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LETTER XXIII. 
VoUage t° Quebec down the St. Lawrence.—A 
Bateau preferable to a Keel Boat.—-Town of 
Sorelle. — Ship-building there. —Description 
of Lake St. Pierre. — Baliscon.—Charming 
Scenery along the Banks of St. Lawrence .— 
In what respect it differs from the Scenery 
along any oilier River in America.—Canadian 
Houses.—Sketch of the Character and Man¬ 
ners of the lower Classes of Canadians .— Their 
Superstition. — Anecdote. — St. Augustin Cal - 
vaire.—Arrive at Quebec. 
Quebec, August. 
WE remained im Montreal until the first 
day of August, when we set off in a bateau 
for Quebec, about one hundred and sixty 
miles lower down the St. Lawrence. A bateau 
is a particular kind of boat, very generally used 
upon the large rivers and lakes in Canada. 
Tiie bottom of it is perfectly flat, and each end 
is built very sharp, and exactly alike. The 
sides are about four feet high, and for the con¬ 
venience of the rowers, four or five benches are 
laid across, sometimes more, according to the 
length of the bateau. It is a very heavy awk-t 
ward sort of vessel, either for rowing or sailing. 
