342 TRAVELS THROUGH LOWER CANADA °. 
Age.;—His great Wealth.—His Character .—- 
Nunneries.-—Engineer’s Drawing Room .—- 
State House. — Armoury. — Barracks. — 
Market-place.—Dogs used in Carts.- — Gran¬ 
deur of the Prospects from Parts of the Up¬ 
per Town.—Charming Scenery of the En¬ 
virons.—Description of Montmorenci Water 
Fall.'—Of La Chandler e Water Fall . 
Quebec, August. 
THE city of Quebec is situated on a very 
lofty point of land, on the north-west side 
of the River St. Lawrence. Nearly facing 
it, on the opposite shore, there is another point, 
and between the two the river is contracted to 
the breadth of three quarters of a mile, but 
J ) 
after passing through this strait it expands to 
the breadth of five or six miles, taking a great 
sweep behind that point whereon Quebec 
stands. The city derives its name from the 
word Quebec or Quebeio, which signifies in 
the Algonquin tongue, a sudden contraction 
of a river. The wide part of the river im¬ 
mediately before the town, is called The 
Bason ; and it is sufficiently deep and spacious 
to float upwards of one hundred sail of the 
line. 
Quebec is divided into two parts; the 
upper town, situated on a rock of limestone, 
on the top of the point; and the lower town. 
