in some places, was high. Several islands are in this part of the river. Among the fish, of which there are abundance, are cat-fish, of a large size.

At fourteen leagues, above the Longue Sault, we reached a French fort, or trading-house, surrounded by a stockade. Attached, was a small garden, from which we procured some vegetables. The house had no inhabitant, At three leagues further, is the mouth of the Hare-river, which descends from the north; and here we passed another trading-house. At a few leagues still higher, on the south-bank, is the mouth of a river four hundred yards wide, and which falls into the Outaouais perpendicularly, from the edge of a rock, forty feet high. The appearance of this fall, has -procured for it the name of the rideau, or, curtain; and hence the river itself is called the Ri

deau, or Rivière du Rideau. The fall presented itself to my view, with extraordinary beauty and magnificence, and decorated with a variety of colours.

Still ascending the Outaouais, at three leagues from the fall of the Rideau, is that of La Grande Chaudiere, a phenomenon of a different aspect. Here, on the north side of the river, is a deep chasm, running across the channel, for about two hundred yards, from twenty-five to thirty feet in

* La Grande Chaudière, i. e. the Great Kettle.

depth, and without apparent outlet. In this receptacle, a large portion of the river falls perpendicularly, with a loud noise, and amid a cloud of spray and vapour; but, embellished, from time to time, with the bright and gorgeous rainbow. The river, at this place, is a mile in width. In the rainy season, the depth of the fall is lessened, by reason of the large quantity of water, which is received into the chasm, and which, for want, as it would seem, of a sufficient drain, in part, fills it up. At such times, an eddy, and an accumulation of foam, at a particular part of the chasm, have led me to suspect the existence of an opening beneath, through which the water finds a subterranean passage. The rock, which forms the bed of the river, appears to be split, in an oblique direction, from one shore to the other; and the chasm, on the north side, is only a more perfect breach.

The fall of La Grande Chaudiere, is more than twenty leagues above the Longue Sault. Its name is justified, both by its form, and by the vapour, or steam, which ascends from it. Above it, there are several islands, of which the land is higher at the upper, than at the lower extremities. The carryingplace, is not more than a quarter of a mile in length, over a smooth rock, and so near the fall, that the men, in passing, are wetted by the spray. From this carrying-place, to another, of rather more length, called the Portage de la Chaudiere,

and, sometimes, the Second Chaudiere, is only three miles.

In this part of the voyage, I narrowly escaped a fatal accident. A thunder-gust having obliged us to make the shore, the men went into the woods, for shelter, while I remained in my canoe, under a covering of bark. The canoe had been intended to be sufficiently drawn aground; but to my consternation, it was not long before, while thus left alone, I perceived it to be adrift, and going, with the current, toward La Grande Chaudiere. Happily, I made a timely discovery of my situation; and, getting out, in shallow water, was enabled, by the assistance of the men, who soon heard my call, to save my property, along with my life.

At twelve miles, from the second Portage de la Chaudiere, there is a third Chaudiere, but also called the Portage des Chenes. The name of this carrying-place is derived from the oak-trees, with which it abounds. It is half a mile in length, level, and of an agreeable aspect.

The bed of the river is here very broad, for a space of twelve leagues, or thirty-six miles; and in this part of its course, it is called Lake des Chaudieres, a name derived from the falls below. The current, in this place, is scarcely perceptible. The lands, on either side, arc high,

and the soil is good. At the head of Lake des Chaudieres, is the Portage des Chats. The carrying-place is a high uneven rock, of difficult access. The ridge of rock crosses the stream, and occasions not only one, but numerous falls, separated from each other by islands, and affording a scene of very pleasing appearance. At the distance of a mile, seven openings present themselves to the eye, along a line of two miles, which, at this point, is the breadth of the river. At each opening, is a fall of water, of about thirty feet in height, and which, from the whiteness of its foam, might be mistaken for a snow-bank. Above, for six miles, there are many islands, between which, the current is strong.

To overcome the difficulties of this part of the navigation, the canoes first carry one half of their loading, and, at a second trip, the remainder.

Above the islands, the river is six miles in width, and is called Lake des Chats. The lake, so called, is thirty miles long. The lands about the lake, are like those of Lake des Chaudieres ; but, higher up, they are both high and rocky, and covered with no other wood than spruce and stunted pine.

While paddling against the gentle current of Lake des Chats, we met several canoes of Indians, returning, from their winter's hunt, to their village,

at the lake Des Deux Montagnes. I purchased some of their maple-sugar, and beaver-skins, in exchange for provisions. They wished for rum, which I declined to sell them; but they behaved civilly, and we parted, as we had met, in a friendly ⚫ manner. Before they left us, they inquired, of my men, whether or not I was an Englishman, and, being told that I was, they observed, that the English were mad, in their pursuit of beaver, since they could thus expose their lives for it; "for," added they, "the Upper Indians will certainly kill him," meaning myself. These Indians had left their village before the surrender of Montreal, and I was the first Englishman they had seen.

In conversation with my men, I learned that the Algonquins, of the lake Des Deux Montagnes, of which description were the party that I had now met, claim all the lands on the Outaouais, as far as Lake Nipisingue; and that these lands are subdivided, between their several families, upon whom they have devolved by inheritance. I was also informed, that they are exceedingly strict, as to the rights of property, in this regard, accounting an invasion of them an offence, sufficiently great to warrant the death of the invader.

We now reached the channels of the Grand Calumet, which lie amid numerous islands, and are about twenty miles in length. In this distance, there are