22 



A General History of the Fur Trade. 



The voyagers are frequently obliged to unload their ca-> 

 noes, and carry the goods upon their backs, or rather sus- 

 pended in slings from their heads. Each man's ordinary load 

 is two packages, though some carry three. Here the canoe 

 is towed by a strong line. There are some places where 

 the ground will not admit of their carrying the whole ; they 

 then make two trips, that is, leave half their lading, and go 

 and land it at the distance required ; and then return for 

 that which was left. In this distance are three carrying- 

 places, the length of which depends in a great measure upon 

 the state of the water, whether higher or lower ; from the 

 last of these the river is about a mile and an half wide, and 

 has a regular current for about sixty miles, when it ends at 

 the first Portage de Chaudiere, where the body of water 

 falls twenty-five feet, over cragged, excavated rocks, in a 

 most wild, romantic manner. At a small distance below, 

 the river Rideau on the left,falling over a perpendicular rock, 

 near forty feet high, in one sheet, assuming the appearance 

 of a curtain ; and from which circumstance it derives its 

 name. To this extent the lands have been surveyed, as be- 

 fore observed, and are very fit for culture* Many loyalists 

 are settled upon the river Rideau, and have, I am told, 

 thriving plantations. Some American families, preferring 

 the British territory, have also established themselves along 

 a river on the opposite side, where the soil is excellent* 

 Nor do I think the period is far distant, when the lands 

 will become settled from this vicinity to Montreal. 



Over this portage, which is six hundred and forty-three 

 paces long, the canoe and all the lading is carried. The 

 rock is so steep and dijficuit of access, that it requires twelve 

 men to take the canoe out of the water; it is then carried 

 by six men, two at each end on the same side, and two under 

 the opposite gunwale in the middle. From hence to the 

 next is but a short distance, in which they make two trips 

 to the second Portage de Chaudiere, which is seven hun- 

 dred paces, to carry the lading alone. From hence to the 

 next and last Chaudiere, or Portage des Chenes is about six 

 miles, with a very strong current, where the goods are car- 

 ried seven hundred and forty paces ; the canoe being towed 

 up by the line, when the water is not very high. We now 

 enter Lac des Chaudieres, which is computed to be thirty 

 miles in length. Though it is called a lake, there is a strong 

 draught downwards, and its breadth is from two to four 

 miles. At the end of this is the Portage des Chats, over 



