332 



crosses the river at a ferry, where the toll is 

 three-pence each person, nine-pence for a horse, 

 and fifteen-pence for a horse and carriage ; 

 besides this road, several others intersect the 

 seigniory in different directions, and pass along 

 each side of the river, upon which there are 

 three grist-mills and as many saw-mills. The 

 Nicolet takes its source from a lake of the 

 same name, in the township of Weedon, and 

 runs north-westerly through the townships of 

 Ham, Arthabaska, Bulstrode, &c. for about 47 

 miles, when it is met by a large branch from 

 the townships of Simpson, Kingsey, and Ship- 

 ton, navigable for boats and scows, and which 

 sends off numerous streams on each side; this 

 point of junction is called the second forks: 

 from hence its course through the augmenta- 

 tion and seigniory, until it falls into Lake St. 

 Peter, is about twenty-one miles. The banks, 

 in the interior townships, are high, and generally 

 covered with woods down to the water ; but in 

 the lower part of its course they diminish their 

 height very much, and are less woody: from 

 the village downward there are several small 

 islands covered with trees, that form very 

 pleasing groups from the acclivity before men- 

 tioned. In the upper part of the river there are 

 some rapids, but of no great impediment, as 

 the Indians frequently ascend and descend 



