537 



those to whom distance denies a regular at- 

 tendance at the former. Cacona is aiinostan 

 island, being separated from the main land by 

 a salt marsh, that in the spring always presents a 

 luxuriant pasturage : on the point of Cacona 

 there are several inhabitants. About four 

 miles and three quarters eastward of the Riviere 

 des Caps is the commencement of the Timis- 

 couata portage, which, as being the only route 

 by land from Quebec to Halifax, a distance of 

 six hundred and twenty-seven miles altogether, 

 is of great importance, and a particular de- 

 scription of it therefore will perhaps be accept- 

 able. It was first opened in the year 1783, 

 by General Haldimand, then Governor, but 

 was at that time considered by many as so 

 intricate, and to present so many difficulties, 

 as to make it impracticable to establish a regu- 

 lar road by it; perseverance, however, with 

 the few attentions it has received from time to 

 time, have clearly shewn the contrary ; and it 

 is at this time a route (susceptible indeed of 

 very great improvement) by which the com- 

 munication may be kept up all the year round : 

 the British mail is always conveyed by it, 

 when landed from the packet at Halifax. From 

 the main road of the St. Lawrence, where the 

 portage road branches off, to Long's Farm on 



