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CANADIAN GUIDE BOOK. 22 don, for the different posts throughout the company’s extensive terri tories. Towards the latter end of April in each year a body of the company’s people along with experienced voyageurs leave this port in large canoes, called maitre-canols, in which their chattels and packages are transported via the Ottawa and a tributary on the left to Lake Nipissing, whence is the descent by the Riviere des Frangais into Lake Huron. On reaching Fort William on the banks of Lake Superior the large canoes give place to others of a much smaller description, constructed for more convenient transhipment across the numerous portages between the different posts of the company. From Lachinc the rail-cars convey the passengers to Montreal, a dis tance of nine miles. During last season the passenger steamers have undertaken the descent of the Fall of St. Louis or the Lachine Rapids, which present features of excitement and interest even ex ceeding the Upper Rapids, and to obviate which has been constructed the Lachine Canal at an expense of jEI 37,000. This port is situated so as to be the central starting place of the steamers for the Upper St. Lawrence and the Ottawa. It is worthy of remark that this village originally received its appellation from the chimerical idea that hence would be afforded a route to China. MONTREAL is situated in Lat. 45£° N. and Long. 73J Q W., thus agreeing ex actly with the cities of Lyons and Venice in Europe in the parallel of latitude, and nearly so with the city of New York in longitude. In 1535 Jacques Cartier, whilst surveying with delight the magnifi cent prospect which the brow of the “ Mountain” in rear of the modern city commanded, gave to the elevation, in honour of his royal master, the King of France, the name of Mount Royal. About a century afterwards this name, having undergone a not un usual corruption, was imparted to the French settlement which arose about that period to the west of Ilochelaga, the ancient In dian village. This city is the Capital of British North America, and the residence of the Governor-General, of the Commander of the Forces, and of the heads of the various Civil and Military Depart ments connected with the Government.