NATURAL HISTORY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 193 
The Northwest River from the Forks to Lyons Stream was sur- 
veyed in connection with land grants prior to i8io, but the part 
from Lyons Stream to the lake has not hitherto been surveyed 
at all, and I had the pleasure of making a traverse survey of it 
during our trip, the results of which are given on the accompany- 
ing map. The South Branch and Back Creek were surveyed 
prior to 1800 in connection with land grants, and the south 
Oromocto Lake and stream were sketched somewhat later. 
The river was settled from its mouth to the Forks by Loyalists 
in 1784-86; by their descendants up the South Branch to Back 
Creek, and up the Northwest towards Lyons Stream prior to 1810; 
the western shore of the Northwest Lake was settled by an ex- 
pansion from Harvey settlement after 1837, and later immigrants 
after 1840 have settled between Back Creek and the South Branch, 
and a few settlers live near the South Lake. The remainder of 
the river, including the east and south sides of the Northwest 
Lake and the river to Lyons Stream, and most of the South Lake, 
with the South Branch from near Back Creek, are still unsettled 
forest. Much lumbering was formerly done on the lakes and 
river, especially in the years from 1830 to 1865, but it has now 
ceased. 
Turning now to scientific knowledge, we find that the geology 
of the basin, which is of carboniferous conglomerates and sand- 
stones, and comparatively simple, was first observed, and was 
known in general to Gesner, who mentions it briefly in two of his 
Reports. The geology of the vicinity of the Northwest Lake was 
Consult an article “ Upon Aboriginal Pictographs Reported from New Brunswick ” in this 
Bulletin. 
The local pronunciation of the name of the river is Erramucia, which must be an old 
form, since it is found practically thus, Erramouciau, on Allen’s map of 1786 (Trans. Royal 
Soc. Canada, VII, 1901, ii, 264). Of other names, Kelly and Bedford [Tracey] are said to be 
for early lumbermen, as doubtless others are also. The names on the maps are those com- 
monly in use by those who know the river, while certain of O’Connor’s names not now in 
common use I have put in brackets, hidian Point is explained by a local legend, to the 
effect that an Indian having stolen a girl on the St. John was fleeing by the portage route 
to Penobscot when he was overtaken and shot by her relatives on this point; but another 
tradition derives it simply from an Indian camping place in the cove near by. 
For very much local information about the lake and river I am greatly indebted to Mr. 
Thos McFarland, of South Tweedside, as well as to Mr. C. L. Tracy, of Tracy Station, and 
to Mr. William Clark, of Flume Ridge. I have obtained from them much more information 
than I have used in this article, but which will appear later in another connection. 
