difficult to cut, than green wood; and, by being all charred on the outside, exceedingly disagreeable to work among. The clearing and cultivating of ground on which the trees are all in a fresh growing state is, therefore, preferred to that which has been subjected to fire; which seldom consumes effectually more than the underwood, decayed fragments, and the branches of the large trees.

The great business of Miramichi is the timber trade. Scarcely any other branch of trade is attempted; yet vast quantities of fish might be brought in from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which, with the salmon caught in the river, would form portions of assorted cargoes with lumber for the West Indies. This business has lately been partially prosecuted. In 1824, 141,884 tons of square timber were exported from Miramichi to ports in the United Kingdom, in nearly three hundred ships; and, although a depression occurred in 1826, the trade has since then been extensively followed. About 350 cargoes were shipped in 1832. The cod and herring fisheries are also increasing: assorted cargoes are shipped to the West Indies, and various kinds of prepared lumber exported to Halifax and Newfoundland.

The principal articles of provisions, and all others of general consumption, are still imported, to supply the wants of the settlers and lumberers. When the interior country, watered by the branches of this river, becomes tolerably well settled by farmers, the importation of provisions must, from want of demand, necessarily cease. The fixed property, in sawmills on this river and its tributaries, is of important value.

To the southward of Miramichi, New Brunswick extends about seventy-five miles, along the strait of Northumberland, to Cape Tormentine. On this coast are the harbours of Richibuctu, Buctush, Cocaigne, Chediac, and the harbour of Chemogui for small vessels. Several rivers also occur in this district. The soil is generally fertile; but the lands are very thinly inhabited, although many thousands of settlers might be located on the vacant lands lying between the sea and the Rivers St. John and Petit Coudiac. * The few roads opened as late as 1827 were then bad beyond the powers of description. Since then the energy of Sir Howard Douglas, with the co-operation of the legislature, have improved them greatly.

Richibuctu harbour has a bar across the entrance; but, at high water, ships drawing sixteen feet may pass safely over it. Within the last few years, vast quantities of timber have been exported from this place; and several fine ships have been built here. It has six or seven mercantile establishments, a custom-house, and a government school. Its river, dividing into several streams, flows through an extensive country. It is navigable for several miles; and many of the settlers are Acadian French, who live in a village near the entrance of the harbour. It has a chapel and school. The timber business, hitherto, has been chiefly attended to, as affording the most ready means of living; but agriculture, long considered of minor importance, now also engages the attention of the settlers. The town or rather village called Liverpool, four miles up the river, stands on the north bank. It has a court-house, gaol, and postoffice, and about fifty dwelling-houses. There is a Presbyterian church in the settlement above the town; and on the opposite side of the river, two miles below, there is a ship-yard near the customhouse.

Buctush is also a bar-harbour, and a port from which timber is exported. Several families of Acadian French are settled at this place.

Cocaigne lies to the southward of Buctush. Its entrance is very intricate; but ships of three hundred tons may load within the bar. Several cargoes of timber have been exported from this place, and a few ships have also been built here. It receives a fine river, but the population is yet trifling.

Chediac River is shallow at the entrance; and the inhabitants divide their labour between hewing timber and a little farming.

Chemogui River has also a shallow entrance; but the lands are under tolerable cultivation, and agriculture and rearing cattle occupy the principal attention of the inhabitants. Between Chemogui and Cape Tormentine there are many extensive and well-cultivated farms. The soil resembles that of Prince Edward Island, immediately opposite; and here the distance across the strait is not quite ten miles.

From Miramichi, north to Point Miscou, at the entrance of the Bay de Chaleur, the distance is about seventy miles. The sea-coast, and back lands of this part of the province are very low; and the shore is nearly altogether fringed with sandy ridges, or small islands, producing bent-grass. Within these are lagoons, with shallow entrances. To Taboo-in-tac and Tracadie, the principal of these places, several thousand tons of timber are annually hauled out of the woods, and rafted to Miramichi.

To the northward of Tracadie, and near the passage of Shippigan, which divides the island of that name from the continent, are the small and shallow harbours of Little and Great Poumouche, inhabited principally by a few families of Acadian French. The inhabitants along this coast are scattered thinly near the shores, and subsist by means of fishing, cultivating potatoes, and a little grain, and hewing timber. They are poor, ignorant, and unambitious. Want of industry, or rather the improper application of their labour, alone prevents their prosperity; and a few worthless characters, mingled with the Acadians, and who have probably been driven by their roguery from among the English and Scotch settlements, while they want the simplicity and honesty of their neighbours, are equally bad farmers, and less industrious as fishermen.

CHAP. VIII.

BAY DE CHALEUR.

MISCOU. SHIPPIGAN. - ST. PETER'S. - RUSTIGOUCHE. - SAL-
MON FISHERY. - LUMBERERS.

THIS bay, or rather gulf, and the River Rustigouche, which falls into it, divide Canada and New Brunswick, Cape Mackerel (Maquereau) on the Canadian side, and Point Miscou on the south, distant from each other fifteen miles, from the entrance to this bay.

Point Miscou is in latitude 47° 58', and in longitude 64° 30'. The length of this magnificent gulf, from Point Miscou west to the mouth of the River Rustigouche, is about eighty-five miles. In one place it is twenty miles broad; in others, from fifteen to thirty miles. On the Canadian or north side, the land rises into lofty mountains; on the south side, except within twenty miles of the head of the bay, the interior country is low; although along the shores the cliffs are in some places perpendicular.

In 1534, Jacques Cartier sailed into this bay, previous to his discovering the St. Lawrence. From the intensity of the midsummer heat which he then experienced, he gave it the name of Bay de Chaleur. Miscou Island is about ten miles round. Here the French, previous to the conquest of Canada, had an extensive fishing plantation, conducted by the "Company of Miscou." The remains of their buildings,