44 



t,eaux and rafts incessantly passing up and 

 down from the beginning of spring until 

 the latter end of autumn, demonstrate, un- 

 equivocally, a very extensive commercial inter- 

 course. The islands, the shoals, the rapids, 

 \with contrivances for passing them, form al- 

 together a succession of novelties that gives 

 pleasure while it creates astonishment. Before 

 reaching Montreal, the lakes St. Francis, St. 

 Louis, and des Deux Montagues, present them- 

 selves : they do not admit of comparison with 

 those already noticed, and can, indeed, only be 

 considered as so many widenings of the river ; 

 they are of no great depth, but form an agree- 

 able variety by having many pretty islands scat- 

 tered about them. St. Francis is 25 miles long by 

 five and a half broad ; the shores in some places 

 are marshy, as they do not rise much above the 

 level of the water. St. Louis and Deux Mon- 

 tagues are formed at the junction of the Ottawa 

 with the St. Lawrence; the first is 12 mile& 

 long by six broad ; the latter is very irregular, 

 and in its whole length is 24 miles, but varying 

 in breadth from one mile to six. At the con- 

 fluence of the two rivers are the islands of 

 Montreal, Isle Jesus, Bizarre, and Perrot ; the 

 first is probably the most beautiful spot of all 

 Lower Canada, and will, in the course of this 

 work, be described with particular attention. 



