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No. 40.

nall's Topographi

Canada.

Page 17.

"The Eastern Range begins by an humble lowly Birth about Hopkington, Hollis- Appendix. ton, or Medford; the eastern Ridge of this keeps a Course North by Concord, and runs across the River Merrimac at Pantookaëg Falls, it begins to grow more consider- Extracts from Powable in the Province New Hampshire, and runs up into a high Ridge called Tower cal Description of Hill; it is depressed again, and again rises into rather a higher Ridge called Saddleback Mountain: It subsides, but soon again rises in what is called Packer's Hill, it then ranges along the East of Winipissiocket Pond, and at the North East Bay of that runs up into very high Mountains called Ossipee Hills; it continues then the same Northern Course, and in Latitude 44, rises into the highest Mountains of this whole castern Division called the White Hills, the Peak or Top of which being bare rocks of a White Grit and Talk, and bleeched by the eternal Beating of the weather, has a very uncommon appearance: These Hills, although more than 70 Miles within Land, are seen many Leagues off at Sea, and always appear like an exceeding bright cloud in the Horizon. A Ridge of the same range, the next to the Westward, running on the West side Winipissiocket Pond, runs up at the North West Bay into a high Mountain of red shelly Land, and is called the Red Hill or Mountain; this Range falls also in with the White Hills. A Range running hence crosses the East Boundary Line of NewHampshire in Latitude 444, and trending North East forms the height of the Land between Kenebaëg and Chaudiere Rivers: of the Nature and Course of this high Land in these Parts I am totally uninformed; and the Map in these Parts is so engraved as not to assume any great authority..

"All the Rivers in the eastern Parts of New England, arising amidst the South and South Eastern Ridges of this high Range, generally spring from Lakes, great Ponds, or boggy Swamps in the Vales: While they run or rather creep along the Course of these Vales, their Beds are broad and seem rather like a succession of Ponds than the Channels of Rivers; but as the Southern Ridges are much lower than the Northern ones, these Rivers get away South through the first Gap or Interlocking, or along the first Spur which sets off, and tumble across the several strata in broken currents over rifts and Cataracts almost to their mouths. They are from this circumstance capable of admitting Marine Navigation but a very little way within Land. It is generally stopt at about 20 or 30 Miles by Falls. The Projection of the Rivers in this Part of the Map may be depended upon, being laid down from actual surveys. Of each of these Rivers and of the Coast I shall speak separately.

"All the Rivers which arise amidst the Northern Ridges fall into St. Lawrence River, the Heads of these Two Sets of Waters interlock with each other, and in the travelling this Country in its natural Wilderness State, which is conducted by means of and along these Waters, very short Portages over Land form the communication."

"Between this high mountainous Tract and the Ocean, both in its northern and in its eastern Range, there is a Piedmont of irregularly broken hilly Land. Of that in the eastern Parts of New England, especially East of Penobsceäg, I can say nothing with accuracy, and will therefore say nothing at all. I have struck out of my Map most of the Hills which I found drawn in the Surveys whence I had the Rivers copied, as I suspected they were laid down too much ad libitum. I will not in these parts vouch for even those which remain, except within the line of my Scouting Parties from Penobscot to Kenebeäg, and on the back of the settlements of the Counties of York and Cumberland."

"The River Pasam-Aquâda, or Possam-Accâda, which runs into a Bay so called, is the supposed eastern Boundary of New England; to the East of this begins Aquâda or Nova Scotia; an incertain River St. Croix is the nominal Boundary. But as the French, according to their mode of taking possession, always fixed a cross in every

Page 20:

No. 40.

Appendix. River they came to, almost every River on this Coast of Sagadahoc has in its turn been deemed by them La Riviere de St. Croix. Under Equivocation of this general Extracts fromPow-Appellative they have amused our Negotiators on every occasion.

nall's Topographical Description of Canada.

Page 20.

Page 21.

l'age.

"The source of Pasam-Aquâda River is formed by a succession of Lakes and Swamps running East 42 Miles; it then takes the form of a River and runs East North East eight Miles and an half; then South and by East 12 Miles, then makes a Bend of about 10 Miles Course, running round by South, till it returns to the same Parallel at the distance of five miles and an half East; it turns then to the South, and here are the great Falls where Marine Navigation ends; hence it runs South East six miles, and then South and by East six more to its mouth."

"From the North East Point of Madombédeäg the Shore trends North East and by North, about 15 miles to Pasaôumkeäg (or Pumpking) Point, which forms the West Point of the Mouth of Penôbskeäg River, as Peguoit or Cape Razier does the Eastern. The River at this entrance is about point blank shot over."

"For Nine Miles above the Falls the River puts on the Appearance of a Lake Two Miles wide, lying North and South, and being full of Islands: The old Penôbsket Indian Town stood at the bottom of this, at the Head of the Falls. Here, and below on the western Banks of the River, were old worn-out clear Fields, extending four or five Miles. Six Miles higher up North, where Passadâmkeäg River comes in from the East, is Passadâm keäg Indian Town, to which scite the Penôbskeägs were removed. About Two Miles and an half above this one meets another fork of two Branches, one comes South East about 11 miles from Sebaëg Pond, the main one from the North two Miles. East North East six miles higher is Ma-âda-ôuamkeäg Indian Town, the River comes to this place South Fast about 16 Miles from some ponds whence it takes its Source."

"As the River Kennebaeg has been now rendered famous as a pass, by a March of some spirit and enterprize made by the Americans, following its course, across the land to St. Lawrence or Canada River, I shall here give a more particular and detailed description of it than I should otherwise have entered into.

"This River, in the year 1754 and 1755, was talked of as a Route by which an Army might pass, the best and shortest way to attack Canada and Quebec. The route was supposed to be by an Indian path and carrying-place, which going off from Kenebaeg about eight or ten miles above Noridgewaëg, in a North West course of six or seven Miles, came to a pond which issued into the River Chaudiere. Some such information had been given to government; it was of the utmost importance that Government should not be misled. In the year 1756, I had an opportunity of inquiring into this matter by scrutinizing a Journal given to me, and signed by Captain Hobbs and Lieutenant Kennedy, and by examining the journalists themselves as to the authority of the particulars. I found enough to be convinced that this supposed pass was mere conjecture, taken upon trust of Bartholemon an Indian, who was found to be false and a spy, and was in 1755 shot by our own people as he was attempting to desert. Government therefore was early cautioned against this misinformation. When I was Governor of the Province of Massachusetts' Bay, I had this route particularly investigated, by Ensign Howard a Country Surveyor, under the direction of Captain Nicholls who commanded at Fort Frederick. Instead of a short pass of some eight or ten miles of easy Portage, this Indian path turned out to be a route, on a line as the bird flies, of near 50 miles over land, impracticable to an Army that hath a train of Artillery and heavy baggage. It appeared however that (although a difficult and very laborious route) it was practicable to any body of Men who should go light armed, as a scouting party, either to reconnoitre or to break up settlements. The sort of march

No. 40.

which Arnold and his people experienced, has confirmed this account, given 17 or 18 Appendix. years ago. After taking possession of the Penobskaëg Country, I had all the eastern branches of this river traced to their Sources, and the Communications between them Extracts fromPowand the waters of Penobskaëg scrutinized by constant scouting parties. A general cal Description of Map which I had plotted down from these routes and journals, together with Surveys of the Rivers, is the authority to this Map in these parts.

"This River Kenebaëg to begin from its principal Branch, may be described as rising on the Height of the Land in North Latitude 45° 20', and in east Longitude, from Philadelphia, 5° 10' or thereabouts; its source is from a little pond, and the first courses of its Birth a succession of Ponds or drowned Lands, Swamps, and Falls. Its first general course is 30 miles South East, it then makes a great Bow whose string (lying East and by South and West and by North) is 12 miles. It then runs Northeasterly nine miles and an half, and then tumbling over Falls North East 10 miles, joins the North Branch. The North Branch is said (I speak not here from the same degree of authority) to arise in and issue from a little pond about 16 miles North of this Crotch, from whence (it is likewise said) there is a carrying-place of 13 or 14 miles to an eastern Branch of the Chaudiere River. This was represented to me as the shortest route to Canada, but I do not find in my journals that I have set this down as confirmed or sufficiently authenticated."

"There is a communication between Penobsceäg and Kenebek Rivers, with very short portages from Fort Pownall to Fort Hallifax, by a succession of Ponds and by Sebastoocoog River. There is a like communication of a still shorter course between the Branches of these Rivers at their Heads. There is likewise a very easy communication between the East Branches of Penobsceäg and the Sources of Passamaquada Rivers

"At the Back of York Township is a very high Peak called Agamanticoos, from hence the Ridges of the Hills of these parts range North East under various local Names.

"The Ranges in York and Cumberland Counties trend to the Northward of North East, those in the County of Lincoln, East of Kenebaëg next the Coast do so likewise, but within land they trend more and more to the East of North East. All the Heads of Kenebaëg, Penobskaëg, and Passam-aquâda River are on the Height of the Land running East North East."

"The South Mountain is not in Ridges like the Endless Mountains, but in small, 'broken, steep, stony Hills; nor does it run with so much regularity. In some places 'it gradually degenerates to nothing, not to appear again for some miles, and in others 'spreads several miles in breadth.' It runs in more regular Ridges through Virginia under the name of the Blue Ridge Pignut and South Mountain; after it has passed the Maryland, it spreads in more regular Hills, the North Ridges of which trending North for about 13 miles approach near to the Kittatinny Ridge; but resuming again the main course the Hills of this Mountain range along between Yellow Breeches and Conawegy Creeks to the River Susquehanna opposite to the mouth of Swataro creek, and continue North East, under the names of the Flying and Oley Hills, through Pennsylvania to the Delaware: Its Southern Ridge runs off East North East by Hanover to Susquehanna, where Pequa Creek falls into it, and thence to Trenton. In New Jersey, the Northern Hills narrow and rise again into the form of a Ridge, and it is called Mescapetcung; and in New York the Highlands."

"We know from observation how much higher the Atlantic Ocean is than the Pacific, and how it is piled up against the American Coast on the western shore of 'the gulf of Mexico, driven thither by the Trade Winds and attraction of the Moon ' and Sun.'

nall's Topographi

Canada.

Page 22.

Page 24.0

Page 27.

Page 30.

APPENDIX, No. XLI.

EXTRACTS

FROM

MCKENZIE'S GENERAL HISTORY OF THE FUR TRADE

FROM

Appendix.

No. 41.

Extracts from Mc

Kenzie's History

of the Fur Trade.

CANADA TO THE NORTH-WEST.

From the first volume of his Voyages through the Continent of North America, in the years 1789 and 1793.
LONDON, 1802.

"The place where the goods alone are carried, is called a Décharge, and that where 1st Extract, p. 40. goods and canoes are both transported overland, is denominated a Portage."

2d Extract, p. 28.

p. 32.

P. 35.

3d Extract, p. 42.

4th Extract, p. 43.

"It will not be superfluous in this place to explain the general mode of carrying on the fur trade.

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We shall now proceed to consider the number of men employed in the concern; viz. fifty clerks, seventy-one interpreters and clerks, one thousand one hundred and twenty canoe men, and thirty-five guides. Of these, five clerks, eighteen guides, and three hundred and fifty canoe men were employed for the summer season, in going from Montreal to the Grand Portage in canoes. The necessary number of canoes being purchased,

they are then dispatched from La Chine, eight miles from Montreal, with eight or ten men in each canoe.

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Leaving La Chine, they proceed to St. Ann's, within two miles of the Western extremity of the Island of Montreal, the lake of the two mountains being in sight, which may be termed the commencement of the Utawas River."

"From whence, including the rapids of Matawoen, where there is no carrying place, it is about thirty-six miles to the forks of the same name, in latitude 464 North, and longitude 783 West, and is at the computed distance of four hundred miles from Montreal. At this place the Petite Riviere falls into the Utawas. The Petite Riviere takes a South-West direction, is full of rapids and cataracts to its source, and is not more than fifteen leagues in length, in the course of which are the following interruptions:""

"The last in this River is the Turtle Portage, eighty-three paces, on entering the lake of that name, where indeed the River may be said to take its source. From the first vase to the great river the country has the appearance of having been overrun by fire, and consists in general of huge, rocky hills. The distance of this Portage, which is the height of land between the waters of the St. Lawrence and the Utawas, is one thousand five hundred and thirteen paces to a small canal, in a plain, that is just sufficient to carry the loaded canoe, about one mile to the next vase, which is seven hun

dred and twenty-five paces.

It would be twice this distance, but the narrow creek is Appendix.

No. 41.

Kenzie's History

dammed in the beaver fashion to float the canoes to this barrier, through which they pass, when the river is just sufficient to bear them through a swamp of two miles to Extracts from Mcthe last vase, of one thousand and twenty-four paces in length. Though the river is of the Fur Trade. increased in this part, some care is necessary to avoid rocks and stumps of trees. In 4th Extract, p. 43. bout six miles is the lake Nepisingui, which is computed to be twelve leagues long, though the route of the canoe is something more; it is about fifteen miles wide in the widest part, and bounded with rocks. Its inhabitants consist of the remainder of a numerous converted tribe called Nepisinguis of the Algonguin nation. Out of it flows the Riviere des François over rocks of a considerable height.

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"The distance to Lake Huron is estimated at twenty-five leagues, 5th Extract, p. 45. which this river enters in the latitude 45. 53 North; that is at the point of land three or four miles within the lake. There is hardly a foot of soil to be seen from one end of the French River to the other, its banks consisting of hills of entire rock. The coast of the lake is the same, but lower, backed at some distance by high lands. The course runs through numerous islands to the North of West, to the river Tessalon, computed to be about fifty leagues from the French river, and which I found to be in latitude 46. 12. 21 North, and from thence the route changes to

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From the

the south of West ten leagues to the Detour..
Detour to the Island of Michilimakinac, at the confluence of the Lakes Huron and
Michigan, in latitude 45. 54 North, is about forty miles. To keep the direct course to
Lake Superior, the north shore from the river Tessalon should be followed; crossing
to the North-West end of St. Joseph, and passing between it and the adjacent islands,
which makes a distance of fifty miles to the fall of St. Mary, at the foot of which, upon
the South shore, there is a village, formerly a place of great resort for the inhabitants
of Lake Superior, and consequently of considerable trade.

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This being therefore the depot for transports, the Montreal canoes on their arrival were forwarded over Lake Superior.

At length they all arrive at the Grand Portage, which is one hundred and sixty leagues from St. Mary's coast ways, and situated on a pleasant Bay on the North side of the lake, in latitude 48 North, and longitude 90 West from Greenwich.

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This lake may be denominated the grand reservoir of the River St. Lawrence, as no considerable rivers discharge themselves into it. The principal ones are, the St. Louis, the Nipigon, the Pic, and the Michipicoten. Indeed the extent of country from which any of them flow, or take their course in any direction, cannot admit of it, in consequence of the ridge of land that separates them from the rivers that empty themselves into Hudson's-Bay, the gulph of Mexico, and the waters that fall in Lake Michigan, which afterwards become a part of the St. Lawrence."

P. 47.

p. 49.

p. 52.

"I shall now leave these geographical notices to give some further account of the 6th Extract, p. 55. people from Montreal.-When they are arrived at the Grand Portage which is near

nine miles over, each of them has to carry eight packages of such goods and provisions as are necessary for the interior country.

The trade from the Grand Portage is in some particulars carried on in a different manner with that from Montreal. The canoes used in the latter transport, are now too large for the former, and some of about half the size are procured from the natives.

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In these canoes thus loaded, they embark at the north side of the Portage, on the river Au Tourt, which is very inconsiderable.

P. 58.

P: 59.

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Over against this is a very high, rocky ridge, on the south side, called Marten Portage, which is but twenty paces long, and separated from the

P. 62.

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