225 



with the exception of one or two expansions 

 occasioned by some small islands, which greatly 

 increase the beauty of its scenery, up to the 

 bason of Chambly, that has been already men- 

 tioned ; from hence to the Isle du Portage the 

 breadth is five hundred yards ; beyond this it 

 spreads to double that distance, and continues 

 to widen still more up to St. Johns, from whence 

 there is a ship navigation to the towns on Lake 

 Champlain. From the bason down to the St. 

 Lawrence the current is regular and gentle, and 

 although there are some shoals and flats, they do 

 not disturb the smoothness of its course ; but 

 from Lake Champlain the stream is hurried, in 

 some places rather violent, and in others broken 

 by rapids. The passage downw^ards for loaded 

 boats, &c. is in general quick and unattended 

 with the smallest difficulty, except what is oc- 

 casioned by the rapids. Upwards to Chambly 

 nothing more than ordinary care is required to 

 avoid the shallows, but from thence to St. 

 Johns the ascent is attended with more labour, 

 from the causes just spoken of. The number 

 of river craft, canoes, &c. with their various 

 ladings, with the immense quantities of timber 

 composing the numerous rafts that are conti- 

 nually descending, and upon which many hun- 

 dred tons of pot and pearl ashes, and large car- 

 goes of flour are brought down every summer, 



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