100 CANADIAN GUIDE BOOK. or “ Ha ! Ha !” descriptive of the surprise which was experienced by the first French explorers, when they ascertained that this expanse, instead of conducting up the noble river, had no other outlet except the one by which they had entered it. Hence to the trading-port of Chicoutimi, which by land is about ten miles distant, but upwards of twenty by water, the river is comparatively shallow, and tastes fresh when the tide is out. Chicoutimi is an important trading-port, con' taining two settlements about two miles apart, and has a population of upwards of four hundred, chiefly French Canadians employed in lumbering. It has been observed that grain ripens earlier in this locality than around Quebec. In the vicinity there stands on an eminence a small rude Catholic Church almost entire, but stripped of all its ornaments except a crucifix and a few candlc-sticks. It is said to have been constructed by Jesuit missionaries upwards of a century ago. Several of these were buried in the church, and the tombstones may still be seen. In the belfry is a bell, on which is an inscription that has hitherto baffled the learned cf Canada to explain or translate. About fifty miles above Chicoutimi, the Saguenay issues from Lake St. John, which is about forty miles long, and receives eleven large rivers. The country surrounding the Lake is well tim bered, and rather level, and holding out the prospect of being well adapted for agriculture, while the climate is said to be far preferable to that of the sea-coast of the St. Lawrence. The only outlet of the Lake besides the Saguenay is the Metabethshuan, the waters of which, after passing the expanse of Lake Kiguagomi, become the Chicoutimi, and unite with those of the Saguenay near the village of Chicoutimi. The portion of the Saguenay from this village to the Lake is unavailable on account of the numerous falls and rapids, and the Chicoutimi affords a very circuitous communication by boats through the Lake Kiguagomi and the River Metabethshuan. The influence of the tide is felt as far up as the Rapid of Terre Rompue, six miles above Chicoutimi. The ordinary spring-tides rise seven teen feet at Tadousac, and twelve at Chicoutimi. To this point schooners and steamers can ascend with the assistance of flood-tide, and the largest ships to Point Roches, fifty-seven miles up. At the mouth of the Metabethshuan on the south shore of Lake St. John
