481 



in fertility and richness of soil more nearly 

 than any other part of the district of Quebec t 

 its western extremity is only four miles from 

 Cape Diamond. The shores slant gradually to 

 the beach, in some places there are a few 

 rocky cliffs, but not of great extent or eleva- 

 tion : from the foot of the slopes there are 

 large spaces of low meadow land, sometimes 

 intersected by patches of excellent arable. 

 Bordering the north channel the beach is flat 

 and muddy, with reefs of rocks running along 

 it ; but on the southern side it is a fine sand, 

 with only a few pointed rocks sticking up 

 here and there. The highest part of the island 

 is by the church of St. Pierre, about four miles 

 from the western extremity, and almost front- 

 ing the falls of Montmorenci ; and also just 

 above Patrick's Hole, nearly abreast of St. 

 Pierre, on the south side, on which is placed 

 the second telegraph of the chain from Quebec 

 to Green Island, The centre part is thickly 

 wooded, but without producing any timber of 

 superior growth. The soil is highly fertilized 

 in almost every part ; on the high lands it is 

 commonly a light good earth, either mixed 

 with sand, or sand and clay ; on less elevated 

 situations there is a fine black mould, which, 

 as it nears the shores, is likewise blended with 

 sa^id. This delightflil spot is but scantily 



