much ground as many of the counties do in England.

The quick succession of houses on this road arose from the manner in which the lands were granted. The whole course of the river on both sides, from its mouth to within about thirty miles above Montreal, was divided by the French king into a certain number of seigneuries, or lordships, which were given to those who had influence enough to procure them: but they were bound to concede them in certain lots, to such of the inhabitants of the country ast might apply for them; who were, at the same time, bound to settle upon the lands, and clear them of the woods; keep open the highways, and perform certain other services. The lots ran along the course of the river, a certain number of yards in front, by so many in depth. In front they were very narrow, generally but three square acres; however they run back into the country a considerable way, generally about eighty square acres. The side of a square acre is about 70 yards.

The first thing to be done was to build

a house, and open a road to communicate with their next neighbours. They then, by degrees, cleared and cultivated their land. In this way a road was made, and the country cleared by the sides of the river, where even now the great bulk of the population of Canada is found. The first settlers had additional reasons for clearing the lands, and settling along the course of the river. It enabled them to communicate with Quebec easily by means of canoes; and in winter, when the heavy snows fall, their settling near each other enabled them to keep open the communication, by uniting their efforts, which is still the case.

I am told, that, after a fall of snow, one man drives his sledge to his next neighbour (a very difficult matter sometimes), who joins him with his cattle in going to the next, and so on, till a path is trodden sufficiently hard to bear the horses.

The cultivated land does not extend far back in general. When the seigneurs, or lords of the manor, had granted, or, as it is called here, conceded those lots of their seigneurie, or lordship, which fronted the river, they made fresh concessions (be

still further.

hind the first) of the lands which receded On the first grants or concessions there is always left a certain portion of wood for domestic purposes, and for fuel; this tract of wood forms a boundary between the first and second concession. When the soil happens to be good, or the situation to be attended with very favourable circumstances, four or five concessions have taken place; and they are now increasing in the ratio of the population. But tracts of primeval wood are still preserved between the different concessions or grants; from which circumstance the country retains, and will long retain, a wooded wild appearance.

When you meet with rivers which run into the St. Lawrence, you see cultivation carried up their banks much further. Indeed, it is on the banks of such rivers where the best land is generally found; such as the river Ouelle, river de Sud, river Chambly, river de Loup, &c.

The river Ouelle has its source in mountains to the southward; and it falls into the St. Lawrence near one hundred miles be-low Quebec. For several miles before it

joins the great river, it runs through a level and very fertile country; and the tide flows up for a considerable way, so as to make it navigable for small vessels. This district is well cultivated, and very populous. The neighbouring parishes of Kamouraska and St. Ann's are also populous, and well cultivated.

The configuration of this part of the country is very curious. In the middle of rich plains you see a number of small hills covered with wood; they rise like so many rocks in the ocean. On approaching and 'examining them narrowly, you find that they are literally bare rocks, of primitive granite, full of fissures, in which pine trees have taken root, and grown to a considerable size so as to cover the rocks. It is probable the great river at some former period covered this part of the country, when these hills were so many islands; and that the rich soil which now surrounds them, is a deposition from its waters. The probability of this conjecture is strengthened by the circumstance, that the islands of Kamouraska, still insulated only at high wa

ter, resemble in every respect the rocky hills surrounded by the fertile fields.

The river de Sud likewise takes its rise in the mountains to the southward. It falls into the St. Lawrence at St. Thomas, after watering a beautiful and rich plain, which runs up into the country for many miles.

This river is one of those which literally falls into the river St. Lawrence. This fall is not to be compared to some of the others; but still, when the river is full, it has a fine effect, as the precipice is about twenty feet. It affords excellent situations for mills, of which the lord of the manor has availed himself.

I rode up the banks of this river for upwards of twenty miles into the parish of St. Francis, and was surprised to find so much cultivation; and that, too, in a better style than I had usually seen. Were I to choose a situation as a farmer, it would be on the banks of the river Ouelle, or de Sud. I am inclined to give these situations the preference, even to the country on the river de Loup, although it is near 200 miles further up the St. Lawrence, and

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