Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
Lake St. Louis, commencing, or rather terminating, at La Chine, for that
village stands at the lower end of it, is about twelve miles in length
and four in breadth. At its uppermost extremity it receives a large
branch of the Utawas River, and also the south-west branch of the River
St. Lawrence, which by some geographers is called the River Cadaraqui,
and by others the River Iroquois; but in the country, generally
speaking, the whole of that river, running from Lake Ontario to the
Gulph of St. Lawrence, goes simply under the name of the St. Lawrence.
At the upper end of Lake St. Louis the water is very shallow, owing to
the banks of mud and sand washed up by the two rivers. These very
extensive banks, are entirely covered with reeds, so that when a vessel
sails over them she appears at a little distance to be absolutely
sailing over dry land. As we passed along this part of the lake we were
enveloped with clouds of little insects, different from any I ever saw
before or afterwards in the country; but they are common, it is said, on
various parts of the River St. Lawrence. Their size was somewhat larger
than that of the gnat; their colour a pure white; and so delicately were
they formed, that by the slightest touch they were destroyed and reduced
to powder. They were particularly attracted by any white object, and
having once alighted were not to be driven away but by force. The leaves
of a book, which I happened to have in my hand, were in a few seconds so
thickly covered by them that it was impossible to discern a single
letter, and no sooner was one swarm of them brushed off than a fresh one
immediately alighted. These insects have very broad wings in proportion
to their size, and fly heavily, so that it is only when the air is
remarkably calm that they can venture to make their appearance.
[Sidenote: ENCAMPMENT.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account