the old Inhabitants are richer 

 here than the Lords of the Manors, and this is the Reafon : 

 Canada was but a great Foreft when the French firft fettled it. 

 Thofe who obtained Lordfhips, were not People to imfprove the 

 Land themfelves ; they were Ofiicers, Gentlemen, and Compa- 

 nies, who had not Funds fufiicient to eftablifli a proper Num- 

 ber of Labourers for this Purpofe. They were therefore obliged 

 ta fettle Inhabitants, who, before they could get a Subfiftence^ 

 were obliged to labour much, and to advance all the Charges ; fo 

 that they paid their Lords but a very llender Rent ; and all the 

 ufual Fines of a Manor amount here but to a fmall Sum. A 

 Lordfhip of two Leagues in Front, and of an unlimited Depths 

 brings in but a fmall Income in a Country fo thinly peopled, and 

 where there is fo little Trade in the inward Parts. 



H This 



