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qiientlj dashing with violence over the preci- 

 pices and immense fragments of rock that op- 

 pose its progress. The bed being extremely 

 rocky, the great number of falls and rapids, 

 and the vehemence of the torrent, particularly 

 in the spring and after the autumnal rains, 

 render it generally impassable for canoes or 

 boats of any description. The banks are ex- 

 ceedingly high, and at intervals, for considera- 

 ble distances, are formed of strata of lime- 

 stone, OF of granite rock that in many places 

 are lofty, rugged, and majestic, partially 

 displaying a few stunted pines in the inter- 

 stices, or covered with creeping shubbery, but 

 in man}^ parts presenting only the frowning 

 aspect of huge barren masses heaped perpendi- 

 cularly one upon another. From the heights on 

 each side of the river spread extensive forests, 

 through which there are various paths traced 

 out and kept open during all the changes of 

 seasons by the Indians, and chiefly those of the 

 village of Lorette, who consider the lands to an 

 immense distance northwards as their hunting 

 grounds. The general view along the course of 

 the river is varied, picturesque, and extraordi- 

 nary, presenting a thousand combinations of 

 the grandeur, beauAy, and wild magnificence 

 of nature that stand unrivalled by that of any 

 other country. In its course through the seig- 



