batiscon* 887 
at the village of Batiscon. It stands on the 
north-west side of the river, about eighty 
miles below Montreal. Here the shore is 
very fiat and marshy, and for a considerable 
distance from it, the water is so shallow when 
the tide is out, that a bateau even, cannot at 
that time come within one hundred yards of 
the dry ground. Lower down the river the 
shore is in some places extremely rocky. 
The first habitation we came to at Batiscon 
was a farm-house, where we readily got ac¬ 
commodation for the night. The people 
were extremely civil, and did all in their power 
to serve us. A small table was quickly set 
out, covered with a neat white table-cloth, 
and bread, milk, eggs, and butter, the best 
fare which the house afforded, were brought 
to us. These things may always be had in 
abundance at every farm-house; but it is not 
often that you can procure meat of any sort; 
in going through Canada, therefore, it is 
customary for travellers to carry a provision 
basket with them. The houses in Lower 
Canada are in general well furnished with 
beds, all in the French style, very large, and 
raised four or five feet high, with a paillasse, 
a mattrass, and a feather-bed. 
The houses for the most part are built of 
logs; but they are much more compact and 
better built than those in the United States; 
vox,. I , Z 
