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Lorsqua la document est trop grand pour Atra raproduit an un saui clichA. il eat filmA A pertir da I'angla supAriaur gauche, de gauche A droits, et de haut en bes, en prenant la nombra d'images nAcesseira. iLas diagrammes suivsnts illustrent la mAthoda. ■ ■^ • ! D 32X 1 2 ': 3 ^ ^hU^'Tl^JafiknW^J * 4 iis.-T'i* ,' •i~. .i^^i ,»:;--:,',^- '-,v -" •(■y '^'-'j ', p; m* «iiAjM,.44Ls!aiMU I"- >.V;' 7 PACKW .t' LETTEl ILLUSTBATIVI I ' ;■" nkrtxui " - ■ ■ \ ' thb\.. \ ■ BACKWOODS OF CANADA: :^ BBura •^ LETTERS FROlt THE WIFE OF AH EMIGRANT OFFICER. ILLU8TBATIVB OF THB DOJIWrW ■OOWOllY Of BBiriBR AMEBICA. ■£' B» MBS. TRAIL. ;t.-^ ; , LONDON: - KATTAU AHD BOND, 88, BBDFOftD STRBK^, I -It ■ ! f ■■■ ■'; f ! '■r'l ^ i '^NyvBHt ollOlir ' ;*» -f- Vi X aay ' •■' ■■",,.'li I "M \, !\ hfJ^ :^- y 1 f?.:^ . LoBdoB : Printed by W. Cuiwn and Son, Steailbid-iliwt .# LKTTBR I— Dapi ■pofthaVMM _fitfM«adAa •HWMH Itluu Amb CmMndl.t SUp-lMMlllkfll Cooo Bif ; LB1TBE V.r— Join moiNntond oai ~ , MbMr^Lo^lioa ft«ttoP««arbora IVHTBE Vi;-IVtM eai».-~88oteh B BnThmiHi fhm bjrflnt8«itlm^ URTBS VI|.-.4aai > obtatetag fWWI f Hvi>.«MM.^n|| -^»a^bnraiMlCk T-W Jd Aiijte «f * «*{ <*«i r fS^w . Va^Vs- r'*«B«S.',»?f»»*SO!WJ £•"•- "* ■* •*° ^^ CONTENTS i imib i i Mr riow . '^ I'TBE I — DMHulanfriNB niMn i V i. «i^ »^ T . * * ' "***r "'-IT fnaih irLi___ — I p j ifii Miiii n OwMtMiiuBat £p VMnh-^ aidi fly OamwU.«Ml A»t£SrgS5y .Tig. ly^PftiM^ ^■^■"^^^S#-"- llMOte* :d.- \\ \ ■ n^ s! * ri A HOMO th« nui beta published^ gntion fiar theii (hat give infonni ofa settler's life, fill g^de to th( whole comfort < nhowdepartinefl Dr. Dunlomi spirited pamidUei not enter into ( einployment, in woman's pen aloi to be told oT the is the baolcwood female emigrant trials and arduou '*Eorewanied, ^lers, ooa4ainiii ^ following its psges has endemri MtioB to d^-wi! the higher dasi •Bid our Canad iilintion^ly he r ri ^,i 'iS *. • , . INTRODUCTION. Ahono the numerous worki on Canada that haw been publi«b«i^ith|,i the last ito ye«r8,with emj. jratioii for their leading theme, J^«* are few.if a«Y, ^ give infomatk« regarding tidbmeetic ei^ rf a setUer s hfe, euffidenUy n^ut^ to proveTSS. fid gmde to the person on wfaoee MsnoiiaibiKty the whole comfort of a family dependt^he misLse. Hhose department it is "to haud the houaainorder^ Dr. Dunlgp, it is true, has published a witty and qinriled pamphlet, "The Badcwwodsman," hiit itdoes not enter into the routine of feminine di^tes and employment, in a state of emigration. Indeed, a womanVpen alone can describe hatf that is wmiisite Ui the backwoods, in order ij&hte the oote^ remafe emigrant to form a |^r judgment of Z trials and arduous duUes she has to enodunter. ."Forewarned, forearmed," b a maxim of oiir fnre iMhers, containing much matter in its pithy bi«vitv • Had, ibUowing ite spirit, the writer of the foUowing m^ has ttdeuvoured to aflbrd ev«ry possible infoi- mtion to thb^vea and daughters of emigrants of tt»e higher clasi who contemphte i^iog » homa •Bid our Onadian wiWs. 'Ruth^ been con- Wyntiou^y her iii»<^ JftJhfej rork^^for it w er e » tar««ld l»« "S? ttV- "-fiJ •• ttot d- ^ whom H fc •♦•eWy intorfed. For thwe wh(^ !Srt i^lK^ dare in the privrtiooe end ^try. it to hoped ttat thi. Utth ""l /?« "^^ Zr^«».«»«ri«a ta«*«« »»» town. «o« .' # (^ \^ < ,.<■> ■• .... 0... ..iV-vlAkf ■■ .-^ p^^-; :\v-.\f^-^ ' '^^y«%H^^f?^,-'?^'H '•• Mwr"« • ;!>) ^ • tnc BACKWOODS OF CANADA. .- ■ »:' Lbttie I; OaTmmU- ■ ' * ■ - -- -rt v« . «4y • fcir hflom l>efo^ ip^ ^^ fo^ OweBock. the time of our gnbtriartfem. and urite ««.imJ ^ n ^ ii,p ■"»• ^j^ggfs of Groeiioeks aai ftvonnUe iHiidi I «tntM||it«i| adviuitige, far wlak we low inaaiiiit* ment«id^|Wfi,^w«aM^gianinc«iilbft. The «*'» « ««# «^ up. mud I «^oy t|i« luwry (for ■H(^ it l» qoaiiiMagd njth ihi ««-«■> k^^k, ^j fa g - "^ .. ■ ■- - . - . -. 11 .. . p-»-^— .-..— .^ Tnnr T^iJWlwb^.lt liJ^iliniBi|Afli,' wtb crimson dfl|| f '" j^''niow8, or flit about ouar^yessel ; and often I wonder wbenoe they cami^ to what distant show they are bound, and if they make the rode wave their home and resting-place during the Jong day and dark n%fat ^ and then [ recall tb^mind the woids Of the American poet, Bryanty— / ' t ' , . - "Hewhofrom Koaetoxone Chtide* thiQDgh the bouadlcH air their certain flight. In the long way that I mukt tread alone Will guide tny «^p« aright" Thoqgb we have been Httle mora ihanaweekon board, tarn getting weary of the iK^rage^ Icanoiily compare t^ monotony of it to being weather-bqand m some Country inn. I have already made myself , acqnftiniyd with all the books worth reading in the ship's ttbrary; onibrtunately, it is chiefly made op ^ with old noveb and nnisty VDmance^. MThen the weaUier is flne I iit on a bench on the ' deck, wrapped ip my ckiak, and sew, or pace the deck with my fauBband, and tadc over pluis for the future, which in all probability will never be realized. I .really do pity men who are not actively empbyed: women bave always their needle as a rasonroe igainal the overv^hning weariness of an idle Ufe; but where a man is confined to a small space, sudi as the deek and cabin of a trading vessel, with nothing to see»'^ nothing to hear^ nothin|f to do, and nothing to raH^ ' he is r^ a very piti^ creature. Th^ is one passehger on bo ard that seemi |fe^^ ^hiTO» irowpay ^vOge frmVmW&inm of the songs with wJUch he greets us whenever w«'' ^- -.-.> . - ,-^ >S -.--..- M-^'!^. A y ^ '?'^*-::,m\ 10 - m ,iv^$tV « - A «4CKWQ0OSiOV ^NAD^. \ goldfinch—" the cnyyiatiiy maUt" •^^ '"^^^'^ *^™> hioDu This pntti; craatm« faM made no fewer than lli^tOTagw toslbii'^^ rUJaanonetohim ^rhetber his cage la el sea or on land, he is still at home," said the ca|i«aiii, regarding his little finourite with an air of great affection, and eirii^tty gratified by the attention 1 bestowed on his bird. I have already formed a flieodship with th^ little eaptife. He never fiub to gree^ my afipioadkwith .one of bis sweetest sol^^ and will take ftom my ^Sng#B a bit of bis^iit, it^ he holds in hisctaws till he has thanked me with a ftvr of hiadeaiest notes. This maik df aduiowle4giMiit J» tenasisil by the steward, ** saying grace.^;^^ . j^ If the wind stiU continnss to fimMur OS, tibe captain telb OS we shall be en the hanks of Newfoundland hi another we^ fWewell for the present. X / %j. . !«t ".'_ / ARBIVAi. Otr NKWroUnDLAND. 1 I f, "^^ 't-^'i- '■■; ''^■-■" - LBTTBRlIi V- ^ dbcomjr rf Laad-Chiir or St LMuwM^-8o«i«y of tiw BiT«r 81 «r Onn blttd.~GiM laW^-^oMiiilMlUvdalloMr-tofaniite o« ■■'•'*■'' ^^">---' •' ' ■ BH|£««fc-Ilh*8tUw«ikv I Lwrt off writinf , my dew OMllier, Aom tfui tiiuple *I had nothing to Mqr. Om dqr was hat the it were, of the OM that preceded it; so that a |iagelM)|Med from the maleb k|f wonU have proved ip amuaiBg, and to Um fiiU aa inMmetive, aa my joamal, provided I had hapl one daring the bst Sq haii|i$'of ««iQiiiB hie that time heea that the iightlar Ai^foity^ hottte-noied vf halea* two or three M]% aodaporpoite, poarihiyoajfheirway toadin ner or tea party at the North Faiti «pi oonaidared an oocttRtiite of gieat importaiioe< Every glass ink in reqaiaitimi aa aqoii « thaymada tfaMrappiintea. and the manMMi^§ii0iHmm^mm%mA ^ig^ stared oat ol V Ip^-^^ '*v land on the Sth of Augort, MS^iMiBthfiom tht day we tookeor hat look of thpfittirii ialia^ Tet though the coMtwaa hRMt and nigged. Mid dtaolate, I hailed ita appaaw mee vrHh r apture. ~ thing aeeat«ififiiBhinjg and delidous to me as Iha '"» lanfumfKUfmi^' It BACKWOODS or 0Al|4l»4« hsilth and ghdneas on its wings. l^Bnd liotioed wiUi some curiosity the rsstless activity of the (^ptaui's bird some hoon prarious to *^ bod** being proclaimed fiom the look-oat station. £[e sang amtinnally, end his note was longer, cltarer, and iboie thrilling than huetofore; the litde ereatue, the captain iHKUCfd me, was conscious €f the difference in the air fiwi approached the hn^. xitmstafanst as much to ny biid asio tf^ glas%'* he said, **aBd have never yet been deceii^.1 . Our progreM was somewhrt )(mHoiis after #1 entered thegnlf. Nini^miksacitoM it the entrance of this Buyestic river ; it seems an ocean mjjtmlf.. Half our tiieis spent poriiag over the greirt^*a»tin the cabin, ^^lich is constantly being rolkd^d unrolled by my hnsband to gratii^ my desixe of learning the names of the distant shores and islands which we peas. We aie vrithout a pilot as yet» and the captain being a cautious seaman is unwilUng to risk the vessel on this dangerous navigation ; so that we pro- ceed but slowly on our voyage. ^* ^ *4^;;.•^ Juguaii.^Yft wero visited this morning by a beautiful little biid, not much bxger than our gold- ciesledwren. Ihaileditasabirdof good omen— a little messenger sent to bid us welcome to the New World, and I felt ahnoet a childish joy at the s^t of our tittle viaUH^. There are happynioments in our lives when we dram tfaa greatest pleaaure from the ■aost trifling sources, as children are pleased with the - m oat s imple to y . , " From the hour we entered the gulf a perceptible .'^4 "^f^ , OOtr op 8T. LADBKNCI. ' jj J^ of g»w, quirt Bittiiien, grew ^q^ USkatiye, "L^TtIl ^^ "«»• **» "wally toima&d, uid •»«• thoiightliii young Scotchman became pod- uw«y an enter^ning penon. The crew displayed th* most lively seal in the peHbrmance of their doty •nd the goMflnch mng cheerily ftom dawn tiU sun- !!!" i^ ^i~ ^'^^ '^ ^^ ^** "y '"••rt, charing tnm it all feetinga of doubt or regie^that migS "dden the present or ckmd the fhtore. I am now able to trace disUnctly the outline of tha toast TO the souO^rn aide of the riyer. SomeUmea the high lands are suddenly enveloped in dense dooda of mkt, which are in constant motion, rolUnff alomr in shadowy biUows. now tinted with rosy light. n«5 white and fleeoy, or bright as siher, as th^ catch the sunbttuns. So rapid are the dnrnges that take place m this fog-bwik, thrt perhapa the next time I miae iny eyesi behoM the sc^ne changed as if by made TTie mi^ curtain is slowly drawn up. as if by invlsiJ We Imnds, and tlMj wild, wooded mountains pirtiallf ' mveafcd. with their bold K«ky show, and J^^ 1»J8. At Other times the vapoury vohime divldimr. -Jjves^ the vallU and deep rnvines. like Io% f^^^"*^ or hWs in snowy dnfeamMmoii .the duHc^forest pittefcA- ■ ■.->..,.* ..„.'.vi.^^,^.^au,^ ^.i^s^ iTLTT*** ®* *** pleasant time I sp^nt In Ow ffirl***f?** <*»d-«Wed hins of the north. Asfre^thedrisyM, «id v ro wqierience fiigaent - ^ \ '^ iSiair^ ■ \ ■5? |Hv.'-'' ' ^m If'-"'' '\ I' 4' '% .' \ 14 ,»ACK WOODS or CANADA. tSie air is iVkd with fragnuice, and fliea, and bees, 1^ iMidB oqme flitting past us from the shore. V Jtugnti 8.?— Ihough I cannot hut dwell with feel- j^ if wonder and admiration on the majesty and power of this mighty river, I hcsgin to grow weary o( its immensity, and long for a newer view of tbe ^bate ; but at presentwe Sfse nothing more than long lines of pine-dad hills, with here and there a white * ipMJi, i^h tbey.tell me are settlements attd villages to the sooth; while huge nwuntains divested of ver- dure bound our view on the north side the river. My admiration of mountfunous scenery makes ine dwell with more interest on this side the river, and I watch the progress of cultivation among these nigged and inhospitable regions with positive pleasure. During the lest two days we have been anxiously loolung out for a pilot to take us up to Quebec. Various signals hsve been fired, but hitherto without flucceSB ; no pikii has condescended to visit us, so we are somewhat in the condition of a stage without si coaffhiPf*'^', wMh onfy some in«q^erienced hand to fitold the reins. \ I already pexoeive some manifesta- tions tit impatience ap p ea rin g among ua, but no one Uamef the captain, who is very anxioas about the matter; as the river is. iuUof rodu and idio^K and presents many difficulties ta a person not intimately aQi|nainted with the navigifetion. Besides, he is an- mierabte for the safety of .the ship to the underwriters, In case he neglects to take a pilot on board. 7:^ ; ^Hfhile writing the above Ji^ fonsed by sJwirtle "W?ei^7>^ f(oing up to learil the c^ine wp infinrmc?^ ■ „ W«i/^£^iUi:;'ii, -, it, '};Mi-'lf'0i^SMl^^^^ •CENiaif or TB, i|v„. y Jbat a boat with th« loritf looked^ niio* k J rf>aU find apples and fhut in ptenS *• ^»«» «d«i begins to«lZ..l^ «««tiyo.^ the skws wd ac^tteied •Ion* tlTiS!^ t ■ \ ^ ■ ~ \-^ ■it% 1§ . V BACKWOODS Of CAW ABA, ^ mmeB of foUage as i^ wari^ to snd fko with tHe dight breew that agitated them. ^I>d '-'""fj^ X, t)e thankftd that I had not folknwd my owh W^ ..,»rd wilU for the afteraoott i*oTed ft«gy. and oj the Jetoii rf the boat I ksroed thai the gioaiidw-. nwampyjust irtiere the party landed, wd ^«m^ om Seir ankles in water. They itiprtedthej^ to lie corned ktoee^teep with a most tanmant growth «f wd ctovi^. tall tiedH tow shmhs, and an ehandance *:^r might A«g*«t not a«!Compaiiyliig Mm, he had sckcted for me. Among fl»e floweis were fi^t md nK«. ^semhHng those we call Scotch Wt-leaved, with smooth shining le^ and few if , wy thomsf the htae flower caBsd Wmonana or li^gwort. which I gathewd In Ihe Hi^^^'^ JTpea, with «»^^^**«°ir*,r^i\^Wh^^ pal. «Mn foUage ; *white orchis, the ameU of which Jrj;,JntSdelicioas, Besides these ^^^^ small white add ydtoiiflowef^ with "^^^^MS^^ . unacquaiiHed. Ihe steward ""ojWP^P?*** * china jar and fiesh Water, sp thaTI shall have the pleasure of a nosegay during the rest of the voyage. The SBih» had not foigotten a green bough or two adorn the ship, and the bird-cage wSi soon a» #s,y pi kMwes could make 11.^- " ^■"":;;'.^":' •■■;^::. TV^flyi mtiUher i» now very fine, we make but ■' alow p^ws; the protoklngwind seems determined —igrblo w irom eve r y quart e r but the ii ^t>^iye float up vHth the flood tide, and when the tide fails cast ^^i^i'-i^i^v«^ ■'l iiikM ^ ^»J C 1.11 « ~^^ , r^ ■".» f. '* *^V ^B:; OMEN IttAND. 17 w^i^ 1^^ *«*.g«Ci li* CM «U ft I. «W«n • gim, or witdiiur for Om minmm^^^r .u white DonmiflM t.,«.7i: ^ "PP^tmnce of the ^"fr «nr much Uk,4toUd, IteJ, j; ~ 2^ » h ftjtaMIe for mi (kit my tow rf ^„^ U^ "« uwy prasent u, InnhMMiW. fiud of Intm^ -^ ,.' , 1 ""^inj. jnr is the eve cftn maek — "w-n immm thr «m.. fcuf •lit«,«Bd*«^ "->. t 11 [i;MA?SI . ^• -4^ Fir V' 1" I . ' 1 \ >■ * \ g|^'"'i,V'f-'^t-'*^'' '' -'"■'' lb ./ ■AWWOOD8 OF CANADA. JL^y hue. tbe ftont of tli« giiy edifice being gw^ iwJdwith.g«i«hg«eeB 8l^^ wiOi oBtontotlaw sptendoiMr ilraive ito #*» fn* the commerce of ■emal nationji m lU foi#;«,und are the populous Wd hTelyjetttemenT^ tS southern sho^^wh^ bchmd and far W aboFe it rise the lofty^™ in^untains to th^ north, now studded wir^J "Ua»P% ptoMant i^Qs, and cultivated delds. The irfand Itself shWoduawnooth kwns and meadow, of emenJd Tf#re, with orchards and cornfield, •loping down toihe water's edge. After a confine- ment of nearly. Ave weeks on board, you may easily nZ^!f* T* ^*^~^'"^ we contemplaid Z pi^ of spending a few hours on this inviting spot. xl^^^^^"^^ quarantine ground (Sos JjOOus evemng, wliece the pitot says we shrf^ *»«ned three days. Though we are all in Kood iTiy^^' ^^'"^ "^^^ ^^^ ^ infected porLwe j«»r^ir*« •«& them ^ beading II doft!^ which « dl V^ ««»j» '^•^*° ^^^« of taking ft. InJfeetlon fi»n.th..n«hds. -a^Aed. Midboilding.pot »pf«t«he«commod«UM rf ««« who «. «Wig«l to «bmit to fte qnmntm. Ia«, M« in the «»ne area M the hoyitol. . Nothing can exceed the longing de«i» I fee. tr h Mt b t. ta i»p- thi* «-. -V -!«.'» «^»»o;;z «— «i «f iiAAtih wuh to •n»tftom tl» colony « »Mge« S^,^ r—yrth- »»•**., «5«««^»»*»^ ' •"yy*** .?^ ^!!^! Inland I ■UPPO »f the mU ;;;,;i,;zr» mil. huitM t« th. «w«a» » p""'*' KMIORANT TE8BBLS. 2I allowBdtolandjuideipIorethiapicturtBque island; the weather IS 8oaiie.and«he waving groves of green, the little rocky bays and inlets of the island, appear so tempting; bat toaUmyentreatiestlwvisiUng suw>n who cane on boaid letumad a decided negative A few hours after his visit, however, an Ii^an basket, containing strawbenries and raspberries, with a laige bunch of wild flowers, was sent on board for me, with the soigeon's compliments. J Tf^/^H^'rf* "«««« Uttle sketdMs of the fort and^the snmmnding sceneiy, or watchinir the groupsd'ei^tsonshoie. We have alrea^seen Aelanding of the passengers of three emigrant ships. You may imagine younelf kwking on a ftir w crowded market, cbthes waving in the wind or spread out on (he earth, chesty, bundkjs, baakeie. men women, and children, asleep or basking in the sun' some in motion busied with their goods, the women employed in washing or cooking in the onenliir be«de the wood fires on the beach; white Srtiei of children are pursuing each other in wanton gfee lejoiang in their newiy-acquired Uberty. Mked inth these you see the stately form end gay tiappimt. ofthe sentinels, idiite the thin bhie smoke rf tS liWd fiie^ rising above the trees, heightens the ptoe and j^ H an addittenal eflfect On my hisbandremaiking the picturesque iqipearance of the scene before us to one of the officen fiom the fint ^L^d**" '^J** '"W -^ily, and re. 77? '^•^ **"* •nchantment tp the vie^» ^ you take a nearer survey of some of those veiy picturesque gnmps which you a4inire, I think yoi i ji '4 ■:y ms^ WmmmsmmmvF m 1^ i^J^II^'J.t 1' .••^ J* I t. . -a BACKWOODS OF CANADA. „„„,d turn a»»y'from them withte«t «^^'^ «„uld there behold every Wiety cf dteo«, ™e. Tvertv filth, and fe«ine-liiun«. »«ry m its mort dSnTand »add«»n« fo™. S«ch pict»» ~ tl^S pencil only conld h.« p<»rtray««. o, Crabbe's pen described. ^,/*««a4.-We are once tnbre ^^^ 8^* ^nj fl^ti^np Ac Yirer with the tide. Gros We is just ITZZenty miles below Quebec, a favo^bje breeze would carry «s up in a fe^"?^ »* »/^ can only ipake a little way by tacWng from s de to ^^eloeethetide. Ir^ifl^^ of proofing. aB it give. «« a elowviewc^ 8id^ the river, which n«rioWB considerably as we approadi nearer towards Quebec. To-morrow if no Sdetit happens, we shan>e«jrfu«^ place rendered inteiesting bqth^ by its historical ^iationslanditB own nWive beauty of situation. Till to^norrow, then, adieu. ' -», . Iw«i ted»ning much of seeing the Mb «f Mont- morenei which .re Wtthln sight of the nver; W rr .^ »d U» -«. n»e «««.*!, be or. w. ^^..eheJwithto «»nd «f the Cmct ; »"f^*»"f l^ned m, eyai tiU they «« «ary ^ P»'^ °; the dim staAmy scene nroond me, I «fi disUn ^h nothing beyond the dark masaaiof rock that ^ C^«d through WW* the waters of .h. ' MonunorendruAtotoflBiStlianreace. Attentat night. Angost to IMh. *• ^^"' ftecMjof »»t<«« were seen g lesming ^^ ^ ™ - mHA- Cll!B-IlI ^UTt W3«i^re«y »~ ~— p — — t^ j- distance Uke a coronet rf sta^bove t^ewatew. half-past ten we dropiied anShor opposite the fort, and I fell asleep dreaming of the various ^em ^ JS^!. ' i Si .,'s|^*'i0 5 - ' tt^ k-' ■^ ^ ■^. ■> -l- ■» tbroaghwli viobt dis^ and me by i still raged ii gave a melai Jatioiiandwt for her child n»yw»llbei Nothing o of Quebe^b nifioent lodc, Diamood) sti iuid oonunan< ing scenes. I prospecti the I >^- It wouk on and recaU solitude of die The 0|^Mil( "ft Mg% pic the rock on i iWcliy, precipitt ^^ to t||» 1 I Away tq hanging c is done wit effiKtedifg iQ(RB» and on ItNfy mmld m eio^ng W .^M"-'. .',' .^. i •%?s ,J"l;''>7j'^i aojtBic. [f^v ^' <»nw(>> which I had pMMd A»i. r •«" n«~I in U» tow. nSt^lrJ?" '^' NoUUngcaohen»J^ "^^"f ""l-rtilenc nificent md^ on thThSfc!!. ."°°" of . mag. **• « wouM have liMt. -«». *i..*^ """* never "»e rock on wWdTS fa^nf^^ w>po«iig than «> «ny togiT. phM to white cottomiL Zrf. "v, «d on*Sll2r.?r^ '»!!»'»**«- i^i >.w/* -S.-^,' 2« f'Y^z^ffi'f/-f .f.7 BACKWOODS OF CANADA. t^ to mean as ^^^n^^^tty villa* and boose. ^ taken oil »«*rfi "^.rta Stttonv »«""<>«* 1 am told there w a muu ^ tookiwr towards ^WoHe, in the S-^-^f^l^J^ the St Laurence, ^^^^^jS^^iSiipw^- *^' ^ ^ ^ \ . «W1A '4to •»*« «*«"^ ^"*^ Tlie captain has juBtreturaedlfiomlhe town H« W Jairfly bm^t on bo«d a iSet of ripeapplea •ndmilk. •n^deckiaanbusOewith^JL-W ^io«^ Md in«n unloading a part of^ rfjip'g wd PJ^fijMart. We Bstto leave Qnel^ Wdock t^eTening. The BrUiA AfnerU:a^ •ppa* Mm^v^l of three dedw, takes us in W • as far as lloitai <| n — ' - '^- must now say farewell or fiHdiair^ ftM ottttot bat prava grali. I Frnidi, wlOki It nb» tba Bkitiah wairior tt«]iiiIi|U.Hi] lying to ilit( ffnoMoflHigkrjrV m ««um^*^ «ejl«^ »7th Regiment To the top of the miitmie u louiieen feet from the gfouDd r on tWi iwte a svrcophagu.,, ^.n feet thr«e inefate ^t' t" L^.^"*** ^ "^^-k frr^-ti* fcrt eight incC m hMght^Md the ^«i,tw feat «.. inch. mSLriwI, •^.h. oWkk at thallNMa «a .la i«t byihmfeet ei^HST 4 pn,. «hW wa. adjudg^l to J.C.RAer, LL-aforthTw. tewmg jngf^;ij|^tojB.«<» ,.-., -i". ...-;■ . Jifrt*""!'*** ooBiaiuMaB, ■ " '^■^: ■*:'*;; -gtoumH htei> ■ *^ :: _,::.■ . ■ ■ ■ ;iiv>;v., .*■...-• .■;■»*"»• ^On thriuih^e ia «. iamiptioa ftom the pea of DM^JU,. •Uhng the fact of the waetioa of tho moauineBt at thr«! peow of Wd Dalhoiitie, Ooremor of Lower Canwla, to eom. aMmorate the dMth of Wolf^ aai UOatcabi. fcoLia ^JiT % the swgl. gun la the powirioa of th. IngUah, dSod OB thB •Mt d»7 alter dM battle, . — • -» — wiwo V"' ■gBwavirw- I,' rJ^^f^' ^ BACKWOO0S OF CANADAL ~\ r lettke hi. / W It was after ianaet. and a glorious evening, when we left Quebec which we did in ^^P^y J»^ * fine 8team-ve«el, who«i ^,"lf?":^^^*" crowded with posBenger. oC^ ;^P«on.. A Lve sight 8he%^ look updn^, plo-khing Uie bright waters which foamed and ^ "^^^J"^' nJwks; while our brig. withherwhite8ail8.follpwed UkTa butterfly in her wake. The heavens were gk>wing wi^ the richest tints of rose and saffron, Which were reflected befciw on the bosom of thje river; and then came forth the stars, in the soft blue ether, more brilliant than ever I saw them at hone* and this, I suppose. I may attribute to the superior purity of the atmosphere. My husband said this evening rescmb!ed the sunsets of Italy. Our voyage has proved a very irfcasant one; the weather moderately warm, and the air quite clear. lire have within the last few days emerged from a «old, damp atmosphere, such as we oftw expenence in Britain in the spring, to a delightful summer, mod^ated by light breestes from the river. The farth er we advancejjp the country the more "Twtile it appean.. T^#-TI8rvwtTS Tipenhig unOw^*^ more genial ^limate than that bekiw Quebec. We I. «% ripe they tdl « I, hl^IiSr Jr^ J^'" Laurence, fonnerly called SokI nZ TL^^« w:ii:.». rr iL^^^^ oorei, mm Galled Port Wiiaam Heniy. The rturtioi, i. ^sdha- »C™* town MODS VMyligh»iurf^,„rf. '" "" ai bMib of ihe nrcr. It wm not th. mdenZ Ptot . ftw loee. or honejwAlee about todeor «h»CM«n e»t.«ri lh«» i, the litt fe hit jl^ ,.'f ; j^l Ji*M\ I >y ««pt; bm here no such attempt SO "H- .^isiwOOdt Of CA»Al»A. xunuu fanM and ftame-houaes cuttivation appeart. The taww aa «« realiv handwme placps, an^ in good ^*J^ TJ^rf t^ here and thioe to break tte mono- *" ^^f ir^i^ The land is nearly one «n- «,ny of the «f!""f vT^ f^^^ and well formed, broken level plain. -^^^ **™* ^^^^^ ,„tween but too flat fiwr fine acenery. nie ^^V \^ k«v ^e^ Md Montreal baa aU the appearance of hav- Qucbec and mo ^^^ cultivation, especially '"^t^l^ bU^ U^. SOU there iaare^ the captain toldTne it ™ 7~^,^ ._ fla*. !!; *>.^t«> stuck to these island partares m nai convey their stocK w ww^ r- phce was bottomed boats, or to swun «»«'»J' » *™ J -j fordable. and kave them to graze as long as ^ to^ «^S^^ i«^^!8^JEaton an isl«id with. te^^adetomUkthem. White bewa. Um^ tin pails, paddled across ftom the J»nk of ^,C ^rSoS to caa togeth« their herd . . .ji.«..II0AC|| to MC '.'.«■. MONTBIAL. and coaU not, or woold not, tell their names. It „« Sunday morning, and we could Joat hear the quick tinUinir of tiie dni^ faelK and dMnguiah kmg lines <|f cal^hes, light waggons, with eqoestriani and pedestrians hastening atong th« Ateirae of tnea that led to the churchyard; heddes these, were boats and canoes crossing the riw, bo)m4 to the same peaoefiil haven. ■ •/ ■ ■ , In a part of the St Lamenoe, when th^ dian* nel Is rendered difficult by slboab and sand-banks, there occur little lighthouses, fedking somewhat like mioiatnre watermills, on wooden posts, mised abo?e the flilt banks on whfeh they are built These droU /little huts were inhabited, and we noticed a merry / party, in their holiday ctothes, ei^wing a gossip with a party In a canoe bekiw than, ibey kwked clean and smarts and cheerftd enoi|gh, but I did not envy them their situation, wfakh t shouU think far fiom healthy. v Some niiles beknr Mbntreallthe appemaoe of the eountiy beibsme richer, mora citili«ed, and popukos ; while the distant line of bfaie maintains, at the veive of the horixon, added an InteriM to the laiklsci^e. The rich tint of ripened harvesJt\ formed a beautiful contrast witii the azure sky amf} waten of the St Laurence. The scenery of tiie riW near Montrad & of a very different character to thk betow Quebec • the latter possesses a wild and ringed aspect, and its productions are evidently ttioee of aWuer and less happy cKmate, What the former losL in grandeur md picturescp ie e&ct, it gaip%jft.toi% of soU^ *wiirth of temperatuK. In the kiwer#rision of titt ll /^^ ■ *t. ^»r^ land se^ms wilUng tp yfeW b«r inciei«e thecunorywrniAai^ oar minds that ^ ^wuM haidly «^J^l«ff J*» "^^ Xra.wedi«wnearto1feeke OB the subject W»«hi jrtuU nn- S^ ddi^t and admiration al any othei time should m ^^ gawd Oft i^^ 8«*iie that opened "driver here expands into afine e^t^T^* ^»' |Sm with irfnnda, on the laiKcst of whMli ^^^ ■ tigal i* aJtaated*-. .yi ■■■'■■.•,•,■■.-, j ■■'-;■■' ■ ■, ^ llift Wto hai from ii^ ^ town takes its name ri^Slike a crown above it. and fimns a sin^ ndnwmifksent feature in the landaca^ leminding ^S^JUof l^.^iMi^i^W^ ^ 'i*^'^^^ Op^ to tha Quebec Bubwrta, joi* J»V?f^* ^ .pot of infinite lov^Unei^ Hl^ggl^*^ f ^^ by a glow of loftytii*!, fAlli ««• banks, diL down to the water, seem of tbe moi* teidant iBirTha icene was heighiened by tba aiflpewmoe of the troops which garrison the island. n ^ , Tha shores of the river, studded with fidilycul- li va t ad ft rms; tha v illi gt of ik ^ ^^^^ ^J!* ii^ i&laad of St Ann's in thTBistance; the giifc- "^ CK^^';"#^ ,iy /■; /^rlDt AlLdW MONTRBAL. S3 terinif ateepie9 and roofs of the city, with its gankiM and viQas,— looked lovely by the softened gbw of a Canadian summer sonaet - ; Hie dnuch bells ringing for evening pmyer, with the hum of voices fiom the shore, mingled not in- hsnnoniflasly with the rush of the n^ds. These rsj^ds are caused by a descent in the bed of the nver. In some phoes this declination is gm- dual, in others sudden and abrupt Where the cur- rent is broken by masses of limestone or granitt rock, as at the Cascades, the Cedara, and the Long Sittlt, ft creates whirlpools and cataracts. But the rapids bebw Montreal are not of this magnificent character, behag made peroepUble only by the unusual iwiflaess of the water, and its surface being disturbed by foam, and waving lines and dimples. la short, I was dis^^hited in my eipectation of seeing some- jWngyeiyJftand; •ndiiashalfangiy m these pret^ behaved quiet lapids, to the fiioC of whieh we wen towed in goo4 ^fi» j^ jgr J4|^ oonsort the^ri; mnAmmea, hA the captain is nneertain how hny he may be dKsined at Montreal, I shaU send this letter witlMNi fcrther dslay. and write i|;aiii aa soon m pumibiv. h-i: -*.:.>.- . -, it-i u.t-t. ■ ti. '5^*i^ >%. ■ir-i> BACtWOODS OF CANAOA. ^ /■■I ^ ■ jUma IV.-: ■-.-■- *:-— , J.. -»it«iit«J^-AM)««i«~me vapour "isii* from » deeP^ '^ Ihalnm along tiie stieet behmd the i|^. ™ ^BB B iBemea tap "~— "— «~- 80BM •Eceltent whwfchftM tiaea b tea eowpWed. --Jsu^U-, k,«i >< jH^1^«,'Ui / APPEARA»CB OF MONTRBAL. 95 •nd Boflicient in iUielf to iufect a whole town witk malignant fevera*. "" 1 IW8 gieatly disappointed in my fint acquaintance wfth the interior of Montreal ; a phce of which trtivelleri had Bald so much. I coujd compare it only Ji the ftmts of the Dead sea. which are said to be fair and tempting to look upon, but yield only ashes and bitterness when tasted by the thinty traveller f I noticed one pecuUar feature in the huildinM along the suburb facing the river— that they were mosUy furnished with broad wooden balcouiM from A mwk«C has iMea * tilt iiiB lioec Um aiehi^ over, elected sbofe il^ - ♦ .""I* ^^V.y ^^^f^^ -f Mo«ti»al i. gi,«, by M'Gie. •Dooatain sad «»."^«r, « a tidge of gentle eWatton, ^,U J"! *"^?J^ *^*'« «*« «>«»»««» -Jl that grwSlwt Imuty which characterixM Quebec. 2««f Witt ^o«»y4dold«g hou-ee, having dark i«, A^^ , •Dd dttu«gh iiiaay be a littl. d^, ,S q^^ J^ ^Su iJ*^ *S^!^ "• J?ten~pted by luting. cflhtt-dooJaaS « It i. Imjjieftli^ilV ir^lfe,!, in hi. FiT. Y«tf^ r^. ««u») to waft the ilh*!. of llonfnwl ott a 8u«d» « houZt ^e •bdew^.bittm ai>d enter doo« of iron, th^tlSrK * %t«dtocounteitdthedR»rt.offiit ' ^^fP'^ ^^tl IgkCft^OO^ 0* <^*^**^' Oie lower to the upper ^J*^^^ ^^^ seemed to «««« R sort of outer chamber, oome ui «» |5OTn a Bon oi i_, fli-bts of broad stairs from conies were ascended ^M^^ M«n MM «m^ too*|W««t and too p«ii<»l *** ^*^?^ ^I iw flcen in the darkened «« ax hmm oi^rirWHXt. ^^^ ;_ To no *-, I »ni ««.•>"»****" '^T J vV |l\».'<-5 "f." '•/ ' V ■'i'*" r '^ CHOLBRA. ^^ **«,%fiKv'JV ^^s>'^';# "f- ^T-nv /*^'f- F^-*-" -rii' Tf^Hi'y" CATBOLIO CATJUM^L. •• I thougW AJ imitation of itaarble,f,itb whicli the p•^ twne-banomngnwBowiieai that age bM beltowed mi ovandent chorcheB and caOeMa. The grim cot^ teta ahd winged ongeb diat am tane^ oil the ^ ■tone, whoee veiy unoouthneas teHs Sir time gon3 by '^^ ''SiS'*^ ^»wwhipped within their waUi man iMiUopal interest to the temples of car fore- »flien.»itK though Ihe new chnroh at Montreal e»niit oomjMtte inth ou^ YotK Minster, W^etmiaster Abbey, aiid othere of ow iiacred bnildingg, it is weD worthy the att^tion oftratellers, who wiH meet with nothing e^ to R in the Canada*. ■^'^'^^ ***««* "^ nunneries, a hoe- ^fiU for the sicki several Catholic and IVoteslant Aiirches, meeting-houses, a guaMHioAs^ wRfa hmuiv odM^pubMcediiMj, __:^^ Ibe rive^side porddn «# the to#tf ^ «ntile. It8naiTOw,dirty8treets and dark houses, with .tawyiron Antteri, hinre a dftigreeaWe appearance. irtiiA ^jimotbttt wglrim laiiiifbbrable impression 00 tiienUnd of a British traveller. Ifceother^wrtion rfthe town, hftirever, is of a diflferent charwter. and tl» housw are interspeit^ iHth gaidens rt^^ Jto, whU^ looked veiy agreeabte ftwi the windowa of the ballroom of the If elson Hotel. IWs room , wWch 18 painted from ibp to bottom, ^ waBa and' ^ing, with a coane imitiilion of grtNillid Caa»^ Jtt Bceiieiy, eomn^^i aimefb>iew of the d^ ^ (1h river/aad all Um^iiuJtir. ^ ^^Tt?' _ i MH NBIJU^ ivmntfj^ iiliilsntiliamiiriiia of ChamWay, the shores of' St UMence, towards La Pnirie, andnhe mpida aboro 2 / /:... ll /\ for Wrdaoa our table 18 com) to fsntertain the p^ng to fore lohemes into e( 1^ 0ACEWOOD8 Of 0AM40A. and bekm the island of St Anm^^Thefoya, monnUin (Mont Real), with ite winded ^d^jU iT^Mii and its city with its streets and public yon thTeye may w^n b? charmed with the scenery house s«% wry civil, and the comlpw »** ^f ^^ on^doBerpto%««**>X th«> wicty of thaiicle«B of whic. So^ of /4e emignnta appear m> diflBcniUfeJl in ««3W^P^ tanVlMrf g»a«riiig togelhet wte| l"*"^'^ Jf 1 t1,b hotel b luMfiS^^^f^^*^*^ tt^doUar sad a h«lf W dsyr-*"* ttir< ^ii « V ,^ K ' t DttAPPonrrtD bmioiavt. 41 iM^Yildydeoeiiwd. Such laod, wOi a conn- tiy-^I'WDuUBotUTOiii itforaU I oooldsee. Why th?re M not a drop of whok«?me water to he goL or • potatothat 18 6t to eat I hired for two iiioBtha in V muerdile ahed they call a ahanty, eaten up iOiw with inoaqnifawi. I ooaM get nothing to eat Maaltod iiol^,i|iid»i&ihort, the diKoniforta an nnhe^hle. And^M an my ftrming knowledge waa quite use • Jen pMple know nothing about ftrming in thia **"*^* -J^» it wonkl ha\e broken my hsart to work attiong the stumps, and ne^r see such a thing ^ a weU-pknigfaed fieM. And then," he added, liTa HAer tdne, «• I thought of my poor wife and the little MM. I might, for the pake of bettering my condition, .bave roughed out a yaair or ao myself, but, poor thing, r«^ not haTe had th^^^rt to have brought her . rat irtHMhe, comforts of Ehgluid to such a place, not 5S^ »Mn« of our cow-hottsea or stables, and so I IgjiiBlgohomei and ifl don't teliaU my neighboure i^soit lof a domtiy this is they are «& cnuEing to WW vof their ian^a^ come to, n^ver trust a woid of mine jgain " J •; Xj II was ta^iip imfoaeN^ some persons pi^aant iV»dwi^ fahn «li the fody^ returning until hel^tti n^ '^^ <»«W bi^done: he «n^ toklvthNn ft^ «hM)oIs if they stijd an hour in ili»untA like this; and ended by execrating Oiose peno^^^ tte peqile ai home by their false statements, \ apin a few pa^i^tlM idfiHil^gei, without ^wune with Jhe di sffrMt^gi^ lit tjtey MJBJi t , ^l%ra^aa are aptlo deeeiTe theiM^^ to be deceived^' said i^y jMand i « and l|i^ o^ - \ X^' A ■ll K^rXiaV.! j^- ikA WW'.t\^ i^\ fj '^^^^^\i''^^'^-^^T^%^i-'»' ffi^^^^^"^- tt'^'^^'f 1^' " -%' :f>'«' %'V'^ O JA0EW0OD8 Of CAlf ADA* S^il^ ***»«*'«*«*«* ■*^'";?!!!r • 1^ S-'th. following ffy' " '"^'^.T /. jmfl, of «»e word. ! " Bo«t not *Jf'' «_«^"*3 S?L tholi know** «*t *tel ml""" "-r Wj diaatones from l»n I TO -nggUng wm, a„rtrf .gm,y. eke™**, «*«* of m, poor efflicted pertner^ ^^ " •▲0KWOOD8 or CANADA. :>« of Mveral »^ Moore's Canadiali boat sonf « We'll iing at Saint Anne's 6ax parting hymn." fhe bMik of the St. Laurence, akmg which oat read lay, is higher heiiB than at Monteeal. and clothed with bruAwood on the summit, occs^iooally broken with narrow gulleys. Th^ soil, as near as I could le^ »r Hght I nam I not i ced thi wHd vipefa ■F ^Jik^ - the first time twining among th^ saplings. !»• ■ iT ewtiun pt^^S alianLd !»L . "f*^*^ nlaim, that I Sghnd. ^^^ °" "l*' ""^ «•«» in «»fc«la*ed to how nine ^r S« iS^r^ "•icWte; iha middle ^T^SiT^ "^"1 .... . - » " •^w «» easiest, only yon an ^wn any of the liable to be disu «hoo«jtogetottl. ^ , , ^toIWttyoahaveSJ^^c^^^ J* quit the rte«n-boat youfiid al^tZ^ « J\ ««iTO yog and ^mt i„^,.r^^J^,.^!^l ^ BACKWOODS Oir OAKADA, '^t' ei£^MSiile^^Wi#l»g tlw contorts yoii «i^oy. In aAtition 1i thd^^^ t^ fireiglit, «» atewnera j^ieMB|r to# upsev^ ottier yesseli. Wel>i|^^lhree ^f^tiKiiii\ia^M^ewiceo|,indu8trya|i4fertiUty it displays. I am deflgtited, to teM^ng rfong the Koad, with the nestnelip, cJewilinetfH and comfort of the cottages and ftrmlL J^f 1^^ fhanty rarely occur, haying beeft p^|f||antcd % piet^y frame- hmiies, huift in a sqp«i^ Style, and often pamted ^^lit»-lead cokrar or a pile pea^gieen. Aravind then |»bitations wen orchafi^ben^ng down wi^ a nob - jlnvMil of apples, phuhs, and the A me ri can cnl^ ^lliel^tifal tittle scarlet apples so often met with fa iv«t preserve among our sweetmeats at home. , r ton see none of ^ signs of powty or its it- iltiidant miseries. No mffiBed, d^f» siioalid chil- dren, dabbling in mnd or dust; but many a tid;, smart-looking Jsss was spinning at the co(tfigM<>o"> Ifith bright eyes and bnOded locks, while the younger girls wete seated on thegreen tllrf or on Jfa« thresbold, l^iitting and singing as hUthe as bii4lt^ivfiv> fmnning-wheels that ue nsed in this ooontry spinning the wool, and if^attittidc were to be studied fas gmduqr the ,»n with «„ l»uid*iarwM.S rfthi. ho™^ eloft. .hid, Z,SZ^ 1.todiflh«,t„^SHi^J*" ** - ml. •^ dUUnn «, «rij, to„^, ^^ Md hSttS "BwidcomfeitoblvcloEd. ~^T^ *"** ftn„,g . cnditoB ««. wild uiTthirC^ t "•"■«» to poi*-. wild ta4. luM ,*, mv »^tj .--i" i ^ I -^- .*# ilf"' > ^fY*irB;r-V^.' . ^' s ^f^^fjff' -^Uf'']^-^-, ' ."**"** "^ "i'- ;*'4 ' ' ?l ^ lucairooDsoF Canada.- T neiboDB overlooked at that wrae uw m^% keen, e»PO«ed when they fint " came to tto countr,. XZT^ rt . dW««» of many y«««. «>»^' « !±^^o««e«>r. jTi^rr^ «««• To m. nothing that 1«« : idny^boitt ovoBi rt»* upon four lew; "V * ""^ tL ftom the hoa- •«« »<« <"««*f^ '" H^ tei^ ^g^J^J,^ hokt-ktttkM'* tt>^ •» termed. ^J^V;"^' *^W»t or m $V. LAWMKOl^ 4i ham tOnady seen a loaf aa l»lr as a t^ie «---. inkiUff on the Ii*«^k^ ^^« **** mewure ««UBg on the bearth ,n one of tbeae kettles, and ^ «f It, too; bat 1 think the conaneHt^ »to .mp«ts a peculiar taste to the b»ad, ^ Jo« do ,iot perceive in the kmves baked inbri^ ^n^ll wound buikhnga, perched upon foiir poets. JrS^J^ drawing some nfce hot k)aves oiS^of ' ona ^mi stood on a bit of waste land on the r«d. ««» '4 >'/ 'itK ietnred IbNB irerj CfltiiKiR, wfaieh 1 ^Ib. I ngrettod that jM> ^ nwre obliged to ^ii(^ <^ tbeie oek- ■« (-i.<.i-, ■-rfV' ■M:! dn Ijtfr «bA feacbed to |WL Hcmiioii hai minnt^ In W» ^««>* **? ^li knoir 70a are wfl aoq^iited ne ooqld not Uiig«r to feaflt - ivild aiid g»Hd ■» tti* ritw ' nadUA' atage^ndta for BO - oonlent oundbras fi^tb'ft " lwateam^^^^m_ • .^ ■. ll^^OMe dineult^ in takanga 1^ th« fcina beingfidloltmtAia* h«e» fct ttio «wt Ume, m otp«i«i*l^iWi«4^ MMH AMMHclk dottbtMa too g«ii«>alfy# «o wo Arm* iiAws or go without ithatthayiwiii*^ Th^absenci, Ir ftmalea in theaa ert»bli*««itft ia «,gi««* d«» W wheia ladiw a» tw^ffi-g. Tn« f»»«; ^ «,ti«iy ont of -i^ir *^^t^^ eold^Mi ani indiftronce that yetaMnmmm ^am fcetioniW)m^th«r:attandan«. i* u'^.y^sW^W^ Aftet aoDM dill^culty in dbtoinlnf eight of tfi« landlady of tha inn at CominiB»^iiid aaking her to rtwir me a diamber where w« might paas the nij^ with a moat na p^eioni a ir she poiilaiJo a doqr, 1i5i^ a meiedpaet, in WMMtMid. JteeiiBi WW w toinf di«m^ at the «|W CANADIAN ITA^B. ^. « eitto AteZ dLf^T^.'"'"^ «**«to«l i.tV, A. ( ■ i" ■■'i ^^O*-^ -•'■■ '•^j!!* f , ^, t"-*!)'--. ' #i BACCWOODt 6f CANADA. WewMted R*«6tt»li(oiil «« «h» ■«» '*«™™' tad. «!iT«it»we*xJl EngHA, «d»««a««>™ withtMhothettaatliiiUoBtoiM. . __ W^ ,^ Uttb in Oiriiajm of !■«««« to ta^ or Cd tte Or«< Britain, Urn ftiiW rteaiiw « had >t««n.««dhef.«"«e)oiiied>yoiiri»w«eiid^ At BrodniB. « anivrf ]»» «» «« •> «>i«f * A p, «d editing -ne^H '»-J»5~^" dwe to tli.irboHd.yrtliie; th. dan* M. »« gto»inei%«idawenJi«8Md compaoj «^ cn^r on bo«d the Great B"^*^ "f » ^ ttwi« on lK«d with h« WdegwiiBi oil Iheir wty l» tiil the feltoof NiagHI^! lr:^> ! T \_ j^ .LAKB ONTAHia gi% I «. told^ ,ithiB U» hrt few ,«^^X motmgm pfape of aom^ importance. The shorw of the St Laawiioe waume a m«U Ji^y and pfcturwque aqiect as you advance amoiiK ill ^Qinvid islands, which praaent eroiy variety oj •ood^ lock. The steamer pot in for a supply S fim-wood at a Kttle village on the American rf^^tU mer where also we took on board five-and-twentv , «»«^ hoB^ which are to be exhibited at Cobcwii aud York for safe. * "v-wmnug' JWw nottingr at aU worthy of observation in tbr American village, unfess I except a noyelty that "titer amuiMsd me. Ahnost every house had a tiny ^ntn.^:i^ **""' they «» called.) stuck !f?^ 5l!5'^'*^" °" lK)aid.thesebaby.hbuae., jUj^plea|ad|pcalltheu^^^i^^^ It was midn^ when we passed Kingrt»n, ao U cojiw I saw nothing of that « key to tite takes.-* aa Ihaveh^it.tykHi When I a^^tJ::!^"* 2«* "^ITi^ ^^-V 8«U«itIy along tl^ ^^^2^ the Ontario. ^.«,irien2d^ ^ "■■'•on of wcknesB. . .■;„.\-:y- f ' — »«• When the water, of^the take an at aU agitated. •• <>qrMmetiB>etaia. byh^h Hnds, -inn mislH JniMir J*»«r upon a terapeat-tossed se«.^ "■»«— v— l|f diow. of thi Ontario aw very fine, riring & k, ^* * ^ * , . ■t J- 1* » , ' - *^ .* ■* ■ ■ " r W» * • - • - ' t'^ 'ffS«M i ■ i '*«***'''"tf^l* ^ •*«» "*Wr' "^» ftniilfci of leipw****?.""^ IB or iiMr fl» ""^ ' ' -^Sr '^4 duJl nwcM* to i ■• " / ■ ■ ! yfi- ■ >< ■.'?>■'''"'■ '%sf-:v'' ■;-^if',.- '; ^■;;5^"^•>-«#.***^-!*' ■-■:-.* •*J», • frH''hi^x..rt.t Xmtam V. lobM. wi Ml CoiNfoi)|r onp^ •ftttmoon of tte lit -^ t/"" T3. J. ^loKWOOOt Of CA!IAJ»4 J r— -J And s bouie to shelter yw »Ji*«l» BO«ni and fcneed. aiwi » "^ ^^ j^^t great without difficulty. i*jthottt«P^^^» ^ l,bour. Never teU me of ^^ fwi. ttveUei **!^ '...^ iv«niieiiaY IW tarry-at-hogae «?tw«^ wntten ^ *^^JXiS*^^ emigrmit't e,pe- ^^--^^iS^l^tTwritteu on the sub. IS? i^lSlicb may be *.tn»e picture «f ? :««^Tar to. or dietaut ftom. towns and ^ir^L^^l wU the experience of thirteen ^'^^n^t we Sao had taken too flattenng. "^P^^ X'Tufr^itmuatbeinthebackwood. ^iew of a settler 8 Me as K ini»* ^ On plM« » <»1»» ™ hence ihtoipot may V<»» • faihioiwble ^hc* Pt iwon w rundiui Bath or CteltenhMn n»J ^"* , ;_, 'af.-':i4!!.-*».!f-'JS 2a«!^"-^'" Iiil r¥ ill m /i, jSj !>' '/<■►. !, ,/ tM >- \f^ \ • ■ ■ (1 I; # Hi *-^ \hr- ■■ ' •-■4,y"l ■ .4 !|^ . ' * ■ II ^ ^ • 1 11 « f " ^ 1 i..*^' ■«l'fi-'i<»'' <».*4.' u,-.!'!' ti^M. RICB LAKK. n «ml». The soil » m some places sandy, but vtai^ twi tdd. considerably in different partC and T^ Jmdanosof the finest i«.tu« for catST A nomW ^^jqnisite flowers and shrubs «fom the«j plaint wWch nval any garden in beauty during the L^ jj^wmjnermonth.^ Manyof these phL^^lSSf lirto the pkuns, and are rarely met within any ottCT '^'\^^'^ too. though inferior in si«eto those lu the forests, are more picturesque, growinir in groups or singly, at considerable interval rfZ^. sort of pajrk.like appeawnoe to this porUonnTtha «anljy. The prevaiUnr opinion seems to bT thai ^l«ns laul out in gracing or dairy farmswould ^ .^r?r ^"'^'" ''^M ;« there is plenty of land tha^mn grow wheat and oUm* com-cnJ and can be miproted at a smaU expense, besid« •tandance of natural pasture fof cattle. One m^ eo^rabk todt. The situation, I should thiiZ mnet be healthy and agreeable, fmm the elevattoa Nd dryness of the hmd, and the pleasant pramed ' % commandof a» country below th«n. e^eS^ Hw*Ae lUoe Lake, with its various islandTimd fty t««emiS» WDlinr »Jl^;;;i«Sm«^ '^S!< *, flr- r 9W^' BACKWOODS OF CANADA. gently slopiiig, a^ other times abrapt and almost predpitqus. - . , , - An American farmer, who formed one of oar nutf at breakfast the following morning, told me ^ theae plains^ were formerly famous hunUng- - groands of the Ifliiians, who, to prevent the growth <^ the timbers, burned them year after year; thin in ^^^Bsa of time, destroyed the young trees, so as to pcevent them again froin accumulating to the extent they formerly did. Sufficient only was left to form coverts; for the deer resort hither in great herds for tl|e sake of a peculiar tali jibrt of grass witb whidi these plains abound, called deer-grass, on which thej becppe exceedingly fat at certain seasons of the year. Evening ckwed in before we reached the tavern on the shores of the Rice Lake, where we were to pass the night ; so that I lost something of the beautiful scenery which this fine expanse of water presents as you descend the pluns towards its shore*. The gUmpses I caught of it were by the faint but frequent flashes of lightning that illumined the hori- jM>n to the north, which just revealed enough to make me regret I could see no more that nighL The Rioe Lake is prettily divei»ified with smiO wooded islets: the north bank rises gently fiwi Urn water's, edge. ' Within sight of SuUy, thij UKiltni froms^which the steam-boat starts that goM | Bp th* Otanabee, you see several well-culUvated ^ settlements ; and beyond the Indian village the ms* i sionaries have a school for the education and if J Indian^ jshik tr a n. Mti n y of :&■ i:- i . u>^ M'..:«..;ii#:iiAv#' • «^'«'««^tO|l OF THE INmAM. fi, cwi b^ read and write flti^ntiy, Bnd ^ mmi^ tridus setOen. During h-r^T^ *^ •M Fiidii*. th. »jii— . A'nanf oertftin ieaaona^ the?' lM«to mMer mfluenoe 6f CliKalianit^ f^ .T^ Certain it is that tho introduction ^ the ri*.^;- I mil im««««.^ * 8«wwB NBfr Mwaidt «ifi]iattiaii N'nnlte mankind «« oJlSSE^^^S^^ NWs ^.«%foUtfy «baiii,,rt ll«„:^^ fee; bat «f I«te Iht l(w»^ of arfent -Zij^ c^ ia iiaong thi^Uri^^ diam^J^ fiiith. fl^ fa iiidiid i-g* TS !i^ . when the IndknatM fhnMr7 ^ k^ ^*^ n iii^iiifsfeu . rW*-* »«|r«-i S ' Vt V- ''|'^f#i(^>»;Cl>*'"* 64 BACKWOODS Of CANADA. XMMm duty.wWch might In «»»• *«» taken »>. X. w»e f<^ort In todolgenoe at the tabk .nd the tenm ;« if the crime of dranl«nne» j.Me mm SlSblein th«m«iofed«»aonth«.in the l»lf- nelaimed aavage. • „ ,k. Him t^ke. Itoe m »me 6n« wttlemenle on *• »'" "^ but I am toU the diote. are not considered l«allhy, ^ lnh.Wt«.ta Veing «14«t ^ '»l»-f««r^^ ^-XeciaUy where the ground i. low and «ramw. 1 to originate in the extenriw nce-h^ wW. SLaata^ntaU-water; the "-"^"'"^ X ft»i the »»li«» acting pn a m|«rfd«.„ mrelaUon moat tepd to have a M effiict on to. Sto of tho.. that «. imm^di-dyerpoeel* tm, «»»ider.l.l. ri«*., the Ot«»be. »d&e T«4 ; And an ontlet fiw their waters ■».*« »^„^| ^ ri«r. « competed hy ^d»« rf ««»nH ^ch ,» majtrace « anygoodm^^of^H vinoe. liend job a diagram, which ta* teeap* ^ at CohoJg. which wiU give 3|« the g««.j2 3^ portioVof the country. !».'•'»,«»• "^^ ^ Se. w. porpos. pnrcharing land, »W SobH the navigation of these wrter. be cm- Effect, as is generally supp-ed to be i. mH ZvU^ wiB render the land, on their 4« lempuMuu. _.. ^^ teuimi at pnaent m «*iZ«(*SiS Kw bWuTrfpWS A' K . ,iji. • 1 t. ii 1 f:;;; - ■ ; 1 iioim, ti^>id8, «ven these an the ahow-iuu of the river i pwtstndeM l%ht be thn oqwna^hovre the towndiupB aHtH it is 1 BBdertab'i^f si Wbe. if- Wefefttlp^l . at nine c 4 «»W wind bl 1 iras g cloak, for |l|iflitae8teanii W^Tfor asfc in^t with tba. htely beei 8t ^ "^ aiWiWOtan •"ffexultatioB i'^ for many j '«»«ijniode ol^ ^ themselves i *%»» the iroii -^5B»i iQiotivo \(.' >..!■ '«»'"• ■»«'^-s^''Tirf if eoH wind blew ow* the htoL-St!?^' ^ "^ I St. Uaia^i Osgg?-^ " * O"*^ Md the H mod. rfXS^ ir k""*"**" "^ - ,i'm'' ttmo '^9^^ lit a fioeiniiid, deal^i s"!-* i>. ■ rS** \ ./» u^A. wWa ttii ^,^g ^„ .JlJISmIjS^ Chile '"'^ mm ■»« f-f- M.-,fY tftbempnicU( or other, to try by cultivation. has so abunda ftvoorablie clmi the asqistaace « The Waten c fivm' ifflpurity (Nibble or ahell oftaing in Ibe worlunff its wa^ albove It The i the sudden n '^ Ife^ undni i^rt^tagie the Ht^sher,' as it M put in fdr about |wlf-way aiiil^ myself o UK%ation for g diBal flowers tbt riwr's brink. » " ever graced a iMwSilhe grasE •nd, nearer to tb l»»h nesembling [nation, proved to fndt as laigevas 'artness not nnidb of this tree were oi Iihouid think it r'"-^ WATMS OF TBI OTiNABEi: ifl ff them pwctiable; I diaU endttvour .t ■<.». .» h« «. .bu»d««y l«t„;^ ftii^ that n» 2^ the Kvistaiice ef cultare and soil • '*'"='*«' |nU> to mipanty that you distincUy .« eveiT.ti!r l-Abl. or ^11 .t the bottoo,. 6e« a^d tt»T;. V«of «^«I*»J^ ^ iafltilBi covered with moss and Vdiens, grm, yilfcifrvttid gfey; above winch might be seen tb ahin^ dyed to a fine mahogany-red by Oi smoke which refiised to ascend the liide clay w* atone diimn^* to carl gracefhlly about the roof, lad ia^ its exit in tbe various ««ntaiea and apertnw 4tli i^iidi Ae *pof aodf aides ol*^^ biOldlifi ''^ii^onnded* -' r^ The ^ wiMi ofiiMPthi widdihad become prttty fpid and smooth through nse. tWs but reminded 1^ of the one described by the four Russian saikn that woe toft to winter on the island of Spitzbeiga tto flimiture was of ooneaiion^ing nideness ; a ft* Hools, luugh and unptoned ; a deal tabk, whkk, lW»n being manufiwtaied from unseasoned wmJ vras divided by «iiee wide ofpen seams, and wa only held together by its iU-shaped legs; two or Itoa bkM^s of giey granite placed beside the heartft aer- ihr easts for toe diildien, with tM eddition of becto taised a Htfle above ttie gfi^mwl by a frame edaw^ f in th f i w Uw»l;Li ! WMtoqLJ^^ 'f •?'K/ ., / 4L ...» id "»»Uy PJdfaiir nn ««»i_ J pigWBs, that *r»tafc • ^^- f?f» *» •* ■ tohabitanta of :^- •.; 'h -■/ • ■ ^;i ..•■/ i,'»f' ?/■ ■.'fV ^fel-''> itC^^'^ >- -T^!-«?!r 'v>5f.<- 1; '■"--»,.» 1 i i il I 1 •n v\ t* ^4 .BAijimwocm^ or CMkMkD^. ••Ylmkeebolinei,".ftom ihe faiiciid ^reaein Mamce o( the topmost boagha to a awt o^^ worn by Hm Yankees^ ndt much *nH|ie tbe Ww iKtonA of Seol. 'UnfoitBiMitely, the steamer fan agwti)Oid some four wHes below the usual #ice of reiidfeBvoitti afid%i ^waited till near fiwr o'clock fdr tat #^s.„ When ii made its app^nce, -^^e found, to ooTidiMlMnfort,i|pi Yiffefs (eight in number, and att" Irishni^) wewi under the exdting influence of 4 cuf of ^♦hlskeji ffhich they had drunk dry oil tte;:fDy^ TBiy metb moreover ekasperated by H^ d««i^ on the parfrf j (Che steamer, which gave them ifonr wffes lieavy rowing. Beside a nomber lof ||toeto j#as an emnnhoiis load of fimtitnits, tvunlqis vhests, sacks of wheat, barrels of flour, salt, ||jdj with many miscellaneous packages and ortjele^J andfiwrt, •whicli%we pfled toil heighl tiki • tery«isafe kitiWto goods iin*pa8sonigim With • marWnous ill grace the men took up tMl oars when their load was completed, but declared thu wonkl go oik shore and make a ftw and cook IIrIJ dinnen, they not having eaten an|(^b5d, th^^ogh^ had taken terge j^otatxoiu tK the ^^b«y- measure was of^posed by some of the gentlemen, a flerae aiid angry sbene enaafd^ 'wUdi ended ii " Oratineers flinging down their dara, slid positi* - leftving to row another stroke till they had flieirhaQger. ,± Peihifs I had afeWw-feeling for them, as lb to be exo^adingly ]Mk^\ *^"^*i**^ xavenous^ is ^jyjiyi JlwWdTtBBB WJpjMl^- flmrotpg'; ittoeeo|S6' ♦ s ,■: \ \''t ,. , V^ I' ■ ; ^Wi ft "«l iriA oMw " not Inrtil t«. JL? « ""^'3' » sun hrf^4*-i 2 ^* ^*'<^ w." and adtoih^tto h. i*^ ^il II" ,Tfy**yy->4 ":*!■: -ii'l ^msi*^- i-if.-^. IS BACKWOODS qW CANADA. touch the rocky bank, and heard the boatmen pn. iMtiag they would go no further that night. Wi w«i« nearly three miles below Peterborough, and howl { ;was to walk this distance, weakened as I was bj i recent illness an4 fatigue of our king travelling, I 'knew not. To spend the night in an open boit,: exposed to the heavy dews arising from the riverrj would be almost death. While we were deliberaUnj on what to do, the rest of , the passengers had madej op their minds, uid taken the way through the wo by a road they were well acquainted with. Therj were soon out of sight, all but one gentleman, wtu was bargaining with one of the rtmisi^ to tidie hioj and his dog across the river at i^l^ead of the rapiik in a skiff. Imagine our situatiou^^ at ten o'clock at nigbt,! without knowing a ^tugle step of our road, putoij shore to find the ?ra.y to the dbtant town as we bdj could, or pass the night in the dark forest. Almost in despair, we ei^treated the gentleman toj be our ^guide as far as he went. But so manyol»>| stacl^ beset our path in the form of newly-chopp(j| tr^ and blocks of stone, scattered along the 8hani| &ai it was with the utmost difficulty we could ' him in sij^t. At last we came up with him at place appointed to meet the skiff, and,.with a nacity tiuit at another time and in other circumst we never shfold have adopted, we all but tnsistd being admitted into the boat. An angry consent was extorted from the surly Charon, andj hastily entered the frail bark, which seemed in >afgty tn the oppoaity ' Dimooitiw or THE WAT. ff lUefeBr, nl lutened to the toncnt of nrofen. iT U« th., W forth contia^H, fiom ^^^'^ r •*»^; , Of* o' t^ « were in aj^ ^ 1^ ^^K when «■ reached the opposite fcj«M tat tore . new t^nble ««e : there ^2 J*./r which had to p«, up . ^^ ^4 "T «i«s at the head of the smallW «, erZlh ^ .0.«>ab«.Bttle beWPeU»C;S.Tldi Wtai trees, m«Hy hemlock, spruce, or cedar, tW ■m«h Uk tangled thicket which they fornT-V^ Had .t not been tor the humane «^istMK,,of ohr »**». I hHmnot how I d«»ld h.™t«^„S ta^Afflcultii. Sometimes I w«i reaTTS* fen from very wearing. At lengft fSled. «^ f M I couH h«dly have ,«ppo«d Bw^iTZ. ^linffonhisp.,t,we««re.gidn4«rt«d.. fflid enough we were to .«. by lie btaimr B-ht W ,«^ved 4e oft, rf . gtUd. to -«w „ ^ WK ot the welcome ref»w^n>«a* of^M^ii. frAt_ wed a little rtrength by a shoit itit.' .TTlTS ' ftnjenced oar jpaniey, g^i^ ^ ^ nimii\Z f *■ #!»:■ i yi^ -ecrftaiy» be Iwd met ^th> ki^d master, who had tak^u some of hia brothers and siste^ into hie service as well atfhimaelf. . Just as we were emerging from the gloom of the wood w* found qm progress impeded by a cfedc, u the boy called it, over-^i^ieh he told t» we must pas )by a log-bridge before we could g**, to tl^p town. Now, the log-bridge was eomposed of one log, or latlltra fallen tree, thrown acrofs the stream, rendered very sUppery by tbie be»vy dew that had risen ftom the swamp. As the lo^j admitted of only one peisoB at^ time, I could receive no a$8i8tanoe from my cob- p^p^ona; and, tlymgh our little guide, with a natuni 1"^ muteness arising from the beuewleuGe of his dij. i^Miition, did me aU the service io bw power by hold. log the lantern dose to the wirfaoe to throw all JM lighl be could on the subject, I bad the iUluck to f^ in lip to my kneea in the water, my head tor' quite giddy just as I came to the last step or i .thmwaalwetaaweWaaweary. To add to oormiil fot^am we saw the Ughts diiwppear, one by one, i|| tte vilage, till a solitary candle, glimmering from (^ i^iper chambers of one or two housea» were our oi heaeons. We bad yet a kidging to seek, and jti new MiiMgfat befOP* we reiK^hed the door of! \ V' «!J ',¥Tn^ ^>->-t5 71 /brU)-nig;htwiIIend* but a«..4 4. hoa« every one Uiny o^w^^ ^ '" g«.»S .V to one of the b«k townXw ^^'' I could go no farthen and «. n.H.- ■ J - [•WW. ^* ^r*^ "^ •■** « J«*i m.y weB *>»W4 ■ay 4«He4 m,;,^^ 1 \ ^ffM i fa \." ly r.i- '^-^ V. -^ <>. ' *•- .■•,. T :«.■ mu^im-^ '-^\ H-. »ACIWOOD« or CANADA. « ^■■UM 1 "v ( "" 'r;S^5;S;s sCi:«f £^S MtablithiD«aF«n. ,v ^ t- ".'..,....■ |%terbcBPimilii;|^t.».l8a^ it k n^ setUed that we abide here tiU after the «rtKniment sale has taken place. Weare,ihemto remain with S~- and his family till we have got a few acies diopped. and • togwhiii«5 ?at «p on ouHmn knd. Having detenu^ to go at onoc mto tin } ^ f g f^ on aooonnt of our foiMtary grants which w Imve been ao fortunate m to dww in the neiglaboa- * hK4 ef 8*-?—. we lia^My made up «» minds ij^ 1 enter at o^ and cheerfWly, on the privations and inconveniences attending sucJi a situation ; asthereii no choice between relinquishing that great advantage and doing aof settlement duties. We shall not te • .worse off than othem wbobave gone before U8 toto unsettled townships n^any of ^Thom, nava^ and m* 'taiy oftcfre. with theii families, have had to struggi : with considerable difficulties, but who are now W ; ginning to feel ^ advantages arising from mi s-i^ eiterj&ons. ^ ' ^ nin addition to the land he is entitled to asi ; fifiicer in the British service, my husband is in tt« - for ^^ p.irrhHBf^oflan eligible lot by small \^\ k,-/A>' This wiU give us a water frontage, and a / •'^v^ iocIETT AT PKTBBBORaUQU. \ il«ver be j eqim^jbo ^.mux of ^iicatioo/ It is tlie mind t^ fohns tlMs distinctioi^ fcitweim Ow ctewwi iu Ihii country-^" K^no^led||e is |jK>tw?r !" We \»d h«ard so m«eH of the o9ipM iliannere «( Dm YiMPkWeen in thi» eoimtry that I ww rathisragreei. h^ mmwbA bjjF the few «p^meD« ** Fix the tabW— « Fix the fir^," saji the miiitiesB to herlenraiitai |»d the things (^ fixed voms I was amused one day by healing a woman tell he? husband the chimney wanted fi^nf, I thought it fleemed secure enough, and was a lial« surprised when the man got, a\rope' and a fisw cedar boughs, wift" which he diskidg^ an aocumulatidn of soot thii cansed the ftie to^oke, Th^ chimney being/^e^j ail %ent right a^n. This o^ term ia not confin^ to ^ low^ orders alone, anii^ ixom hearing it ao I orient it becomes a stan^dard word even among '^ latrar emigrantu from onrown oodLntry. < .♦ ^ith the exception of som^ fi?w remarkable «^| pressions, and an attempt at introducing fine wor* in tbch* every-day 'v. >■ IIANN^W 0* TUB A1I««,C»NS. M •r tke »m »M»«iw»4 *. *!» *«nr woii tt. M. I ■ f i B^^^^oE- £.- J 1 lMii-.^a^M f l^'- >4.« ■ft* V ^^i. V >,.<:')» vmm 4w<-- M 84 BACKWOODS Of CANADA. ing lOm with reference to the management of tbt •ngUeTHis manners were surly, and almost insolent He scrupokrasly avoided the least approadi to courte^ ; or ^tward respect ; nay, he even went so for as to himself on the bench close beside me, and ob. ,>j that "among the many advantages this coan- ™ oflfered to settlers' like him, he did not reckon it le least of them that he was not obliged to take off U hat when he spoke to people (meaning persons of our degree), or address them by any other title than Wir nan« ; besides, he could go and take his seat beside any gentleman or lady either, and think him. ,(self to the fiill ad good as them. ^ ^ «^Very likely." 1 repKed, hardly Abte to refrain ftbmlaughingyat this sally; « but I doubt you greatiy overrate *e advantage of such privileges, foryoucan- not obKge the lady origehtteman to entertain the same opinion of your qualifications, or to remain sejted heride you unless it pleases them to do so. With theiib wotds I rose up *nd left the independent gen- tleman evidently a little confounded at the manoeavre: however, he soon recovered his self-possession, and continued swinging the axe he held in hi* hand, and said, " It is no crime, I guess, being bom apoor man. "None in the world," replied my husband; a man's birth is not of his o^n choosing. A man caa no moW help brfng bom poor than rich; neitheri! it the foult of a g^nUemanbeing bom of parents who occupy a higher station in society than his neighbour. I hope you will allow this?" JCto Scotchman was^ obliged to y ield ajrehd^ ,-i«rmativc to the latter position ; bit wnchided ^"^ ■n^?" (« Good '•^ . i> "s>1 •gllii repeaUng Ws satisfiwifoii at n^ Wteir :tei^*v*'a%^"|p7^4|&^ \^iL ^. '-^ '\ ^ i\ ■'. f ^" ■ ■# \ , / ,, 't§ r 4'?. ■■■,'■ ■ '■ 4 ■" *-''■;.'-.■: 1 «, .■■■ , w ■ ■'■-;«■■/" V . / ^'■^•'- „^ ■ . " ' ; \ , « ■ ■ ' -i ■ ' " ' «*■■ ■ . ^ _ ' « • . • ,\ I 1 : , . ;; -;::.;, \-\„ >, J .-,[■-. L U ' ' 1 . "■' , '' ' • A. ^^^^^^^^^^^^Hk^ ^. ■ -'A -■■ 1 i m ^ ^ <^^. // IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) k // i!'/ ^.<^. ^n4 4^ .^ ^ I ■•!«?'':■ 1.0 1.1 ■^ISjS 12.5 £? U& 12.0 u 11^ lii lyi ill 11^. /.■^ fit: ■ <■ J . ^Sdmces ' Carporalm 33 WIST MAM STIHT WISSTI«,N.Y. I43t0 ,(7J«)I72||IS03 «*•«;' -My m / . Ai ^ .'fe / . ^.. ,»-i-, » f^&^**' "*'* »''^'*«*V uMrndS- : ^-^^ -^''' '^i3^/:?''W ■ ^f-wL!\/m^ )«»• BACKWOODS OK CANADA. 86 the reply. *' A rich man or a high-born man, it h« is rude, iUrmannered, and ignorant, is no more o^ M gentlemap than yourself.". . - ,. i .r This TWt the matter oiTa difertent footmg, and tht engineer had the good sense to perqeiver that rude familiarity did not constitute a gentleman^, But it is now time I should give you «6me account 4,6 Peterborough, which, in point of situation, is supe- nor to any place I have yet seen in the Upper Pro- vince. It occupies a centpl point between the town, ships of Monag^an, BrM. Cavan, Otauabee -^ Douio. and may with propriety be considered as tk capital of the Newcastle district. , . . , , It is situated on a fine elevated plam, just above the small lake, where the riter is divided by two low wooded isWts. The original or government part o the tow9 is laid outinhalf-acre lots; tfee streets, wluc ^ now fast fiUing up, are nearly at right angles wUh the river, and extend towards the plains to the north- «^. These plain* form a beautiful natural |«rk, ^ly diversified with hill and dak, covered with a lately S«eu «~d. ««^»«d ^^ * .T'^f ^. rrel^iefiowe». and planted, as if by Nature own hwid. with groups of feaOiery pines, oaks b^O- ^,r^. Mid silver bireh. The vieWs from tl«« pkans^re delightful; whichever ^ you turn yojr ^ Ly are^fied by a diversit^f Wll and d«k. Jood aiid water, with the town spreading over a con- Biddable tract of ground. Th^ plains des^nd with a steep declivity towaH. the river, which rushes with considerable impetuo?.lj " ucy a long, nartow vnllty. H> M^'X- ^lu^-sitel^il^t^* aUaAi^t-lW-f --.iJiSl^J cciSfe. l->\ **l«l(«» -fl(*-,''***^''A-.'« HI H •im ' W 1 • ff mI^^B fi "{ ■'^1 - .■:■'^-'■ .. TC sS" . *7 •Wf 1 •i.*-' "l^WV-, ^ into (wo dntiiM HwOUui^In linr oner Ibe- ud (he l}iMiiida jciitBdPeterbaiv or three individ town lots are pu I ground, more tl J luge city. H jieckoQed at aeyi IcootiQaes to inar |a> it has done I T^re is grea and the fii I the (own, «re aie aewn Kng-mill, tvro ] finiinberof|;bdd ^'^ aho serres i Ibe built ' lsoiDepre|tjri| eh^thenal >K)oo qwiled. [ I Ml never wet ' Wfl" in every ). 8» TOW^ OF JWTBRBOHOUOH. to Moo.^ .d.,.^ ooBuBiurf. «• extend fttertK)ro«gh uaui divided co™, . g«rt «i.»t rf jlqie ci^. Ike amnber of inkabitaiito »» Zl ««to«.toiac««..,,pM, i^X^^l"* I" It hM dime latdr. it will L^ •_ ■ ^ ^••" |tam». ■ ^ '""WW le • Tety populo,,, J!"". It "••"W"'. both Ml wpiri, u„ «h fte town. «,d fai. into the «adi lX llw rj* ""^ ,.■"» pW™ «. edd off in »^1^ J uirecHon, ID ctteh iome new pro^. pi^-g ^ ^as.-::.'^^:"'-^ jtt^viA^ii/ , <^*r»' «?■ 90 BACKW^©^ OF CANADA. pect, or gMber sovm MW 6a^f«ni ickuchi tboMgh gHv ting late in the summer, are i^itt a t i wwtewt Ajnoot 4»« flwits. witli wboie naniM I am u- quaiated aj^ a, iFiMMly «rf ataiibVy Mtei^W enery tut of blue, pwnK Vi^ Pi»fl» whito^l » law »A'*««te. ,i|opt deli^«Wly «KW«»i ««ve. ita scariii l«m half inclined to be anirry wImu f «WmW- *i^ h^^^ Canadian flo::^"^ii t^^!^ «rt^«fattenfaoo; asiftheeyec«ldBotbec^^ jFWy of fonn ^ hannony of oolouTi^^ To ledeem (hia counby ftom the censiw cast on it I Ji^ rs""? ^' •• »««« •hwtoSe- •W I d»U m.lw Mte. rfi ,«, wi WrteZS '■"ypl" -P«- -' t^ v^-i^ '*t I ' .. ^-if as'^V^j.s'A^iui* i if .1 1^- w n'-.j/ft ^^\'«r,Mr; 92 i. BACKWOODt OP CANADA. wbo, living In the Inwh, muait necessarily be shu^ oot jlfbm the pleasures of a laige circle of friends, and the varieties thai a town or village offer. On Sunday I went to diurch ; the first opportumtj I had had of attending pubUc worship since I was in the Highlands of Scotland ; and surely I had reason to bow my knees in thankildness to that merciiiil dod who had brought us through the perils of the great deep and the horrors of the pestilence. Never did our beautiful Lituigy seem so touching and impressive as it did that day,— offered up in oitf lowly log'built church in the wiWemess. Thi^ simple edifice is situated at the foot of a gentle slope on the plains, sunounded by groups of oak and feathery pines, which, though inferior in point of size to the huge pinei and oaks of the forest, are far moi« agreeable to the eye, branching out in a variety of fantastic forms. Theturf here is of an emerald green- ness: in short, it is a sweet spot, retired from the noise and bustle of the town, a fitting pl^ in whidi to worship God in spirit and in truth. There are many beautiful vralks towards the Smith town hilb, and along the banks that overlook the river* The summit of this ridge is sterile, and i^ thickly set with toose blocks of red and grey granite, inter^med with large masses of limestone scatteied in every direction; they are mostly raaooth swl rounded, as if by the action of vrater. As they •» detached, and merely occupy the surface of the grounj it seemed strange to me how they came at thatekj vatfon. A geotogistirould doubtless be able to «^ thg m^rj in . a few minutgs^The oaks that giw j ittir THIttiAWTT. ^^1 JST^.' PT"*" « being entirely cowijlu jrr^ "" the like, have Ioc.SZ™e,r"^ Cl^nn!.?^'^ ^ '"*P°^ » •»■»•«•" their «Ptooonthe,r«n»cUv. grapts, but .h.. m, J qanjty .t h^ens that they ,„. fo„ indolent, or «alT» K'wr r *? lots-oftenrituated many S » .h. Wkwoods, and in distant and unsettled w *pj,I««nt.ng great obrtacle. to the pooremipTt t ^i" T*^ '•y « "^ "'^^"t them Oto, rf .*e and profligate habits, spend the m™« %»«.,ed, and sell the land, f«r1rijeh U^^ave K ttor pensio^^ after which ftey remain^iSI! Ifcijusttera on the shanty ground. ^^ IJhU^"'' "/ "" "' '*''""'" ""t in Canadian h^ Mdi. nothing „„, than a shedZS ^SSlX'S 'S""^ the round «lg«i of the »^ kSL .,'"*""^"««> "dWtoof wood ; XS.^"""' oompo«i of bg, spy. and hol- 'd^t^ "\"1* placed dae by side, so thM ^■«toneachother; the conca™ and conm a S •??»'*'y "PPennost, every other log iL?'°'""» ""y Off the Brio .Ld oeW Se^aves of this buildinff resemble thTs^ V4 . Ik 1 It (i .r .tfiA^iti. j.^4.''ii^'!a(^s\f i >• ■iwVA.i.'is SV ' pmmt^. .1 '. 1 •-"N^- . 94 BACK^dOOS OF CANADA. lopeA^AgailX ti datilj^ 4iell ; fcut tude «s this coveting 19, it ftflfertttifliy «ti«wrt* ttie pitfpMe of keeping tbt interior dry; far more so than the ipofs formed of baA or boattb^ (lj|«^ti which ttie m&i' will fiod ^nti'atice. Sbtn^oMfs thift lAiaiity haA a window sometimes oiriy ah 6plBh doonrway, which atdtnits tfft light atad lets out ^stnelce!*. Arudeke and dirt, the co* mon reoeptadb ftMr eMUAren, pigs, aad^fowk Buftlj have given f&OL ibB dhtk ^de of the pictuipe; f i bappy to «iy aU the rfisfities on the sqoatters' gnMll Were not Mke these : ott tbe contrary, by far the laijp proportion were inhabited by «idy folks, and had osetvj * I Wat gi«i%afimi«d>ytIW««iBvk madebyalit1kink| "w^, that we hired to be out bew«r of wood anddrawer of •rinj who had been aa inhabitant of pne oftiiese Bhanties. "Ma'aa/j aaid be, *• ^b/fu the weather wai vtih|^i& •wp liro iiiia] k*** up UutM l^ou wiil, p )«» thtft maaj ud familiea, f *""*"' to evwy^ I^Bn oohtented en I heani «er supply of floi M small hand-n r '^'y neoessaiy, * J^'P eipreaaJQg "«>y account in Pjlfonthaitaial J^ particular ^ "are confinee '»''wthBunae '^- ;^y»udi . XiKiawr-^iVfi- •^m V'XMf . ■^ b«n contented to i»i. Jt®"* «>ey came hitfc*,T J"*" ' lietid of .^ i"^ "'*»» of. • '.■?!! ' 'I -;^i ^-,!iS4«.«i.-ii™ ^1^- .-*%- ?!•*••.*»»' • b ! 'i H- tWT^^^ 9d BACKWOODS OF CANADA. %SS^r- the towns, and who had little or no meann to support them during the lirst twelve monftis, till they cdtld take a crop off the land, you WiW hear many sad tab of distress." , .^ i„ vu » , Writers on emigration do not take the troub^ of «jarching out these things, nor does tt answer.tiwr parpose to state disagtwablefatts FewhaverniUef. Svely on the « Busl,." traveltere genera^ make a hasty journey through the long settled an^ prosperous portions of the country; they see a tract of fertile, well-cultivated land, the result of many •years xrf labour; tJiey see comfortable dwelli^ abounding with all the substantial necessaries of He; the farmer's wife. makes her own soap, candlw, and «ugar ; the family are clothed tn cloth of ^ehvwj s^g, and hose of their own knitUng. Thebw^ tte beer, butter, cheese, meat, poultry, &c. are aH fc produce of the farm. H« concludes, therefore, Oil Canada is a land of Canaan, and ^t^^.*.^«* *^^ ting forth these advantages, with the addition of J^ tainhig land for a mere song ; and advises all ^rm\ who i^ld be independent and secure from wantto ^^ifTfo^s ftiat these advSntages are the resahrf long years of uni«nitting and patient labour; « the«i things are the croum. not i\xtjinl.fnul^ of ^\ settter's toil; and that during the interval many a^ great privations must be submitted to by almost eveij (^asa.of emigrants. . ,. J Many persons, on first coming out, especnaliyj they go back into any of the unsettled township, «« dinpiru . .^ by th e anpromising appearance of tW "'X II m 1 lit- ifi ?^T * ' 'if(,jr^:r$^v!f" ' } 's^%^ 'j h' ' i \-. > •• X .^ .. "f about them, comforts of } tbeyareunpn gim way to dc A iittk refl I «wy rood of i of timber that J«M be groini |P«), eut into 1 Jweoaiit, and lieed sown, harv jcaa be obtaiiM [lalwur, and, if ^ money; m If at «d» ibnraghtthim > tenn, tht Ittn >toth«dii ^ oonvqnuii ^■n beforehao ^ have to onooi I £m a Jaiioiirii , k ofiaii, I gjj ' w?rk for the i 'themaintenanc 'tlKm suffer mi pefit of their ia vid the oeri^ ■ aatefy, t| AendureVj, 'tlo not fear ai y^;'' J ^^E^^'^ sCfeJ .V .* ««nr rood of had mart Uol^^ "^ *- » b. grow,, auui rta, uTSltr "Tf *^ I*", "ud. if tort Irtw^!^ «™ iKl mud, KkTOtooMsouiitor '^'* »^ »"w» wbrt [yk for the fii i^rr^' **"*^ ^ *'•'* o«< l«wn Buffer mnch ,^^' ""^^ «^n w maav p "d the oertain^L«!^;. ^ »* "ot for the toendnm. H if thTa lk r " ' ^^^ ♦i»«y r *> not feaj aToIdll^S;^' ^ them up. •««Wwant and pauperism, . 3 *^l>^-k,p ^ * S^Bi'fl gKa • M^HfW '■#'a ffwH IB ■W.^ 91 m ^ t i6t BACKWOODS or C-VMADA. tbe P««ent evib. must yield to indosiry and pen*. veranoe; they think .bo for their chiWien; aud the trials of the pieaent time are loet in pleasing *nti» pKtkms for the future. ^ j ,»_ Purely," said I, « cows and pigs and pouUi, might be kept; and you know wh«« there is plenjf rfmilk, butter, cheese, and eggs, with pork and fowls, Jersons cannot be my badly off for food^" ^ « Vew true," repBed my ftiend; -but I must teB you it is easier to talk of th«» things at first than to keep them, unless on cleai«i or partially cleared farnwi 1^^ are spedring of ^Jint settlement m tte b«k. woods. Co^^^"«i fowl, must est. and rfyoa have nothing to giv« them ankse you purchase rt, had bLr not be troubtod with them, a. the tnM# is certam and the profit doablfiiL ^ cow, it » ti«, wiU get her living during the J^-^""?^ I^JT in tlTbush, but sometim- d»i»Jl n«»^;^yfa days together, and thiSn you tose the use of her, and pliW^ time in seeking herjthen in tte STshe requires some additional food to the 6ro«r« that she gets during the chopping se«Km. or tente^ one but she dies before n»ri««i •°*"~^-8*°*^] lose their milk during the «« j;*^'/ ^^ well keptj ii is best to pit with them m the feU «^ buy agSn in the spring, uhless you have plentyrfl foil and winter by e«*mg the tend* •aoowoi «»" J ' ^ •adbM., which tht^—k m ^---^^y-^^^^^J^ ''il «iU die in the very hud weather. flwl fcr them, which is not „«.„ lu «- ,« c«.pt do »iUK»t ;lfw £^"'= "^ *4 «-««» «-* JW cunot pigs: erenVm^ ^•*°" "^ be rf .ny «n*. to you. ,„d „ ofuTu*!^ Ju*° h-tp" to look «««»M Z^^iL"^ *• «d more 4™ ie(», mZtI!, Sr ^"** '" ""'^ h" oflife. Md by uThJft •*»• "ll the Mcei- 'l«e the wu Md «rfM ndnaJ^JJ^^" W% i ■ Si I if fii KMIvW pIB^^ if 1 ii H imm'''i^ mWKBm, Wf H ffp! ■ ">.:.-^ ,^ ii^i&A C bAi,'»-». «»' ,;-5*-::-fii^ 104 BACKWOODS OF CANADA. fon««i to to happy fiilfilment of Ws deaires iW makes the rough patbs tmootb, and ligliten^ the bur. d«a of present Ola. He kwks round upon a nume. roua family without thaw anxious fears thatbeseU fatber in moderate circumstances at home; for hi knows he does not kaw th^m destitute Of an honest meant of support.'' . . , * ^ i 'in spite of all Che trials he had encountered, I found this gentleman was so much attached toa settler's Ufe. that he declared he would not go hack to his own country to reside for a peimanenoe on an, account; nor is be the only one thi^I have heard express the same opinion; and it likewise seems » wniUisal one among the tower «J»«/ •°»«™^ IW are encouraged hy the exampte of ^ers whom tl^/see eiyoying comforts that they corid never lute obtained liad they Ubowed •'^^ •» »f^ f ^» andthey wisely reflect they must haw had hardsbpi Tendie had they remain«l In ttjeir naUve M (many indeed had bwn driven ont l«y want), withoul ttia most remote chance of hettwii^themselvjj. or becoming the possessors of land fi«J from aU if strictiom! HWhattousare thesuflenngsofone, two, three, or even four year^ eompa«4 wijh a wy. )ife of labow and poverty," w-***^ •^^T^^f "^Pn ^ UAourer. who wa. «««nting to u.^ the other ^ wm of th0 haidshipa he had met with m tlis ooiintry. He said he "knew they were o^ly fori. short time, and that hy industry he shottW sooorM over thero." ■ .^i!i.1 I hav» aheady s e en twa nf jhit p oo r ne i gW)PO«i^ im Wit the parish a twelvcmonth,,*6o ; ibey^f] ■ - . ■ , " r' rx*. fr 5 ifi^tVr ■^*'"'' ■/• ««FlKCTI0.\a. IM tMtdh Canada CompanT Iota. .„j "^; bW ftqr complain that thei, m^Zl'^u*'"' pii«igf(ihoni€!. and Ianientiii» th.( "™' ™ •'»»J» with III ciLms- theJL '*'™ S^nenU oomplaint % bad Wen used to eniov- fZ """"= wmforts Ud whtiotts they left .v'^: „ ^ '*8"» «» ftiend. hS-^^ •^^"•^•'tl^ the, pailwpnMsAon, beimr dull IW^ """nwdthat U««, and ffiend.. „d co^tf ^ I't"'^'"^ ^^•^-ovS-^;:^^ i? ^.'ii.m.iti^^ ? .k-'A ^<^0frie^mf^f^m' '( - 1 / ■■'it j^ \KCKitOOWi Of CANADA. rftht !-*•«>•»« ^th8ihwi*J it not* merely cboppe*. ^Jy^";^. ^ ^be 9eed-wheat m: L .ad bum the Wto«. •^„fl^ We paid five tay^lejjari of%e ^«^^ wWchmyUmkud gaeilB wrth ---- ""vLtii b« aboui €briatBW* AninI at a Lo||-h i A^^,^ -.tW'V fCOHNBY FROM riTERBOROUOH. 10» '^■I^HW WBiB M IfflR iliV m ^■iBii'^i i ^■1 ||||'f1|: 1 hH: '^Bi(;/ 1 s9H; Mliil:. m Ltrm VII. ]I1^ m. «y leuer with . descri^*^"* l-j^iL..,- ..^. ^ --vuKwuc oeittis will not wove IwnwriinnMiiiiBiiUiig to yon; for vnH i -«. T ItlHti mother^ .wTL - J-T 1- ^ ' **** "^ored |«||ght dak op to one'. b,«..3 rSJ?S ent lots are often m. j.-^* "^T""^ "_•• IM ^(^^^W?j"iwle||'*'i'*^ .: "^f -w^^ra^^*^ BACKWOODS 0» CANADA. '•f^tf "t^ •_« i!.«i* These blaiM me of m im* the ooncession-iiiira . "■'=". «m n flmrer-poets 9f » darit night _^^ 1^3 "Twere compelled to take taj ««. th. L)tion of two or three extensive cteenng.. ^^^ibo,^ tt«e miles eto™ Peterho«»«h the »- winijone the bn«r of a i*eep ridge, tt. b««« i TuS Zfvery .ppe««.ce of having been fon«,» ^ bed of a lateral bn«ch of the present n-m^\ t.^ some .mdl lake, ^'^J'^,^'}^] . ZZ channel, and merged in the Ot.»b«^^ On either side of this ridge thereisarteepdnn* «, the right the Otanabee breaks upon yo^, nnh^ . Zoi greS velocity over ite rocky bed. former"* ta mSLure resembling th<« of the St. I^J iU dark, frowning woods of sombre p.n. g.«^ pandenr to the scenery that is very impre^iv^ ft , Z left lies betow you a sweet secluded deU rf^ ^ greens, cedar, hemlock. *d pine enhvened 1, .H S^ous trees, '"^l' '"? J*" "^ 11 J track leading to » fine clrared farm, the ^M .I,:.. . than ue aesia iinitt into so ou^ 1"» « "" ?^«^S^toa ««J <• >» "'"'•«* •» * V^.i bebg chopped, «> a. to form » "^^^'JJ^^ ^ifa.i 4fc*«; . Kal fhia plan was fouud too troubieMmB . «" • . ^'tirtoun/Krowth of timber .0 cboted the openji^ n^TfrntleuT The lately^urveyed township.. H^ ^ on^ to ided l)y blweti Udc«. iJiA^^W*« tf A^iyuLxi ^i^4tk^ f^^i' :>f asimieli &/ over thi ' the riw; , though it till the ei. 1^ the nid 16 bottom of Ben formeHj snt river, «j een dhroMj nabee. teepdeaoent;] yovi> rming-i It. Laurentti] pine giwi pressivf. 1 dell of < enedbyii ire is a the ons of tlM ^ lot» of 2Wi jf a wide i [inicationl ndto; andintl theopenii&l^ raships, I ' I <,? S^n* =S=fc A « i r rx. ..» .*. ,«>' t ■'4,.ir,:;^^, 'ter**!']^ OLBN MORIISON. ,„ fcotof thehilTI^i. ^ •'**^ that li«i at the Kwcol the hiD, nrhlch you descend saddenlr cfa*» k! wli« U«y meet thi^ ^jj,^ ^ ^, ^^ , I called this p«M5^5^*|u„ !31li ,, ' j««»™t owned the ipofc -""wwe l.^^ ""T* ""l"' "tow on •uxmt rf A..' liMlira. of th« wid, which i» b-M«r.» ^ "laawWlhirZ-L-fi T^ "•»• not a ?t%i 1 ^ «• way inds dTtti^ iKiiS-«J -Zj^ ■u^ I ,„ BACKWOODS or CANADA. ^0. «he tapptog «f tl» red-he"*^ «.d Pn ""»* during oar long day', joume, m •»« «^ ^^ y ' In IhMe TOf* toBtadM one wooM n»turell> be M . . ^. the ab«oce of man would 1»« dtowrf N«toea*\M tat the contrary «einslol. ^ "^ jS^ ^M »in«l. a« more .1«» Umom. *J™^rj™ai»ninthel»u8h. U«i> dant in the ckaied *«"«*» ^"""1^, ^ 4, indortry-ippliea their want. -^V^' Mddnit a scanty mWetenoe in the fcrert. w„l««. hear.. la^on^ lynM. »« ^"^^^^J the country ittelt, aa V^' „ the vm> U fonn .he tree, of -7 "^r."^ Z M> Hid mighty river, of Canada eicew. ^ •^^l^lTtof pictoe«f»'«»'3' '" "", *^^ Jmrth of timber alonehaa any pieM «ni» young g"™r 3e« I except the heinl ;^r^ exhemeiy light ^ t^ «*»hi«g tint of g-cen. Even %* 'vben r ' \'#- TRAVILLINO IN THE WOODS. J» itripped theforest it is still beautifid and verdant The young beeches too are prettv en«..^h T. i« our parks and woodbnds at home ^^^^P^u^ Tfcereinno i^pearance of venerabfe antiquitvin the Cundian woods. There »i» «« ""qaiiymthe oJu. Omt miZbe ai^th?«o^- "T"' 'P'^"'^ *. ^" ^ **"*** *"« patnaroha of the fores* *^!^(brm«y„il«, Hm pine. S » ™* b-W than U» «^ t«.^ «^^ ~ ■oted, «. a^ «oeiw Oe S '"■"l '"«»!' top.! this it fa tto ttT™^ • Z\J^^ ««» more liable u, inwanl de^ MpA ., I had «en and l»arf of a,lS.to^ „' »w»d» in Canada. T n. ■•..< ____ j """km o. e«i«.i»«ju?^, "•' prepared fcr «uch a ' •« we trawUed aloiw thig daT: ind>«) » iTj. «™<1 the name of a^ hSl CJT ^^' "«. pu«a .ide b, rd^^TrrnCaiS jliSsfiSSoiil'A' lio'..^' ' J.J- ^ .^-aiaf -.>.' »^. wf-aiS'*' ..'*■!. 114 BACKWOODS OP CANADA. hi Striped appearaooe of these bridges they are apt^ enough termed oordmoy. Oter these aboiiundi>Ie owdnroys the vehicle jolti, juminng from log to log, mth a shock that must be enduied with as good a gnue as possij^te. Ifjfon ^^Rild bear these knocks, and pitifess i)^||^ngs and bompiBgs, wiihool wry facta, yoor |a^»^ and pbi- kMophy would far exceed mine ;-~8C«lml)pte I ha^ beoaose I would not cry. Imagine yoa4Me me perched up onnseat compoaj of carpet-bags, trunks, and sundry packages, in i vehkle little better than a gn^ rough deal box Mt on wheels, the sides bang merely pegged in sottalj more than onoe' I found mysdf in ralher an awkvnri predicament, owing to Che said aides jumping out IittibieVery midst of a deep mud-hole out wenttk front board, and with the shock went the teamsle (driver), who kioked rather confounded at finding himself kidged just in the middfe of a slough asU as th^ **Skingh of Despond.*" For my part, m iJ oaald\do«no good, I kept my seat, and patientlij awaited the restoration to order. This was m\ efiectod, and all went on well again till a jolt a hng^ pine-tree gave sodi a jar to the ill-set thai one of the boards danced out thai oompoaedl bottom, moA » sack of flour and bag of salted] whkhvTasV its way to a settWs, whose clearingi had to pMB/ in the way, were ejected. A good ten ster is ^eld^m taken aback by such trifles as thne. He ii,.|br abould be, provided with an axe. ntm ««■■ I* Allies I— fcsmllinfflr ftmiin^tffC fit be tt^uirol^ided with an instrument of this kind; >iik^M&. -tt»iiii8tt> i-t '~W ?■«»'-. S*OAOITT OF CAMADUK B0»9B». w OM am anmr fbr the ibetedes that mav im- Hit form lb. bottom betog qiUckl, repl«ri.'^ ^goy-n over ^ ^^ „j LTW-^ -d^Mdmoy i now ag.i„, Oie trunk of «mr.Zd "r •«, now mountinj- o«r »m. Men o^ JSZ th bok. uid .tones, and to n^a^ZT^ U»«« round anddippa, ti^tttt^SI^ I track, Ukh^ |^^ ^^ ^j^^^^y ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ :%ftS^-,:w^ ii I J lie " BACKWOODS OF CANAPA. ing there was but one road. We were nearly two miles from the last settlement, and he said we oagbi ta he within sight of the lake if we were on the right road. The only plan, we agreed, was for him to go forward and leave the team, and endeavour to a9ce^ tain if he were near the water, and if otherwise, to ^return to the house we had passed and inquire tk '"way * After running fuU half a mile ahead be returned wUhadejected countenance, saying we must be wrong, for he saw no appearance of water, and the roadw were on appeared to end in a cedar swamp, as tbe further he went the thicker the hemlocks and cedan became ; so, as we had no desire to commence onr settlement by a night's lodging in a swamp— wbet^ to use the expression of our driver, the cedars grew as thick as liairs on a cat's back,— we agreed to retrace our steps. After some difficulty the lumbering machine wi turned, and slowly we began our backward marAi We had not gone more than a mile .when a boy came i along, who told us we might just go back again,« j there was no other road to the lake ; and added, wiA a knowing nod of his head, "Master, I guess if JMJ had known the bush as well as I, you would nod have been fule enough to turn when you were goiid just right. Why, Any body knows that them cedaal and himlocks grow thickest near the water; 90j«j may just go back for yoijr pains." J It was dark, save thl^t the stars^came forth willj more t^n usuaTbrilliahc^ when we toddeSTy efissp" from the depth of the cioomv forest to the showi OVERTAKEN sr KlOfiT. ^^ tbeaotiful little lake, that gleamed the more brightly h^-r .t, and th. towering pi„e-woodsZ ^^ ^*^^'*^r * ^"«* ^^'^ *^ ^^"^•tone. which uon^ which the drijer had hasUly thrown CX waggon, sat your ch|ld. in anxious , expectation ^ |«^.s^ ^ce to my ^^^^^ But when the echo of his voice had died away we leanl only the gmgUng of the waters at the hei of . 7!^ '"t ^ ^"' "»^ »»*^ °»'^ur of a wterfaU some half mile below them f !ir!^ "^r T ^^^ *"y h*bitotion, no gleam »f l#t from the rfiore to cheer us. In vain we K *i*,**Tf ^^'^ orbaryf some house- hold dog, that might assure us we were not doomed pass the night in the lone wood. We began now to apprehend we had i«aUyloBt the ly. To attempt returning through the deepening « of the forest in search of any one to guide « quite out of the question, the load beiii^«o •fined that we should soon have been lost i7 the -ofttiewoods. The last sound of tl« waggon- . had died away in the distance; to have over-* - '^^y^J^ve been impossible. Bidding me ' t^mctliLirfmr^i --my hnsbaad forced SIP"^ I ,. ^~^-' * "««»» •"/ uusoana forced his ►j through tbe tangled underwood along the bank, '" \ti^ \ 118 BACKWOODS OF CANADA. in hope of disoovieriiig some sign of the hoube m ■ongfat, whiA we had every teason to suppose most be near, though prpbab% hiddctp by thejdense mp of trees front our sight. As I sat in the wood in mlence and in darlcncH, my thoughts gradilaUy wandered back across tiv Atlantic to my dear mother and to my old home ; and I thought vrhat would have been your feelings could you at that moment have beheld me as I sat on the cold mossy stone in the profound stiUliess of that rat leafy wiWemessi thousands of mfles from all th«| holy ties of kindred and eaily associations that nub home^n all countries a haDoWed spot It was a ir» ment to pra» upon my mind the importance of tin step I had taken, in vohmtaiily sharing the lot of th emigrant — ^in leaving the land of my birth, to wbidi, in all probability, I might never again return. Grnt as was the sacrifice, even at that.moment, strange si was my situation, I felt no painful regret or feirttj misgiving depress my mind. A holy and tranqdj peace came down upon me; soothing and softenii|| my spirits into a calmness that seem&i as unmiw as was the bosom of the water that lay stretched M before my feet. My^verie vras broken by the Bght plash of aj die, and a bright line of li^t showed a canoe d ing over the lake: in a few minutes a well-ki and friendly voice greeted me as the little haAi moored among the cedars at my feet My huilr having gained a projecting angle of the shore, Iscevered the wdcome blaze of the wood fi re inj log-house, and, after some difficulty, had succeeded! ili8..4^s^l^s*^ik .ijj! ,. , insiyK^iiuiiSK;' *itJ*w«™oSap!ii^^wTO»^ ■ n\ tA ^ ->,-. * t ^OOHl KiClpf ION. •JJ*^tad «»rt ft. dd., •!». tad.„ ^ ' li|(«fce that Maud on the luvtli of the kut-hoi^L J hi. wife. Tft? !rTT^,"*»*««^ «l<»nicae« i 3r«wl^ ^' * •***' fatwdueed, bj^epondMiddeiyrtedfirther. "»«"»« «»» » «o gntefid to the heM: ««, .. rZv^ ~~«om«l to Ei^tod. w»™ ,«*^ Irfrftc cooilbrt: •« eO erait. they vnm .^^ lawpo weu lof^^ as we now are. . maytadeed oomktar oonelvee fcrtuote in not ^Wged to go t once toto the mde Ami, Z. "M to ,ou „ the only heWtation on ou, lanS ^ rf .or fortitude waa ldndly>a«d » ^ ^ «Ao laaisted on our remaining beneath hte .M. reof till such tune aa we dJ5 t,;^ ™ h^ZT'T^ H«» Uien we are for tli ■\ Wof the nttle comfortg and luxuries of life, I eigoy i- pi i * 1 T, S*i.| 1 ^'S t T, - 1 . ,•• 1 H i mH 1 ' (SbB 1 !■ Ih 1^ ISO BACKWOODS OF OAIWPA, Mceltent health and apifita, and am very hajipy iii th^ sodeiy of thoae aroaitd me. , 'Jlie children are akeady very fond of me. T^ij haw discovered my paiasion for flowers, which ^ey diligenUy search for among the stumps and along the lake sh«5re. I have begun collecting, and though the season is far advanced, my hortus siccus bo^ts oT several elegant specimens of fern ; th« yellow Cant- ^dian violet, which blooms twice in the year, in the spring and fsjl, as the autumnal season is ex|;ires8iwly termed; two sorts of Michaelmas daisies, ftsweciD the shrubby asters, of which the varieties heye aretnly elegant; and a wreath of the festoon pifle, aptettj evergreen -wiih creeping stalks, that run along the ground three or four yards in length, seeding up, at the distance of five or six inches, erect, stiff, greea stems, resembUng some of our heaths in the dark, * shining, green, chaffy leaves. ITie Americans on* ment their chimney-glasses with gariands of tUi plant, mixed vntti the dried blossoms 6f the life-eveh lasting (the pretty white and yellow flowers we cal fc)vc-everlas6ng): this plant is alsa caUed festooir pine. In my rambtes in the wood <»ear the house I have discovered a traiUng plant bearing a nearresem. : blanoe to the cedar, whkh I consider has, wiih eqal propriety, a didm to the name of jproond or creepai oedar. ' / j As much of the botany of thesfe unsettled poiJ«^ of the country are unknown to the naturalist, afi the plants are quite nameless, 4 take the liberty < i -ij-r^jMina- nnmaa unon them ac<^"^'ng to incliM** tr feucy. But while 1 am wriUng about fliwen™ ,^^ ^^^^^ A »• BKi.- ISl m m facetting Uiat yoa wifl be more interested in hunng what steps we are taking on our land My husband has hired people to log up (that is, to draw the chopped timbers into heaps for burninir) •ad dear a space for building our house upon. lie ha abo entered into an agreement with a youmr «tUer in our vidnity to complete it for a certain sum wUimandwithout,aQcordingtoagivenplan. %eare however, to caO the "bee," and provide ev^ thing* necessary for the entertainment of our worthy hive Now you know that a "bee." in American language* or rather phraseology, aignifies those ftiendlymwtiL rf ne^hbours who assembte at your summonstoraL ftejalb of your house, shanty, bam. or any other baiWiiig: this is termed a "raising bee." TTien there are Ipgging-bees, husking-bees, chopping-bees. and quUting-bees. The nature of the work to be done gives the name to the See. In the more popu- bos and long^Kttkd districts this practice is mudi- dacontmued, but it is highly useful, and afanoet indis- pensable to new settlers in the remote townships. wh«« the price of bbour is proportionably high, and workmen difficult to be procured. Imagine the situation of an emigrant with a wife Md young family, the latter possibly too young and helpfees to render him the kast assistance in^ i^ poitent business of chopping, k)gging, and building. on their first coming out to take possession of a k)tlf wd land; how deplorable wouM their situation be. I^J^^^"!^ '^"" ^'^ "^ it^dy helpfa^ - IM ^ BACEW00D8, Of CANADA. and if it has ito diaadvantageB, wch ^ instance ai beinff called upon at on inoonwwnt aeason for a retuni of help.' by thoi* who 'baife form^y assisted y^ yetiti.~indj^»«b^^ «rtitodeoughitobedieerft%^pMd. It«mnta«t, LnHed in the light of a deW^ honour; you cm- iSheforoedioftttendabee i&. return, but no one that can does iefw»,ttnlea8ftomurgentreaaon8; and If wtt do not ftnd it powibte to atticnd in person you oiar Mo^ * eubrtitiite in a 8Bnrant or in cattle, if you hatea-yoke. 'i-''^i^'\' '^' ' ' ■ ^ ' ■ . / does the eqwOiainfeijatein of America appear to such adfantagoaainmeetingsofthissort. All disUnctions 4d ranM^ication, and wealth m for the time volun- tarfly Wdaside. Youwill see theaon of theeducay -entleman and that of the poor artisan, the officer and Uie wriwte soldier, the independent settler and (he labourer who works out for hire, cheerfully uniting m one common cause. Each individual is actuated by ttie benevolent desire of afflbrdmg help to the helpless, and exerting himself to raise a home for the homeless. At present so smaU a portion of the forest is cleared on our lot, that I can give you Uttle or no descripOoD of the spot on which we are located, otherwise than ihatit borders on a fineexpanse of water, whichforms one of the Otanabee chain of SmaU Lake. I hope, however, to give you a more minute description « gur situation in my next letter. For the present, then. 1 bid you adieu. ;%^>:i. :^... . . ■'■'■I -■■■■ ..:^.;'>.v^ IMCoiy«NHNCM or pibst mttlbment. 183 I'^ll. Lettbr VIII. Ooa l^hmrt^ is not yet finidied, though tt'is in , !^.'L^"^ Wea»8liUinSSedtoL^ hospitabte^^ndiim of S— - and hi. wife fork home. This heing their fertsettiementon their land %lmve as yet many difficulties, in common with dl«««dents in the bockwoods, to putupwith^ ye. IlH^ha^aaneb^ki^ JS:JuSL^ ^J^IZZ^ "* ^ P'**^"* privations, to ^18 admiraW, calculated to eflect their conquS^ lVya« now about to remove toalaiger and mo«, ^mjnodiouB house that has been ^ this ii" hanngustheu^eoftheoldonetiUouroLisready • We b^n to get reconciled to our Robinson Crusoe «ort rflife. wd theconsidemtion that thepieaentevilB « but temponuy, goes a great way towarfs recon- ding us to them. Jne of our greatest inconveiiiences arises fbm the ^ of^ roads, and the distance at which we Z^ IT"^ ^^aiW or ^w« where previsions •reto be procured. Till we mmj m own^g r ^H m A f a ttegoqr wr I «wg8, sheep, and poultry, we i^ust be dependent upon v:t Si)*'**" ,/ ,, , ■l^™^ ^..■.< JM BACKWOODS or ..CANADA^ K:v, the stores for food of eyeiy kind. These supplies ha-ve to be brought u^ at considerable expenHe and km of time, through our be«uUful bush roads ; which, to use the vfintds of a poor Irish woman, ** can't be no wonor." 1*Och, darlinC she said, "but they are juai bad enough, and can't be no worser. Och, hut they am't Uke to our iligant roads in Ireland." You may send down a list of groceries to be for- warded when a team comes lip, and when we examine oar stores, behold rice, sugair, currants, pepper,. and- mustard all jumbled into one mess. What think jou of a rice-pudding seasoned plentifuUy with pepper, mustaid, atid, may be, a little rappee or prince's mix- ture added by way of sauce. I thipk the. recipe would cut quite a figure in the Coo&'s Oracle or Mn. Dalgaim's Practkje of Cookery, under the original title of a ♦* bush pudding." ' And then woe and destnictton to the brittle ware that may dmnce-to travel through our roads. Lucky, indeed, ate we if, through the superior carefiilnefls d th^ person who packs them, B»ore tto one-half hap- pens to arrive in safety. For such mishaps we haw no redress. The storekeeper lays the accident upon the teamster, and the teamster upon the bad rmds, wondering thathsiumself escapes with whole hooti after aj^lKy'Srough the bush. This is now the worst season of the year ;-^>btf, and just after the breijiking up of the snow. Nothing liaidly but an oz-cart can travel ak>ng the roads, and 01^ tha^ with difficulty, occupying two days to per- -form thfl iournc v ft"*^ th eworst of the.nnttteri8, th>t^ there are times when the most necessary articles ft . JIUB8TITUTI rot TIA. i provMons arts not to be procured at any price. You r ^t'li^i'J*"'^^^" ^ ^^ "^^ to hold hJinaelf pretty independent, not only of the luxuriet ud delicacies of the table, but not unfiequently eU of the very necessaries. . .J-!t*^I!S*!!?-" *° ^ P™*'^' "»<^ time d>aei. a «^ty of flour, owing, to some accident that harhappened to the mill, or for the want of proper "W^/''5«^«» grinding; or perhaps the w^r •ad bad roads at^ same lime prevent a team com- ing up, or people fipom going down. Tlien you must hsw lecourw to a neighbour, if you have the irood fortune to^ near one. or fare the best you can on potatoes. .Thepotatoeisindeedagreat blessing here- newsettlerswould otherwise be oilen greatly distressed! M the poor man and his family who are wit^ Mwrces, without the potatoe must starve Once our stock of tea was exhausted, and we were unabfeto procure more. In this dilemma milk would ^;!!^".*" r***"* substitute, or coflee, if we had \?^ It; but we had neitSr the one nor^ tSl!^-.L'"^*°*^'^ ^*"'^*« tea~4iemlock ff ^ K t^ PT^ *° "»y taste, a vile decoc I^D rUiough I recognized some herb in the tea that t«.soW .a London at five shillings a pound, which I fcS^Jrr ""**^ ^' than dried hemlock |I«W8 reduced to a coarse powder. ^ ^ laughed at our wiy faces, declaring the ^«a was excenent . and he set us all an e«Lpte d nabng sa gy of this truly sylvan W^rneT SirdoqoeneriaW in gaining. d.i^ ^^ f if ew*' .'^'' " ^J^-v ■; ' h IM BAOK WOODS Ot CANADA. emild not beliavc it wai only second to young hywn. To his apsuraace tbat to its other good qualities il united medicinal irirtues, we rq?lied that, Uke allo(ha physic it was veiy unpalatiiWc. ^ « After all," said S-tt^ , with ft thoughtful w, -the bkasings and the evils of this life owe their dwf effect to the foice of contrast, and arc to he estimated by that wincey. We should not appreciate (he comforts we eiyoy half so much did we not occasion ' aUf feel the want of them. How we ahaU vatac the «onw»nienoesof adeaied farm aftera few years. when we can realize aU tj|e necessaries and many of jhe luxuries <^ life*" . ^,. ,. « And how we ahaU enjoy gwen tea after this odiom decoction of hemlock," s^ I. ••Very true; and a oomfortahle frame-house, ud nice gaidsn, and pleasant pastures, after these daik fonsts. Idir-hoiiMS, and no garden at alL « AndSieabsenoeof honrid black stumps," rejofaied I «* Yes, and the absence of horrid stamps. D^ pend upon it, my dear, your Canadian faim will seel to50aap«fect paradise by the time tt is aU under d. 1 action; and you win took upon H with Uie mos pIcMwe and pride from the consciousness that rtirs Srr(hrestwild.wWch.ljfthe^^ andwctt-spplied means, has dianged to frmtfulfieW^ Every fresh comfort you realise around youj«n •« to your bappineas; every improvement within-A» or wiihottt wiU raise a sensation of gratitude and* Hg^^ in your ffliMi. tj which th<^ Bg^ ^ in your mnd. tO wmcn warn: »m>.^ '^Am^ i'«i'.tij«#l 'ere. tinging, flie fantasUc pate cnmsofl hght, much as I have seen Ihe clouds Irl ";:f:i^^r. awarm, sdtry spring moSg^ Not a breew ruffled the lilrter., notalSf (^Z M««» had not entirely ftllen) moved. This perfect J^aljonofJ.^ «tte of i„nd alid snow tbU came on iritliui any Fenous warning. I w«i standing neara«ow,of «f, ooUecting some beautiful crimson licheHs, 8 . fiHl^ TJ/T ^^^^^^ inth his o«n drawing l!rr^ Suddenly we l^eaid a distant hollow nZ pr iwnd tt»t TDomentaril, increased, the air amund fc^/tSf^^***™- t looked up. and bdield in* douds. hitherto so motionless, movii^ with amT ■«« wpidity in several different diiectiomi. A dense '' LT'P^ ^ fcqg^M- S-:!r — > w tw> had^ ' "on* «> near, and now caUed to me to use all the „-:m ^M*u.'e, while the tt,uud„ n shock of tree, filing in all direcUons at the edj. Xe forest, the rending of the benches from th piles I had i«»' V^^' "■* *« ™* °' *' n "*; JId ««««ng down the lake, made rae senableol. |The^tt«ed houghs of the pines darkened U, ■ i «, they whirled above n»e ; then came the blmd.^ Lw-storai : but I ooyM behold the progress of lb. Se The driver of the oxen h«l ttirown km* rZ M whOe the poor beasts Md down « be^k £js.%»tly """""S TK^TanlS L.^ »*«««» S , my husband, and the with anxiety the wiM havoc of the warrmg rf.^ Not a leaf remained on the trees when the humoK ^^vl^Aeywere bare ».d desolate. ThuseaW the short rd«n of the Indian summer. •^llSnk r notion enterUined by »me tra«*. tt^ the Indku. summer is caused by the annual «» S^on of for.-, by those Indians .nhabmng h Sored reatomi bcy»»d the larger lakes « ab™i SrtTinstani what immense i^ of — m Jb. yesrly con-»n«l to afltel n«|^ the wIkM ""•~"rr ir:?'.ht;rw;»^«reist i^i^r;"i^rLhun;^^ SXte the peculiar warmth ami hazy appcaranced ',-^S^' jen part tH In8tin^ le thunder it the edge es from the * the whiri- sensible of ned. irkencd the the blinding rress of the shold of oar own hinndf i down thdr ilting of the id, and the lup, watdied ng element!, the hurricaM Jhus ended me travelkrB, t annual con- nhabiting the kes is absurd racts of woods y the whole ol rides, it take* lie fire is leas! | imidity of ' should rati appearance d I ■mniflii^ sil mi \i hi a if -^ itr, I I If Vi' '5 i* \m 1 I : i s •i I n. 1 1 '<• i«is '*> cw "11^ -.< tin iir thai i Mjbg on of I if ODtegbing Utorpsrt of fokM been i dtontionwiD piof dearii qn^tHyofde Jk diflbrepoe •qnintedwU Hitherto nn] Thfrantnmnl ftiteariyintli of a morniiig Stia, thoi^ \ uddleofitlf W« dreadjr enmiKiiMd w WM mwith I mm, thelatl f^Mmft damp Hoifver, it 14 dbate thai i mdgment of it noeof Hapac Jvw'nsidMo f vast noir Mr land. Hi S|:f,K'" ADVANCKS OP WINTER. 131 (In iir UMi nUdrlES this getaon, to the fenneiitatkm mj/ag (m of 80 g;raat a xanm of vagttable pnattcir that ji andogbing a state of deoompoatum during the liltor part of October and beginning of November. It^ been sqipoeed byscMne persons that a gieat tikraiion wB be eflfooted in thb season, as the jmo- (pi of dealing tiie land continues* to decrease the qoafatity of decaying wgefiti^n. Nay, IhAveheard 1^ difl^pce is already «jbserfaMe by those long aqninted. with ihe AmMican continent' Hitlierto my etperienoe of the climate is favonzable. nifraiitmnn has beieli veryfine, though the frosts a(e ftHciiiy in the month of September; at first sKgfatly, of a morning, bat towards October more sereiely. StiD, though the first port of the day is ooU, the wddle of it is WHnii and dwerfuL We alreadyiee the stem advaness ef winter. It eomnieiieed f«rf decidedly ftom ti^ bnaUng np of (be fodian snamth Novembor is not at all Kite the «iiw month dt home. IRie eaily paM wipi soft and mno, the latter eoU* with lne» finsts and eocasjonal fUbof snow; biiiitdoeeiw»tseemtopoaMss the dark, gioamy, damp dianoCer of our Britkh Novembera. fioNwer, it ii not one season^ aeqoaintanos with the imate that enables a person to fioimi any comet •udpnent of its general character, )|ii« olose obser?- noeof its psadtarities and vidssitudes during many )«»' residence in the country. . I most now teH yon what my hndiaiid is doing ou ev luuL H« has let out ten aona to some Irish ikntf for the iHnter. They are to raceive fiMvteen ik'M foil &Jh?>UUr#».a'aB'iJfjlfti>.'«i/ tk-it! *». Mi*..uttiW. Hi BACKWOODS «Oir^OANADA» ^... .?■ iotlan per acre for chop|Miig, bornlngi and kndtg ji Ihat quantity. The ground is to be periectly cietnj of every thing but tlie stumps: dieae wiU teJce hn ' seven to nine- or ten ^^ean to decay; Uie pitie, btio> Iqck, and fir rrafiaio mopU longer. The proocH i • dearkig away the stumps is too expensive %p m beginners to venture upon, labour bdng° so higk thai it cannot be approprie^ to any but indispeih sable work. The woridn'g season is very short oi aoootttat of the length of time the frost remains oi Uie gromfd. With the exo^^tkm of chop^Hng tms, very fittle oan be done. Thoae that understand the poper ilianagement of uncleared land, usually und» bniab (that is^^ oit down all the smaD timbersaDd bmsbWood), while the la^f is yet on t)iem; tbisii pilled in heaps, and the wiptd&UeiLiifiBS are chdppd fhroiagh in lengths, to be logged up in the spring with tht winter's diopping. The latter end of thi fumnijeritQd. the autumn. are the betft seasons fo this viorlE. The leaves then become quite diy and tear, and l^reatly assist in the iniporCant bujunea of bnming off the heavy timbers. . Another reason ii^ IkU wfaea. the snow has fUlen to smne depth, tb light timbers cannot be cut dose itt the ground, a Ibe dead branches and other inounbranoes oollectd and thrown in heaps. We shall have i^Mmt three aerea ready for tprii|' crops, provided we get a good burning of that which id afavady Choppid near the site, of the house,— thi will be Bbwn wMi oats, pumpkins, Indian own, and •pqtotoes: tt^^ ottier ten aiat;s will^be ready for putting in a crop of wheat. So you see it will bei >>. • ,- PltBPAI|ATI0N8 yOR SPRING. 133 lldaf tiiAe. before we reap a harvest. We could not Lq, get in spring^ivfaeat ea^ly enough to come to Ipsftctkm this year. [ iffe riialf try to get two cows in the spring, as they Le BtUe expense diiring the spring, summer, and Lgtmnn ; and by the winter we shall have puaipkiiifl '**■■ 4^ y. \S4 BACKWOODS OF CANADA. / Lkttke IX. ■ * « LoMof ayokaofOwii.— ConttraDtionor aLog-hooM— GIusien'auKv peoten'work.— Deteriptionornew Log-liouM.— WildFiuiUoftlwCM* try.— Wallu ou th« las.— Sitaatioa of Ibe Houm.— LiJi«i vaul »vttaimkt j floenery. ) House, April 18,18J3. But it is time tha^ I should {^ve you some accooni of our log^houae, into which we moved a few daji before Christmas. Many unlooked-for delays having hindered its completion before that time, I began to think it would never be habitable. . The fint i^isfpMune that happened wa#ihe loss of a fine yoke of oxen that were purchased to draw ia the house^logs, that is, the logs for raising tlfl> waib of the house. Not regarding the bush as pleasant a their finrmer master's cleared pastures, or perha^foR' seeing some hard wwk to come, early one morniog they took intotiinar heads to ford the lake at the head of the rapids, and march off, leaving no trace of their route excepting- their footing at the water's edge. After many days spent in vain search for them, tlie work was at a stand, and for one month they wen gone, and we began to ,give up all expectation oi hearing any news of them. At last yn learned tbej W«^ some twenty miles off, in .a distant towns^ having made their way through bush an d swam^ creek andlake, bacllo their foraier owner, withii V ■■ PICNIC IN TB«, BACKWOODS. 13a iirtiiicl that supplied to them the want of roads and conpass. Own have been known to traverse a tract of wild comtoy to a dwtance of thirty or forty miles goinir in s&ect hne for their former haunts by Sro j ^ when, memory could not avaU them. In the I ''"Sje «>n«»»der it is scent as well as memoiy that gmdeshim to hip f«r^ home ;-^bui bow ta Z ^d«^ of the oxen to be^;«»ounted «„? They ratamed home through tfis ma«» of int«min.bta tSlI^K "*"L'^u •" »»^ -^-o- t"! know. lii«g«, would have been be|nldefed and lost \l7J!t ^*^' ""** ^ ^^**** before even the «?i«^^r>"**- '^«»««^«>i- we called ILS'^* "^ °" neigfeboms cheerfoUy hM •■■■ . v^*'. (38 HA^UKWUUDS 0¥ OAMAUA. h' f I ■m- see and feel th*! diioomfort of broken panes, he muK l«arn to put them in his windows with his own hands. Workmen are not easUy to be had in the backwoodi when you want them, and it wouW be prepoeterous to hire a man at high wages to make two days' journey to and firom the nearest town to mend }pir windows. Boies of glass of several # tereut sizes are to be bought at a very cheap rate ii the stores. My husband amused himself by glaxing the windows of the house preparatory to their being filed in. , t To understand the use of carpenter's toQls, I assun you, is no despicable or useless kind of knowledge here. 1 would strongly recommend all young men coming to Canada to acqijire a Utfle acquaintance with this valuable a^^ as they wiU often be put to irreatintonveniwicefbrthewantofit ^ I was once much amu?ed with hearing the remarks made by a wry fine lady, Ihf Reluctant sharer of h« husband's emigration, on seeing the son of a mi officer of some rank in the service busily employed » . making an axe-handle out of a piece of rock-elm.^ '^ I wonder that you aUow George to degrade himself so," she said, addressing his father. The captain kwked up with surprise. "Degn* himself! In vrhat manner, madam ? Myboynaths •wears, drinks whiskey, steals, tior tells Ues." «But you aUow hin^to perform tasks of theiMjJ J menial kind. What is he now better than a Iwlgij * carpenter; and I sup^ you altow him to mjM, \ ■ ■ ■ | -' , ' . ; ■■■— ,, - , , ^ , I . .. . I ' " ~ •' _ . I • ' ■■■ - ■■■ I m ^Mbst assurctPy t-^. That pile of logs mwj r^ ,,JS?.:, - .■**.; . L(/0UE. CHAKAUTKRISTIC DIA -I would see myboydead before they should un an axe hke common labourers" « Idfene« is the root of all evil> said the captain. r^T^.T'^^^^^ '"y ^" ^ employedif he You win allow this is not a country for gentlemen or Mies (o live in," said the lady. ■ "It is the country for gentlemen that will not work and cannot live without, to starve in," implied the captain bluntly; "an^ for that reason i make »0r boys ear y «%itom themselves to be usefully and a»«ely emi^yed." ^ .^\^?!f^^ ^'^^ "^^^ like common me- chamcs," said Ae lady, indignanUy. «Then, madam, th««dfo«)me. Wecould not Uveas Ne had been used to do at home, or I never would laaw come to this hprrid country." "Having come hither you would be wise to conform ^ arcumstances. Canada is nbt the place for idle Ifoto to retrench a lost fortune in. In sone parts of m ccmnlry you wiU find most articles of provSor as lH'^"l ^"*»°» f^iOdng much dearer, and not so Kood, and a bad market to choose in." Ifor?-' "^^t "''*' "^^^ **»*"' "^^^ Canada is good pr?' said she, angrity. * jLll^a good wuutry ibiu tbfr^wnetrt, ihdusti ■ - y «}* 140 ' BACKWOODS OF CANADA. , - urtisan. It is a fine country /or the poor labourer, who, after a few years of hard toil, can sit dpwn in his own lo^house, and look abroad on his own land, and see his children well settled in life as independent freeholders. It is a grand country for the rich specu- lator, who can afford 4o lay out a large sum in purchasing land in eligiWe situations; for if he have any judgment, he Jwill make a hundred per cent, as interest for his money after waiting a^^few years. But it is a hard country for the poor gentleman, whose habits have rendered him unfit for minual labour. He brings with him a mind unfitted U) his Bituation; and eren if necessity compels him to ex- ertion, his labour is of little value. He has a hard struggle to Uvc. The certain expenses of wages and living are great, and he is obliged to endure many privations if he would keep within compass, and be free of debt. If he have a large family, and brings them up wisely, so as to adi^pt themselves eariyto a settler's life, why he does weU for them, and soon feeb the benefit on his own land; W if he is idle himself, his wife extravagant and discontented, and the diildren Uught to despise labour, why, mailam, they wiU soon ba brought down to ruin. In short, the country is a good country for those to whom His adapted; but if people wiU not conform to the do^ nine of necessity and expediency, they have no buanesi In it It is plain Canadais not adapted to every daa « It was never adapted for me or my feuiily," said t he lad y , d i sd >ii tfu Uy* , — I SI A. ■-;;T->' '~^'iifiy«!S"'''5v^), • '/ ' ■-'.iS*!"'-7S^*r!?'. 'y^H REMOVAL TO LOG-HOUSE. 14| •^Very tfue," was the laconic reply ; and so. ended I the dialogue. But while I have been recounting these remarks, 1^1 have wandered far from my original subject, and ^ft my poor log-house quite in an unfinished state. I At last I was told it was in a habitable condition, liuid I was soon engaged in all the bustle and fatigue lattendant on removing our household goods. We I received all the assistance we required from - , Iwho is ever ready and willing to help us. He I laughed, and called it a "rnown^ bee ;" I said it was jg "fixing bee;" and my husband said it w^ a "setfling bee;" I know we were unsettled enough * till it was over. What a din of desolation is a small Ihouse, or any house under sudi circumstances. The Jidea of chaos must have been taken from a rei^ovitl jor a setting to rights, fot 1 suppose the ancients ■ their j^«in^, as the Scotch call it, as well as modems. Various were the valuable articles of crockery-ware \ perished in their short but W>ugh journey through he woods. Peace to their maiies. I had a good elper in my Irish maid, who sooti roused up famous » and set the house in order. We have now got quite comfortably settled, and I llgive you a description ofour little dwelling. What finished is only a part of the original plan ; the ' must be added next spring, or fall, as draun- es may^suit. A nice small sitting-room with a store closet, « =4100- bMH3^mber fonir the ground^ ■^Ifi ^.jTvv ,^•;> •' ' / i^'^T^''^'^^ *"' H-s" + 'Y''5**'~ I ^ iJ-: BACKWOODS OF CANADA. flow ; there is a good upper floor that will make three sleeping- roomH. ** What a nut^shell !" I think I hear you exdaim, Bo it is at present ; but we purpose adding a hand- some frame front as soon as we can get boards ihigi the mill, which will give. us another pagrlour, long hall, and good spare bed-room. The windows «od glass door of our presisnt sitting-room command plea- sant lake-views to the west and south. When the house is completed, we shallhavc a verandah in front; | and at the south side, wbidi forms au agreeable addi- tion in the summer, being used as a sort of outet I room, in which we can dine, and have the advantage of cool air, {nrotected from the glare of the sun- beams. The Canadbns call these vorandahs '* stoupi.' Few houses, either kig cf firam*, are vnthout then. '^rhe (HlUufg look extremely pretty, wreathed withthi luxuriant hop*vine, mixed with the scarlet creeper vA ** morning glory," the American name for tlw mot qdendid of mi^or convolvuluses. These stoups is really a considerable ornament, as they conceal ini great measure the roug^ lqg>» uid Inreak the btn-j like form of the building. Our parlour is warmed by a handsome FnnfcfitI stove with brass gallery, and fender. Our furnitare consists of a brass-railed sofa, whk^ serves upM occasion for a bed, Canadian painted chairs, a staid pine table, gpreen and wlute curtains, andabandfioiiie| Indian mat that covers the floor. Onc.side oftbtl loom is filled up witii our books. Sodie large nufi »iid m. few ggndjgnn tojniearlx^j^^ ^U 1 I • ■(S>u""f»<'~S 'C^i^r -i^s ■>i^^m>;ft?',t«-<-a WILD 8TBAWBBBRIES. 14J and form the decoration of our little dwelling. Out bed-duunber is furnished with equal simplicity. We i» not, however, lack comfort in our humble home ; I and though it is not exactly such as we could wish, it is 88 good as, under existing circamstanoes, we could Ibve. I am inxiously looking forward to the spring, that Imq fgti a garden laid out in front of the house ; as ^ttsa^^: to cultivate some of the native fruits and which, I am sure, wiU imiwove greatly by k^re. The strawberries that grow wild in Our pas> [tarei, woods, and cleuings, are several varieties, and I Iwr abundantly. They make excellent preserves, and I mean to introduce beds of them into my garden. I There is a pretty little wooded islet on our lake, thai lit called Strawberry island, another lUspberry island ; lihey abound in a variety of fhiits— wild grapes, Inspberries, strawberries, black and red ciurants, a IwOd gooseberry, and a beautiful litt^^traiMng plant jihftt bears white flowers like the mspbbny, and a IdarkiBh purple fruit consisting of a few grains of a Ipbsaot brisk acid, somewhat Uke in flavour to our jdCTrberry, only not quite so sweet. The leaves of Ms plant are of a bright light green, in shape b'ke the B^[weny, to which it bears in some respects so great i nflemblanoe (though it is not shrubby or thorny) li»t I have called it the *♦ traUing raspberry." I suppose our scientific botanists in Britain would ■midcr me very impertinent in bestowing names '^ flo^c" and plants I meet with in these wild "^: I can only say, I am gjad to discover the ' or even the Indian names if I can, and fc«S"- ' BACKWOODS OF CANADA. W^ete ihey fail I cona^er myself free . to becomt flortl godmother; and give them n^mes of my T.^ cboosing. Atoong our wild firnits we have phuns, which, ia iom^ townships, are very fine and abundant; thoe makl admirable preserves, especially when bofled is mapte molasses, as is done by the American hou^ wivei. Wild cherries, also a sort called choke chenies, (torn their peculiar astrin^lit qualities, high and low- bush cranberries, blackberries) which are brought by the Squaws in birch baskets,— aH these are found oi the pluns'^and beaver meadoWs. ^Thc'km-bush cnui- herries are brought in great quantities^ by the Indiaoi to the towns and vUlages. They form a standiiig preserve on the tea-tables in most of the settkn' houses; but for richness of flavour, and for beauty of ippeaiance, I admire the high-bush cranberria; these are little sought after, on account of the laige flat seeds, which prevent them from being used aii jam : the jelly, however, is delightful, both in ookv and flavour. . The bush on which this cranberry grows resemWa the guelder rose. The blossoms are pure white, and grow in fciose umbels; they are very ornament4 iffa«n in bkxHn, to the woods and swamps, sUitiif ' the lakes. The berries are rather of a long ovd, «<; of a brilliant scarlet, and when just touched by Ik frosts are semi-transparent, and look like pen('-^ bunches €^ scarlet grapes. I was tempted one fine iroety afternOon to Uke " wdk withmv h usb and on the ' " ' was perfectly safe. I must confess for the fint luiH ^^^ ^ALKS ON THE ICB. 14i Bile 1 felt very timid, especially when the') ice is ■) tnuisparent that you may see every littfe; pebhle or weed at the bottom of the water. Sometimes (]m iocT was thick and vrhite, and quite opaque. As m kept within a little distance of the shore, I w^ linidt bythe appearance of some splendid red berries 4n the leafless bushes that hung over the maigin of the like, and soon recognised them to be tibe afore- ■idh^-bunAi cranberries. My husband soon stripped the boc^ of their tempting tevawre, and I, de- Ijgiited with my prize, hastened home, and boiled the fruit with some si^rar, Ip eat at tea with our cak6s. ttmet ate any thing more delicious than thfeyproved/ the more so perhaps (ionjr having been so long with- - out tasting fruit of any kind, with ttie exception of imerfes, during our journey, and at'Peterborou|^. Soon aAer this I made another excuilfion on the ice, but it was not in quite so sound it state. We never- thdeas walked on for about three-quarters of a mile. We were overtaken on fmr return by S ^ with'ia haadaleigfai wfaidi is a sort of wheelban^w, eaSh lA portos use, without «des, and instead of a vfheel, is fiaed on wooden runners, which you can drag over 1^ snow and ice with the greatest ease, if ever so heavily laden. S insisted that he would draw me . home over the ice Hke/ a Lapland lady on a dedge. /^ I WIS soon seated in state, and in^another juaiite felt myself impelled forward with a velocity thiii nearly took away my breath. 6y this time we reaished the dMM I was in a gkm frtmi head to foot. v^ Too would br p»eni^f~wilfi Ifie^Kiaflwr^lrar^ The sp i f 4'' 146 BACKWOODS OF CANADA. 8loi»ng bank above the lake, distMit from the wuier'i edge some hundred or two yards: the lake is not quite t^ mife from fhore to shore. To the south again we command W different view, which will be extremely jHretty When iully opened— (t fine smooth basin of water, diversified with beautiiiil islands, that rise like verdant groves from its bosom. Below these th^re is a ftU of some feet, where the waters of the lakes,- confined within a narrow channel betweea beds of limeston^rush along with great impetuoaty, foaming and dashW op the spray in mimic clouds. During the summ^rthe waters are much lower, and we can walk for 8ome~way along the flat shores, which are cMnposed of difll^nt strata of limestone, full of fossil remains, evidently of very recent fo^ mation. Those shelb and river-insects that are scattered loose over the surface of the limestone, left by the recession cf the waters, are similar to the shells and insects incrusted id the body of the lime- stone. I am UM that the bed of one erf* the lakei above us (I forget which) is of limestone ; that it abounds in a variety of beautifhl rivershells, iviui are depoated in vast quantities in the different strata and also in the bkwks of limestone scattered akxi; the shores. . These shells are also found in grat profuaon in the soil of the Beaver meadows. When I see these things, and hear of them, I regret I know nothing of geology or conchologyl 11 1 might then be able to 'Account for many drauD* stances that at present only excite my curiosity. «TuBt beknr^die walerfaft I was mentioning tliar^ m a lairious natitral arch in the limestone rock, which J. W-v'«&isAv^^'j^4iJ-!?y''' Ml, ■** '^S*''^'-f y v^ ?"/__;^3g««*^%j8»9;?i*^'^'t"r«f^sSi*4'-«. (AttlihMrlactk* Interior N«riKktiMi«r ihf Dhlrkte of N«»tt«U« ud Ui^n Oaaada. V !il k8 jUj^'a !i.iSA.©A6.**''*i%tij»i^'*s^ ' i!'^ I " #i *' - I, i?-^^r ^< ite.,. aVW^ 'iji'- rU»i.j^v"'-^W**''^'/^''l(^'^'^ •fKl LAKE, AND SirRHOUNDING/scllflRY. Jijhis place mes to a he^t of/ten or fifteen fe« U» a waU; It is oompoeed rf liu«e plates of gwy to«rton^ ijr^g one upon the 0^; the ardisiS; po«bly, l^the action ofW rwOiing throughft lock. Hemlodc fin and cedats aierwaTinff on this devated spot, ahoye the tarlmlent waftsn, andcfcinne fte stone bamer with a sad Jot ^evei^fiidi^^ Ah- Here, too, the wild .fee, red creepe^.M»d p«8on-eldcr, luxuriWe, and wreathe fimtastiTblmera ^themose^ered masses of the stone. Asud- ^, ^* "L^ ^"^ ^'''^^ «» ^ • ^"o^ per- fectly flat>d smooth bed of the same stonT^Wi- ppnj^r^ of fiill fifty feet along the shore. Be- in th^ fissures of this bed I found some rose- bashes, anda variety of flowers that had sprunir up imng the spring and summer, when it was I^dnT and tree from the action of the water J^l P^ will shorUy be appropriated for the builiiig of a saw and grist-mill, which, I fear, will [nt«fti.^th its naiunU beauty. I dare say.TaJSl 1^ ,T^^ ?!?^" *" ^ neighbourhood who will «g«t the erwtion of so usefiU and valuable an acquisition to this portion of the township, ^e fint time you send a parcel or box. do not Net to enclose flowerifceds, and the stones of phms, damson^ buUace. pips of the best kinds J ** iauw«Tiere trom seed, Hgpod m without bring pdVedi th. Itter. [kWTOr, m, finer in me and flavour. I shonH ■■il'ip"«*^«- -!'"■• V. 150 BACRW00D8 OF CAWAOA. U gratdiil for • few niiti fiom our beautiful old «lock-Btti teew. !>«*« <>1** ^J*"^^ ****^ """y 8*"' bote hiw we bad in thnr bnmchM wben I was ai Ughiof spirit aiid>«8 llwe (torn cmo tt the squimk «iat peitthei unoog tte topmoii boogfaa) above m. tilk of andi %ild titekt aa eUmblng nut-trees, the bMlMV'^ ' FortBWHrfjF, young todl«»«io in no temjh tttioft bMt,' Mdng thiil nolhing bnl a squirrel or i b««r ooaM cKmb ^ onr lofty iatettrtnti. Even i aailor mwrt; g^ M up in deq^afa^. ' ~ :^ ^ I am vwydeifaoua of having the aeed^ pf our wiU piwiioaa and «#«*! violet preserved forme ; I loqg to introdnde Ihent in oar meadows and gardeu Pray let Hie obttaye-cbildMn collect some. Uf Iwsband requests a smaM quantity of iucen* taea» wbich he seems indined to think may be nt liK(atidU-advant*i|».' >-'•"- ^'.' ' ,,..- '^mmm }^f,x^^ >•/ .TSwH'eiii'^nff'-* % '■ ""^i ? '''^^'^ ^yif^jwAw^i VABUT^ONS IN THt WIATUIS. Ul Lbthr X. - WtalOTv-CooBtiy Mkiwt in PoMtod AaM«h«iaM.-8u|ur- -«->'>^8«uoii>-Maw«^ Ibe sensation of cokl eariy in the morning was yfy ptiniul, producing an invduntarylhuddering, andan [almost convulsive feeling in ihe chest and stomach. jOwrbreaths were copgpated inh oar-fWiBtontheshcem -J Wnnkets.-^vinrr thinrwe tduked of iSetoT nemed to freeze our fingers. This exccssiw degree C, ^ viV^yk , ; *! ■H I 1 R^'^'^P^ ' 1 ^l^■^i•r;l?il^^ li 4 •l^."!^^' /Kr -J- U ^M 1^AOKWOOD» OK CaKADA. 1. , of coW only lasted three days, and then a gradual amelitMratioD of temperature was felt. During this very cold weather I was eurpriHcd by the frequent recurrence df a phenomenon that I mippose wna.of an electrical nature. When tha ihwtB were moat intense 1 noticed, thai when I u- dressed, my dotbes, which are aft this cold seaaoa chiefly of woollen doth, or lined with flannel, gavt out when moved a succession of sounds, like the crackling and snapping of fire, and in flie absence of a candle emitted sparks of a pde whitish blue Ugh!, similar to the flashes produced by cutting loaf-sugai in the dark, or stroking the back of a black cat: the same eSfect was also produced when I combed and brushed my hair*. ^ The snow lay very deep on the ground during February, and until the l9th of Maroh, when a rapid thaw commenced, whkh oontinued without interm» won till the ground was thoroughly firecd from t hoary Uvery, which was cHected in Ujss thnn a fort- night's time. The air during the pitogiess of the thaw was much warmer and more balmy than it usually ■ ia England, when a disa^^eaWe damp cold is ft* during that process. \^/ Though the Canadian winter >m its disadvantaga, it also has its charms. After a d^ or two of h avy snow the sky brightens, and the luXbecomes eiqui. Bitely clear and free from vapour; the^moke aacendi ia tall spiral columns tiU it is lost ; seen against tlK Bafl&on-tinted sky of an evening, or carijr of ackii '«r ia »««f d»* — Eo. Jllia,^ tkk^M &m»wm» ■W-' CANADIAN IVIMTKR. ■'-n^ 15S mmng, when the hoar-fhnt sparkles on the trees tbe f(^t is singulariy beautiful, ' leajoy a walk i||^ woods of a bright winter-day. "^ " ''^^^t/""* •*»*^ of a doud, o^ "^ *** "^ ^SPfc**®*'^"" •^'« J when bat ^ ^l!*^,n^P*iP*" ••^^ ' "%ht look up. I »7/n^ ^^^^ iP^ ^'» *' " aune, sweet Jms^^lTie ewigfpg^ ^ *• P«n«,oedais, hemlock. airfWBain fin, ai« bending their pendent branches. lo«W wth ttiow. which the k«t motfen scatter ina mmK shower around, but so Bght and dry is it that .twBhaken off without the sl^htest inconvenience. The tops of the atumpe took quite pretty, with their ^8 of snow; a bteckened pinenrtump, with its 1^ «ip and mantle, wOl often startle you into the beH that some one IS approidiing you thus fandfiilly r^l^f'"^ ** 'P*'*** they appear totally bsnkWfrom Canada. This is too mattwof-fart eountry for such si^ernfliturab to visit. Here there are no historical associations, no k!dtt|k takn o^ l^.^Sr^^^"^ lW«dstarve|>r Mrf marVelteus food to Wp her alive in tlie back. ^™^. We Imve neither fev nor fafiy. ghost nor *elter dryad or hamadiyad. ^o naiad hauntsthij Ay margin of our fadces, or h,^ with her pie- Inr/'^^ NoDnndc^uH. our oaks; i«l instead of poring with mysterious aWe among ou^ >«««« limestone rocks, that «« oAeu singulariy t fgcfeer, W6 refer t^ to the eeofcy int m hir uJtorf uf nivesting them with the sotemndmarter. k5 ' I'- vfs^^r 194 BACKWOODS or CANADi Itan, we look qjos natural philnopiij (^ andent temples or heathei them with the curious ef^ot alone. Even the Irish ana Highlanders of the humblen dSfls seein to ]«M«de their ancient supersdtions og hecoming d^awns rf the woods of Canada. Iheari a friend ^£uaim, when qpeaking of the want of lute. rest this country possessed, **Itislihemosttuipoetiel) i^f^l lands; there' is no scope for imagioa^; here all is newr-the very soil seems newly formed; there is no hoary ancient grandeur in these woods; io Recollections of fcnrmer deeds connected with the country. Hie only beings in which I take any i^t^ rest are the Indiaps, and they want the warlike chii Mbter and iajtelligence that I ^d pictured to m^j they would possess." This was t^ lamentation of a poei Now, the cian I of peojde to Whom this country is so admirably adapted I are formed o^ the unlettered and industrious labourm and artisans.; Hiey feel no regret that the land thej labour on h4s not been celebrated by the pen of the hiSu^n or the lay of the poet Hie earth yields bef increase to them as freely as if it had been eorky by the blood of henoes. They woukl not spare the ancient oak 6rom feelings of veneration, nor look i^i it with regaird fbr any thing but its use as timba Hftey have no time, even if they possessed the taSc^j to gaze abroad on the beauties ci Nature, but thil| ignorance is bliss. After all, Uiese are imogiuary evils, and can hirdtfj Jbe con ai d ttfedrT^ They would excite little sympathy among every-di|| ;: wsaafl)., 8UGAR.MAKINO. tar TOght with the more refined Widrfntelleciual .J^fe™^. «d geniu, sl««ld be th»^ ^t . ■i|lt^r sphere. / For myself. Uunij* I can easOy enter into the feel- T 1 ^"1'' "" «"*■»''«*= lover of the ^d »d Ih. woBd«f„l of historic lore, I „» ,et mite isjKff vcT-JMHW and contented in this conntrv If ""*»' "'..^ » yet . blank. th« of N^re i. V^ md eloquentiy marked by the ftnger of God • «Ki(i»m ,1, p^ , can e«™ct a thou»!Sd soureTof ffliiKment and mteieet whenewr I file mv w^Z Ita li«st or by the bonJe™ of the laC ^ ^"" Bat I mmt now teU you of ««r .ugar-mrfdmr, in SdLttJw.„^w**i '"'''« ^ "■« kettle, fTf "™.'"'' '"P«i»! bat it was efficient to ■■*-e «, ,n the art 4„d mysteiy of boiUn^ tto ^«to molars, and 6nally the molas«s down to tol«™fe httle .o^5h treugh. to catch the «J a. k Ir.L •^"""''y Pfe*" of Pine^ree. hoUowed •pA m the bark, or boring a hole with M «,g^ *«»«» usually pn«*i«d. AdightIy.holk,w«dp4ce ^ii^'^'"'"'^ '«»«''! Il»veeven . ^ . raade^thfr conductor* Ouw^^S "waged acconUng to rule, you maj be sure. Th" JiBj»tS^V^'^-4W'"- ' m 1<^ BACKWOODS OP CANADA. MP runs most freely aRer a IVoBty night, followed bj a bright warn day ; it should be collected daring the day in a barrel or large tro gh, capable of holding all that can be boiled down the same evening ; it should not stand more than twenty-four hours, as it is ajrt to ferment, and will not grain well unless fresh. My husband, with an Irish lad, began collecting tbe sap the last week in Mardi. A pole was fixed acron two forked stakes, strong enough to bear t^ wcighl of the big kettle. Their emptoyment durinjr the da; was emptying the troughs and chopping woo sup^ ply the fires. In the evening they Ut the fires and began boiling down the sap. It was a pretty ,and pictuieeque sight to seelbe sa«r boUere, wifli their bright log-fire among the tr««, now stirring up the bteing pile, now throwi^jg ^in the liquid and stirring it down with a big ladk When the fire grew fieree, it boiled and foamed upm the kettle, and they had to throw in fresh sap U) k«p it from running over. When the sap begins to thkiken into molasses, Ui then brought to the sugar-boiler to be finrshed. l\i process is simpfcs; it only requires attention in skin- ming ind keeping the mass firom boiling ever, hi! it h«s arrived at the sugaring point, which is ast^rtainei by dropping a little into coW water. Whenaisnw the proper consistency, the kettie or pot become M of yellow froth, that d.n»pk« and rises in large kWita from beneath. These throw out putts ot steam, ui when the molasses is in this stage, it is nettriycol.i ^vfrtPt into »ug «'' Thos a who p ay g r e n t iittotion l keeping the liquid free from scum, and umlei^taudlkj fit , ,-'--. . I . 'X-: MAPLE-SUGAR AND MOLASSES. 157 precise sugaring point, will produ(« an article liu|e it at all inferior Um muacovado *. In general you see the maple sugar in lai^ cakes, like bees' wax, clc^ and compact, without showjng the ciystallization ; but it look! more beautiful when the grain is coarsfe and sparkling, and»the sugar is broken ill raogh masses like sugar-candy. The sugar is rolled or scraped down with a knife for use, as it takte fong to dissolve in the tea without this preparation. I superintended the last port of the process, that of^^iling the molasses down to sugar; and, considering it,||Bs a first attempt, and without any experienced person to direct me, otherwise than the information I obtained from .. i suc- ceeded tolerably weU, and produced some su^ of a Ine sparkUng grain and good colour. Besides the sugar, I made about three gaOons of molasses, which provedagreat comfort to ub, forming a nk» ingredient in cakes and an exoeUent siuce for puddings. The Yankees, I am told, malp excellent preserves with molass^ instead of sugar. "^ The molsMS boifed from maple-sap is very- different from the mobsses of the West Indies, both in flavounj colour, and con- Nstency. •» Beside the sugar and mofaiflBes, we manufactured a small cask of vinegar, whfch promises to be good. This was done by boihng five oaib-full of sap down to fr .. and fermenting it afier it was in the vessel wiUa * Good wril-mado mapkntugM bears a strong resemUanee to that called powdered ■uffar...«.»!y, ^w U y .^ rm u u Micate article to suMten coflbe ; it is mora like inaple.«i^ Mke, fiom Um abuiid«K» of salmon-trow toe Jakes and i. very ddfci«8. The law, sorto mm ■»««ty taW. with the q«„.. f««,^. , Ai»oa .8 the to breaks up, „„ Ukes ire vWted ' bj.n™enJJe flights of wild fowl: some JT »«M»«hemely be«itifiU in their plumage, «,d n«,flne.flayoured. I love to watch theTpre", *»«, floating so tranquilfy on the water, or and. ktoged shores, to drop .g«n on the aXe, JnS T^Pf^*> '*>W duck lead out a biwd of ' Crrt r' '^^* ""''W ""■"! their mother. T"uff' "" ''W "re^ateueniicVto '3^,. % <#■ T 'f .V ,, ^ri-t:^ /- "^"^^ "11 bbl ! "I •Ml , fl IP \ » l^v lt2 BACKWOODS OF CANADA. masquinongiJ, an4, 1 believe, of other large fiBhUni abound in these jfnien. The ducks ai^ in the finest order during the earij port of the summer, vrhen they resort to the rice-tei in vast numbers, getting very fat on the green rice, ^fhich they eagerly devour. The IndiaM are very, sueoessfld in their duck- shooting: ^ey fin a canoe vrith green boughs, ae that it resenibles a sort of floating Bland\j beneitk the cover a^ong the ^^^, from our front window, of curling Over the bosom of the vraters. The ^uaws have been several times to see me sometinies iiom curiosity, sometimes with the viet o^ berthing their baskets, mi^ta, ducks, or venison,6r pork, ^our, potatoes, or articles of wearing-appuH Sometimes their object is to borrow ** kettle to cook,'| fifakh they are very punctual in returning. Once a squaw capi» to borrow a washin^tub, not unkkntanding her langmige, I could not some time discovw the ol^ of her sfPtude last she t09k'up a^orn^r of her blanket, and, poinl , to iWMnO soap, began rubbing; it between hej '" — IraititBd^fte^ action of wasWngi^h^ * V Hf!^tifjhz'' '^'^^■jSw^V''' V BABTSR WitH TU It INDIANS. 103 pointed to a tub; she then held up two fingers, to iBtimate it was for two days she needed the loan. Biese people appear of gentle and amiable dis- ■' poAiOBS; and, as far as our experience gpes, they are ytxf honest Once, indeed, the jold hunter, Peter obtained from me some bread, for which he pijimised togiwapairof/uck8,but when the Ume dime for piyment, and I demanded my ducks, he looked gloomy, and «pUed with characteristK brevity, « No dock-Chippewa (meaning S , this being the name they have affectionately given him) gone up like with canoe— no canoe— duck by-and-by." By- •nd-by is a favourite expression of the Indians, agDifying an indefinite jioint of time; may be it means to-morrow, or a week, or month, or it'may be • year, or even more. They rarely give you a direct [pmniae. As H is not wise to fet anyone cheat you if you can prevent it, I coWly decUned any fiwther overtures to Ibartering with the Indians until my ducks made their |appearanoe. Some time aflerwaids I received one duck by the ^ Ihandsof Maquin, a sort of Indian Flibberty-gibbet *^ fto lad is a hunchbacked dwarf, very shrewd, but a ■^ect imp ; his delight seems to be tormenUng the m babies in the wigwam, or teasing the meek tr-hounds He speaks English very fluently, and itolerably for an Indian boy; he usuaHy accom- f U^ women in their visits, and acts as their ' h!.fy"'i^ ^t h mis chie vous gfee at hia r« bfttl EimtImK and ray petptexity at not" ~ ! to understand her signs. In spite of his extrem. -^ I BACKWoocraf of Canada. I he seemed to poaseaaji^ inconsiderabk feoe in tW looking^aae. / When I adjei his name. he lepUed, « Indian n^ Maquin, IwifBnglish Qine • Mi0ter Walkftr,' very gdiod man ;" thi* was the per- son he was called after. ^ 1%eae Indians are scropoloos in their obsemuce df the Sabbath, and show gjr^t reluctano^to having any dealings in t^ iray of trading or pufsiing their luoal avocations iif, hunting m fishing on that day; The you^ Indians we very expert in the use of s long bow, witb wodpi «nowB, ra«a||, heavy ind bhmtattheend. Maquin said he coni^oot ducb «nd small birds with hU arrows; but I»ld tlUnk ih«^ were ncit calculated to reach objects at %f greii distance, as tiiey appeared very heavy. * "Tis sweet V> W the^dians singing their hyn of a iSitiday ni^t; their ridi soft voices rising the stift evening air. t have often listened to tHk Uttle choir pnii^«g>he Lords naoR^ in the simplici^ Mid fervour orto«tt beart% an*liav« felt it w«si rewolicai^iliat Ithese^^ i^ hatf-avili«ed wandcren tJistcfOtjdinffhewiideniess. . > 1 f^W miidi pWSid with the simple piety of our friencl the hunter Peter's squaw, a stout, svrarthy luj tion, of meat ^oiiaMe dpreasion. We were talod 4iurteawhen^ softly opened the door and tookey in; an eiJCOuragingsmOe induced her to enter, depositing a brOwn papouse (Indian for baby 4it tl e^ tJuld) on M grwnd, ste jgaaed round cur^y and de%ht in her eycf . We ofered! ,.141 -A *r-*f^,f^ %^^}r'^^iK'\^^V -a ^At \^lA^ -*'w*iJ ■^ .'«4 i/> y" .^yi ■7". r//i^:5 ■ 'i^ih*^" rAi*C»Uj)B»ORADLRS. low U» aod br^ moUiniiig to her to UAm « U.tjje.ibi.lde the table. Sb^^rZl^^ bmiitirtwn, and drawing her Uttle om to herW bom^ some tea into the saucer, and irave ;* tTrt^ ««» performed Wthout the dightee, .ppej! ta^rfhe,^ She then aiMkedta with. ^ B^bjr tihetad^ threw i.,„«, her d3 M^« deight ttal r fe««, ,^ ji^' W«tt.J». «».. but .he pepo™. «.„ed^ iM with thu mode of treatment "''" MiSJouniej, the ehOdren « phced to upright Sfirlr? ' ""V *•"* fi'-'y "Often Bwreiease herself from her burden, and ^elr Jifftt h ew jU lo reh ai r ,! ^ . and , tick \ I 'i fi ^. ^1'^ i If ii ' '*! i- |p^'«^-i-ti:rj:sr^^^ ■y mm^^ki^ '■ '' *; t ! BACKWOODS of CANADA. 168 looking not unlite ^ mummy ^^^- » »«« seen *e picture pf th^.Vi^ti" ^"^ <^^"^:^ '" «"™«' the oldHhuhinated misses, not unlike.the %Breofi napouse in itd,swaddUng-clothe8 _ _ The squaws are most affectionate to their liWe onite, Oentlen^ and goodaiumour appear dis^ ffuishing teaiS in the tempew of the femal»^Indian., whethef this U natural t« ttw .characters, the savag, 8tat«, or the softening effects bf Chnst^i.ty 1 cam^ deterniitie. jCcrtainlyJl no in^ce do,, the Clu«j tian religion appear mote lovely than when,unM by the doubts and infidelity of modern scep^ic^d displayed in the conduct of the reclaimed IndH breaking down the strong^Mds c^idolut,5.an . tural evil, and brining ^^^^^ and- morality. They may ^fe said ^ rwei*^ tnUhs of the Gospel as little cbiJ|K|^th sii,,pl,, of heyt and uhctottded favtji. " ^Jjfe^ , The squaws at« wry ingenious J*«W » hanljrorks. We find their birch-bark^e. convenient for a number of P^T«^f " /^'j, ^. basket, knife-tray, suga^-basket, are all^of th. bte nSteiial. .When oriiamented m^^^ro^ patWrns with dyed quUi^ I can assure you. U^yi by no means inelegant. Tbey maimfacture^v« pf bireh-Wrk fid welK that they will- 8erv^4br useful hooaehoM t^wposes, such aifl^ldfflg milk, broth. or.«iy other Hquid; th«y ai^^^« , rather stitched together with the tough voo^^ .tamarack:*r lait^li, or else with strips of M-h jisetul -soria of JSaiKeis B ■v-., «dfl^ tye^yery ,ftprtR of the bass-wooff'^'anrwluif'Mrggiv^^ ► *• - 1 > ■ '■i INDIAN MANUFACT0R«9. ,5, s4 or'the%,b«keu,, of. c«a«e kind, a« made u^ rfforgalhenng. up potatoes Indian cotii ori.,,.f! "2K''f »»«>fi'"«hp«rpo8«,i„the old 4unln- n« Indian, are wjuainled with a wiety „f dv« •ajrlud. they «ap, the more elegant fanay-baS -rthjewml «,, pjetty q«i„ena of their ingenutty C^''^ "It*' "* ""^ °f ^ and' kKeutaws, flower-stands, and work-basket. l!^]? S^ r""*"" "«*» «»« you may B^nnV pertftUMty in «,„« instances. If LJ ^tl*"; n,md on «,y„„e arUcfe. aJ^a yWwtothen-i^otice. One of the squaw. ftni„ « wft agaycUnIa AttMnfteown beUmlh^ I5».»nd^ though I JK^^-*-*^ K nS. r^ > Prenounced with their <^«!r«r«d JT^/ '^""'"■'^ •«'•- . S '^J^^ ^ "f^ » *»<« to have fDO ^■^ »,^!J i^ ' ! * If *(« I > J ! ' ^h K <' 'ii it 1 £ ^ A V "4 ri\4i . -^iV. '# 1^ ffli 'in ' f, ^^V. nnvc read), made by ibein, ffioy iiw vnn ' ^ . Ifti / " il •^'T^.^p'y »C"V«.di4y." lute's . . '■ •' ' *«*; ' | ■ « . '» « fi)i '.# BACKWOOuS OF^ CANAttA. You/d^r them in exchange for theirs do not answer S expectations, they give a sullen and doggd, look or reply, « Car^ur^' (no, no), or « Carwi^: which is a stiU more forcible negative. Bat when the bargain pleases them, they signify their appro- bation by several affirmative nods ^be head, andi note not much unUke a grunt j^^e ducks, fish, veni- Hon, or baskets, are placed beside you, and the ^ cles of exchange, transferred to the folds of. t^id capaciou* blanket^ w deposited in a sort of nisheD I wallets, not unlike those straw baskets in which En- glish carpenters carry their tools. The vvomen imitate the dresses of the wlutes, and are rather skilful in Converting their purchases^ Manj of the young girls can sew very n^tly. I ofien p them bits 6f sUk and velvet, and braid, for «luch they appear very thankfiil. I am just now very busy with my ^tden. Son- of our vegetable seeds are in the ground, thoughla. told we havebeen premature itherebemgtenc^^^ to one but the young plants wiU be cut off by tje b frosts, which are often felt through May, and e^j thebeginwingof June. . , i_^ . o7 garden af present has nothing toboa^ beinc merely a spot of ground enclosed with a n Sly fence orsplit rails t. k«.p the catUe i. drying the vegeUbks. Anottjer. spnng, 1 1» ^ie a nice fence, and a portion ot rfie gn 7JZ^ to flowers. This spring there ks *> >« ne^worktobedoneonthel^nd in cleann^^i I crTi..th.t. Tsed with a ! p the cattle •r, spring, I jn of Jtl»e there is «) nd in clearing I irgc my claims '^- 7;'.» i'V- ; ,: ^' t.111 II » IIIJ il; >•*.■ xSv It 'f-r l^i P . V '-^^ .^. it: r- 111 Jfc #^^ 4^ "■^,% ^ -if 573 tlw fix ipring bu done this mii A the woods stas mute bigie^ng feakbutn liiriffing^, fil %myi atth^'good ofthatwhiG the fasbioajt I tribes are eil cries, that j please. It", anging. bind [the whole as I prejudice to] |wi%gt one jbtbered vot |bave been Bel eir notes, 1 »u«cal. Th( filed over ffreen of on JJdsomer in latof a ^(irrl, The buflfix fT >,.- INDIAN FROOS. v.. •fl ^ ^ 173 «« wood. 3!Z,^ 'N-nTo.?:!,*^'* to wdi M not lupIeaaW cfl of the kS!i;-^ ,1** •LT.' «« ^^ wreiit wnoee note b smW .»j Win?, 811 oar woods. •»» " «weet and , *ta which i«. fS^oS^ Jt: '°^'« - tabes are either ifiute or irivA tiw-JT^ "P^»«mieH!d «i« that p|ei« ^ If IS^"* ^ ^'^^i^^tdBni please It«^ C^ ^f'v *°** *Wtttt wther tlian jwase. It woni4 be untrue were! ib — — ^ a * «W bird. w»«^ a. niiei^i%t!i^ ^' Ithe whole as those of F,^^^^^. nwIpdleuB oa LrtJ J T ■ ■ "« "?<*«»» i^ behalf of her Ifeathered vocalists N«v r ««„ *j .^^ oj^ ner . M over with bnnrn ov«l dilekb on the nini fltofabinl «Ii? ^^ ^^"' "*»^ ^««mbler 1 '(' ' t i If Ml ''m N. '. -i* ,,* i*^/ .11 ■■-fc *|f .^ :■ " ,/:yrw5„v - j, Muicrem^ lWni^4hl^ ^, . gg^ ' ' "» w'' "^z; ^ ■ *•" J. I'* V 4^ .74 BACltWOOOS or CANA-OA. BriHinc- „otel^ 1 can hardly refrain from M^»f *^°/ ZaT fellow popa up his broad browh head from to S o? rwatl^. and says, ^mUiroo^P^m Jufiroo- to which another bidl-frog, from ad«»«^ part of the swamp, replies, in hoarser accents, W out, get Old, get out ;" and presenUy.a sudden chon. I hL Of old and youBK, as if each party was de. mas of out-croaking ttie other. \ ■' ■ r ^ -,A..<^..\ .\ . 4^Aw ^ r-. ^ . ■ T ''4>' K'OOOIN^.BBK. 4Wlu8 month. I feel snm*. o«^- * ®' burning of the loB^LTonT Ji,'"'*'""*^ "■» k_ : *^ P^ **" "^ fi^Dow round tK*. N^ « appeir, to ™e «tt«, a hazardous" I • V '} 'Ir' ^1 If :¥^ . ^-A, 176 .y ■ACEWOODS 6F CiWADA. Limn XI> Com?«id to CuUivatlon.-lH»»iao«^IUt« of Wages. _>^ . ~ Augntt 9, 1833. Wi^ re^KJCtto the vMiouB questions, my dear friend, to which ydd request my particular attention, I can only promise that I will do my best to answer them as explicitly as possible, thou^ at the same Umel must remin* you, that brevityMn epist^tery c«r^ spondenoe is notoneof my excellencies. If Ibecgme too^difluse in describing mere matters of fact, yoa must bear with mine infirmly, and attribute it to my womanly propen^ty of ^ver-m^cb talking; so for your comforl, if your ey^s be weaned, your ears will il least escape. ^ . .- a^ 1 shall take your queries in due rotation ; tiwl, then, ySiask, -Who are.the persons bestadaptedfot hush-settj^rs?" <^ To Aich 1 reply withoul hesitatidn-the poor hard-working sober labourers, who have kdustrio^ hablte, a large family to provide for, and a laudaWe hdrror of the Workhouse and pariah-overseers : IK* will bear them through the hardships and privatioM - TFfa^^t lett lew e nt ii^ ih c^4m^kw o od s ; and i n doe j time they will realize an lK)|?est iiidcpendej.co, andbej • r (. ru- INFORMATION FOR RMIORAN'TS. 17$ above want, though not work. Artisans of all crafis are bettter paid in village-tovtrns, or long-clearefl dis- r^ricts, than as mer^^l^ush-settlers. ^,Who«re the next best suited for emigration?" Mcin of a moderate income or good capital may make money in Canada.- If they have judgment, and can afibrd to purchase, on a large scale, they will doable or treble their capitals by judicious purchases and sales. But it would be easier for me to point out who are not fit for emigration than who are. The poor gentleman of^ delicate and refined habits. If ho cannot afford to employ all the labour requisite , I to cany on the business of cleariiig on a tolerable large scale, and is unwilling or Incapable *of working- binuelf, is not fitted fw Canada, especially if hiV habits are expensive. Even t^^jpn of small income, unleffi he can condescend to. tak^ hand the axe or the chopper, will find, everfwifli prudent and econo- mial l^bitsi much difficulty in keeping free from debt for the first two or even three years. Many such have succeeded, but the slxuggle bias been [severe. . T^ But there is another clawof persons most unsuited % to the woods: these are the wives and faniilies «JF those who have once been op^l^t MeSipen, at- tustomed to the daily^enjoyment if every luxury that nwney could procure or fashion invent; whose ideas of happiness are connected with a round of arouse- . ments, company, and all the novelties of dress and pleasure thj^t the gay wo^ld |»fao have Wa brought P^fiSis. with a conteQipt offer.; ^oUHg ladies thjonahlej sa rding- every., thing useful or \ ./ X^ w**1 .#' ire BA^K!^b09S or CANADA. edbnomical, nwjce very inoiiferent settlers' wivei Nothing can be more unfortunate than the Bituatiou in the woods of Canada of persons so educated: ds gusted with the unpleasant change in their mode o^ lifte, wearied and discontented with all the object* around them, they find every exertkm a trouble, «nd -4svery .occupation a degradation; f'or persons of this description (and there are such to be met with in the colonies), Canada is the wont country in the world. And I would urge any one, so unfitted by habit -and inclination, under no con- > sideration to cross the Atlantic; for miserable, and poor, and wretched they will become. The emigmnt, if he would succeed in this eottntry, must possess the followmg qualities: perseverance, patience, industry, ingewdty, moderation, self-denial; and if he be a gentleman, a small income is almoK indispensable ; a good one is still m6re desirable. "^ The outlay for buying and clearing land, building, buying stock, and maintaining a family, paying servants' wages,mdi many other unavcndable expenses, cannot be ^he without some pecuniary means; and as the return ftom the land is but little for the fint two or three yean, it would be advisable for a settlei ' to Wing, oat some humnedis to enable him to cany on the farm and clear the above-mentioned expenaeii or he will soon find himself invohr^ in great diiB- cultleB. , Now, to your thit/ t / f W'''f^'"/ '"' * / ^ * r' ^ . ' -> f ■.' ' '. ' > : . .31 . ; ■ • „V\ iw . ■ " , _^ . t * - ■ t •'-■ p "X ■■■'■ "■ ■ ■ : . '„ .- ■% > 'i '■ ' t'';;' • " ^ • *" V. :>;v: :' ' ,. -^F- A '^^■: 1 ■ , ■ ;' —4--' !;" * \ "' ■">>'■ ■ -'■- - ■» .1* ^ '■ ■ ■ ■•' ' \ it-1 - ■ ■ M - •'' ' '' .'' '. ' ■''/■" ■ ''' V ' . \- -.-..: -t ' - ; .' *'. ' ' ■ , ' ' ^i>i?ji. ~' ■ ■' "^f''., ' .■■ . ' ■ill iiii ■ n MMiflj ■,4i'-if^'-f'-vitm W :>c-^ ';■ ; ^ - i ■ H ■ . ■ ' ^1 k\^^ ■':■■'' n IH H ';-.r-- ; ' ■■ ;'''■■ ,:'tr^^''- ■■'^'"^'^ .' ■;;'■* i'f. -V '^ -' ' ■ 'l'.< ■'. ■/ _ :' '■."■■ "' ,„ '^^> -'>■'' ■ ^'. ■ - , ' 1 ' ' ■ ■ ■ V _ - ,» " 1 \_ tm -•. '' •■ „ ^ ' ,•■'"' " » .9 ■ . ■ ., ;^-?-' ' ft 1 • " J"^ ■r M- . ' , • ' ' . ' "*" ■ " ft ■ 1^ ' ♦ ■« . . ^ , ' t. " " . , t '_ -/ '. iii/iii' :' /i-ii • ..J "■ - •■■ ■ ■ ■•■■^^'•^-"^^■^■^■■■'-^■'y'-^ !i;^,,':^i\.Mf.. ■^^T^JTr^sTT^iT^ r\:- ■ ■ ■/ ., •; ■/ *i ^- ^ ' M :^P 1 ' ■ , ' ■ ' ' , ' ° '. ,'. . . f ^ _ ' ; ., 1 ■ , . """ - ■ ."•■'■' i ' ' -i ' . ■ 'i' ■ ■ ••- a ''■'■"';'■'' 1 ' . ■ . '''• ■ •■. » ' " ■■ .' ' ■ .1' • t ■ ;■ : ,; • ,, ■, 1 ■ i i' 1 ,; ^ ' • • - \. ^ ft ' ■ • \ , 1( . ■ *. "' ■r ■ ' ■ '-. '<«■ , ^p. • . . ' . 1> ^ " . • * - . ff * ' if 1 -J ■ • »■ c V- ^ ■>!.■ - > ; • - * - --• • S'pK^' '^^m « '■','• . - \ • ,>7'' ^ ■.■■,"'■"' ' ■ ■■'!■, .. •*"-%..■" , «.«<■ .' '.^ . >■ - '■'- ' ■■" ' S -■ .^'"■ ■ ^ ■ ;.W ■ . . . ■■ ■ , « .\> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A "4" -*- ,/_* '^X^ T. *>-«.. i. -1.0 I.I ?.»- ■ kai2.8 M 12.0 Jm Kl Li 1^ i^ M 6" /?• fttf^Htl «ntfy beco Biee^>ettJed.aad d eagd^ -Kn. ^t rn ife.=. "^ifftB 1/ W-- Itt BACKWOODS OP CANADA. wkh her bands.'' '^ She k>oketh well to the nji of her household, and eateth not the bread of idh. If nesB. Nothing aqg^ a greater degree of good sense anj good feding '^lisa a dieerftd, oOnlbrmity to ciicani* stances, advtfse though th^^be compared withi former lot ; surely none that felt as they ought to Ad, I would ever deqDise a woman, however delicatdf | brought up, for doin^ her duty in the state of lift unto which it may have plisased Ood to call krJ Since I came to this country, I have seen tUe «•! compUshed daughters and wives of men holding do inoQudderable rank as officers, both naval vil military, milking their own cows, making their on butter, and perfbrming tasks of household work ths fewof 84 BACKHSpOM QF CANADA. skilled in the arts of BUgai^boiUng, candle and ao^ iaking, the makuig and baking of huge oaves, cooked in the bake-ketUe, unless she be the fortunate mistress of. a stone or clay oven. She must know bow to manufacture hojHrising or salt-ruing h leavening her bread; salting meat and fish, km\&^ stockings and mittens an^ comforters, spinning yam in the big wheel (the French Canadian spinnings wheel), and dyemg tte yam when spmi to have manufactured into cloth and coloured flannels, to clothe her husband and children, making clothes for herself, her husband and chUdren ;— for there are w tailors nor mantua-maker« in the bush. The management of poultry and the dairy mil not be omitted; for in this coimtiy most persom adopt the Iri»b and Scotch method, that of chuminj -the «ui*. a practice that in our pvt of England^* not known. For myown parti am mclinedtoprefe * the butter churned from cream, as being most ecorw- mical. unkss you chance to have Irish or Scrt« !«rvait8 who prefer buttermilk to Uew or 8wd| ■kimmedmilk. , There is something to be said m favour of plans, nodoubt. The management of the calves difl here ve«y much. Some persons wean the ailf ft the mother from its birth, never altowing it to sacM aU- the Uttle creatui« is kept fasting the P* twenty-four hours; it fa then fed with (he fingers new milk, which it soon learns to take rea^ have seen fine cattle thus reawd, and am dispoMd adopt the plan as the least troubksome one. -^^ The o id^tettkgs put a uc an Qpppsitejnodej T ,...:^;,^;(::>'^lt^k^,^>^ k$:-A'"%>t'^ ft^ m. MANAGBMBNT OF THE DAfRV. ||5 Bent, allowing the oaif to suck till it is nearly half a jnr^Id, under the idea that it ensures the daily return of the cow; as, under ordinary circumstances, she is ipt to lamhie sometimes for days together, when the bedMge grows scarce in the woods near the home- ieadB, and you not only lose the use of the milk, but often, frorti distention of the udder, the cow is Bateriafly injured, at least for the remainder of the Lifldng season. I am disposed to think that were die taken to give the cattie regular suppHes of salt, ud 8 small portion of food, if ever so Kttle, near I the niilking-pl««e,they would seldom stay long away. I A few refuse potatoes,, the leaves of the garden veJ IgetaUes ilaily in use, set aside for them, with the Ipeen shoots of the Indian com that are stripped off ItottreDgthen the plant, win ensure their attendance p the faD and winter, pumpkins, corn, straw, and lioy other fodder you may have, with the browse they ■-t during the chopping and underbrushing season 1 keep them well. Tt» weanKng calces should W givgft iikimpi^ i* or buttermilk, wjth tiie leafy bdflghs*^ h^ land maple, of which they are extremely fond. I warm shed at fenced yard is very necessary for the -♦^ during tibe intense winter irosts: this is too I disregarded, especially in new settlements, which I the erase that many persons have the mortification f Wng their stock, either with disease ^r cold Wnrally the Canadian cattle are very hardy, and *eB taken moderate care of, endure the severest F^" ? ^t owing to the difficulUe s that atte,wl ktatRttliment iiTHK! bush,lthey sufler every pri E,^> i i ft i ' r^rr ), rM BACKWOODS OF CANADA vation of i cold and hunger, which brings on a com- . plaint nnterally fatal, called the " holUm koF^i ," thk originates in the apj^ or extends to it, and is cumi ?~ (W pallynwi by haiiii|t *^ ^p™ and inserting turpen- tine, pepper, or other beating substances. When a jpew comer has not winter food for hi eattle, it is wise to sell them in the fall and buy othen in the spring : though at a seeming loss, it is peh haps less Iqbs in reality than losing the cattle altogether. ( . This was the plan my husband adopted, and we fomtd it deddedfy the better one, besides saving much caie, trouble, and vexation. I have seen some good spc^mens of native cheoe, that I thought very respectable, considering that \k grass is by no meansequal to our Britiih pastures. I purpose trying my skill next summer : who knows Int that I may inspire some Canadian bard to ceklnte j the produce of my dairy as Bloomfiekl did the SuiA ' cheoM, yclept ** Bang." You remember the passage, — f(»- Bloom6eld is your countryman as well as mioe, [ — it begins :— ** UarivaUtfd itaada thy eounty dMsso, O Gile8,'il|| I have dwelt on the dairy information; as I know you were desirous of imparting all you could coDedto j ytmr friends. You widi to know something of the chlture of Indian com, and if it be a useful and prpfitaUe cnp^ ] Tfatt cultivation of Indiui com On pevdy eleanij lands is very easy, and attended with but little laboor; j on old farms it requires man. The earth is jotj m- broad hue,~«nd Hmw or four OULTIfATION OF INDIAN CORN. 187 "i dropped in with a pnmpkiniieed, in «bout every third or fourth hole, and in every alternate row; the seed m Mi several feet apart. Tha pumpkins and the con grow v%ry amicahly together, the hroad leaves of the former shading the yo&ng plants and pievent- iaf the too great Evaporation of the moisture from tilt ground; the roots strike little way, po that they rob the com of a very small porUon of nourishment. Hie one crop trails to an amazing length atong the gramid, while the other shoots up to the height of leieral feet ahove it. When the com is beginning to branch, the ground shouM be hoed once over, to draw the earth a little to the roots, and cut down any weeds that might injure it This is all that is done tiU tho cob is beginning to form, when the blind and wak shoots are broken off, leaving four or five of the eaeat bearing shoots. The feather, when it begins to tnm brown and dead, shouM also be taken off, that the plant may have all the nourisliment to the corn. We had aremarkable instance of smut in our corn last mmmer. The diseased cobs had huge white'bladderB •• big as a small puff-ball, or very huge nuts, and fliese on being broken were full of an inky bUick Ikpiid. On Che same plants might be observed a •ort of fake fructification, the cob being deficient in keraeb, which by some strange accident were trans- powd to the top feather or male bkMsoqis. I ksave botanists to explain the cause of this singuhu' anomaly ; I only state facts. I oouU not learn that the smut tit a disease common to Indian com, but kst year ■»tordn8tbwm,a8 it is called by some was v«y iRTifent in ihe bat, l>arley, and wheat ciopi>». In this 'If ■< N s£k!^iM -■...> . ^^^^ 1^^Si^K«<»»t to service for ^and two and a hilf^flollars per month, and will ^ the fields ^ if requireTbindinT aS^r ^ .^mplantingand hoeing com anA^tatoes. I ^ veiygood girl, the darter ofT^Sj I «wwRn^ ^^m-r give three doUare only ; she ''lilr mi itf".K-' iJ."A>iiy;«| N.~'*'T • ■- 'f j' S_<^«T^^'» •_,Tjs , ^^-prji* '. ■''WUi m BACKW.OODS 0f-04MADA. i& a happy stwdmen of' the k>#er or^r '8 W^ bl