54 



totally suspended by the frost. During this 

 period, the river from Quebec to Kingston, and 

 between the great lakes, except the Niagara 

 and the Rapids, is wholly frozen over ; the lakes 

 themselves are never entirely covered with ice, 

 but it usually shuts up all the bays and inlets, 

 and extends many miles towards their centres ; 

 belo w Quebec it is not frozen over, but the force 

 of the tides incessantly detaches the ice from 

 the shores, and such immense masses are kept 

 in continual agitation by the flux and reflux, 

 that navigation is totally impracticable in these 

 months. But though for this length of winter 

 the land and water are so nearly identified, the 

 utility of the river, if it be diminished., is far 

 from being wholly destroyed, for its surface 

 still offers the best route for land carriage (if 

 the metaphor can be excused) ; and tracks are 

 soon marked out by which a more expeditious 

 intercourse is maintained by vehicles of trans- 

 port of all descriptions than it would be pos- 

 sible to do on the established roads, at this sea- 

 son so deeply covered with snow, and which 

 are available until the approach of spring makes 

 the ice porous, and warm springs, occasioning 

 large flaws, render it unsafe. When this al- 

 teration takes place it soon breaks up, and by 

 the beginning of May is either dissolved or 

 carried off" by the current. The gulf of St. 



