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Well watered in almost every direction by nu- 

 merous streams, several of which are navigable 

 for boats and canoes, and obstructed only by a 

 few falls that occasion short portages ; they offer 

 hundreds of the most convenient situations for 

 erecting mills, while their banks are with few 

 exceptions very desirable for the formation of 

 new settlements. From the bay of Quint6 

 along the edge of Lake Ontario to its western 

 extremity, there runs a ridge of heights, of no 

 great elevation, and extending only a short dis- 

 tance in breadth or to the northward, but from 

 which the land soon descends again to its former 

 level ; the interior of this tract is intersected 

 by a chain of lakes, that by means of a short 

 portage or two are connected with Lake Simcoe, 

 and thence with Lake Huron. Along the northern 

 part also of the Niagara district runs a ridge 

 called the Queensto wn Heights, stretching'across 

 the river Niagara, and away eastward into the 

 state of New York; the altitude of this range 

 in any part of it does not exceed one hundred 

 and sixty yards above the surface of the lake. 

 This space, containing the Newcastle, the Home 

 and Niagara districts, is watered by a great 

 number of streams both large and small, that 

 greatly contribute to its fertility : in the latter 

 district is the Welland, formerly called the 

 Chippewa, a beautiful river flawing through a 



