ultimately intended to connect Lake Huron with Halifax and Boston,
bringing the riches of the Far West through its natural channel to the
sea.

Nothing, indeed, but industry and enterprise is needed to change the
waste and solitary places of Upper Canada into a garden of Eden, which
it is designed by the Supreme Architect to become.



CHAPTER VI.

WOOD-DUCK SHOOTING. -- ADVENTURE ON RICE LAKE. -- IRISH HOWL. --
ARRIVAL AT GORE'S LANDING. -- GENERAL HOWLING FOR THE DEFUNCT. --
DANGERS OF OUR JOURNEY. -- SAFE ARRIVAL AT COBOURG. -- SALMON-FISHING.
-- CANOE-BUILDING AFTER A BAD FASHION. -- SALMON SPEARING. -- CANADIAN
FISH AND FISHERIES. -- INDIAN SUMMER. -- SLEIGHS AND SLEIGHING. --
DOMESTIC LOVE.

AFTER committing the care of my horse to our landlord, I ordered dinner
to be got ready immediately, as we had thirteen miles to row, and I
wished to reach Mr. W-----'s before dark. Our hostess exerted herself,
and we soon sat down to a sumptuous feast, consisting of a brace of
fine fat wood-ducks and fried black bass, two dishes I am particularly
fond of, and which at this time of the year can always be obtained from
the lake.

The wood-duck is a delicious bird. It makes its appearance early in the
spring, as soon as the ice breaks up. Its plumage is very fine--I
should say the most beautiful of any of its species. Its head and upper