394 



earth, but advancing to the north-west it be- 

 comes much stronger, and soon changes to a 

 fine loam, in some places pretty thickly strewed 

 with stones : large masses of granite lie about 

 in dilSFerent directions as if rolled down from the 

 heights, although there is scarce any trace of 

 rock until reaching the bank of the Jacques 

 Cartier river. The timber is for the most part 

 very good ; but between the two rivers not 

 in great plenty, as the whole of that space is 

 laid out in fruitful settlements ; further back, 

 beech, maple, pine, ash, and birch, are found 

 in abundance. It is watered by several 

 branches of the River Portneuf, the Riviere 

 aux Pommes, that traces a beautiful meander- 

 ing course throughit, and the impetuous Jacques 

 Cartier, besides many rivulets descending from 

 the sides of the different ridges, the whole 

 amply providing for the irrigation, particularly 

 of the settled parts. Of the many roads that 

 intersect the seigniory, the one in front of the 

 St. Lawrence, one in the direct line from Que- 

 bec by the village of Capf a to Jacques Cartier 

 bridge, and another, striking from the St. Law- 

 rence, about midway between the village of 

 Pointe'aux Trembles and Belair, to the same 

 place, are the principal ; the others open a 

 convenient communication between the differ- 

 ent concessions. The bridge itself deserves 



