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CANADIAN GUIDE BOOK. 93 gation on the Saguenay is entirely in the District of Quebec, that the counties of Montmorenci and Saguenay intervene betwixt the Fall of Montmorenci and the mouth of the Saguenay, the latter county occupying, however, double the frontage of the former, and that from near Pointe Levi the four counties of Bellechassc, L’Islet, Kamour- aska, and Kimouski extend in succession to the extreme District of Gaspe. A level tract of land, varying in width, extends from the River to a range of mountains, forming a continuation of the Alle ghenies and terminating the prospect in the direction of Maine State and New Brunswick. The greater portion of this tract is under cultivation, and presents a striking contrast with the dark hue of the forests in the receding back-ground. At a short distance from the shore passes the highway, on either side of which is a succession of cottages and farm-houses, painted in a variety of hues, white pre dominating. The dwelling-houses are of wood, and the roofs are covered with thin pieces of ash, called shingles, which are nailed on in the same manner as slates in England. A parish-church with its tin-roof and belfry shining to the sun, overtopping the houses of a surrounding village, presents itself to the view at intervals of five or six miles. The seigniories, that extend along shore, and were granted when Canada belonged to France, are still chiefly possessed by French Canadians. According to the French laws the property of parents is at their death divided among their children. Large farms have thereby been split into small ones, and the new occupants, for the same reasons which guided their fathers, have placed their dwell ing-houses and their granges, or barns, on the road side, so that the entire farming population, with the different tradespeople which such a population require, arc settled in a nearly continuous line. From the River are seen the fences, forming the boundary of farms of great length and of very disproportionate breadth. In some instances the breadth is only a sixtieth part of the length. A few miles below Patrick’s Cove are seen on the right shore the churches of St. Michel and St. Vallicr, near each of which is a telegraph station. On pass ing the eastern end of the Isle of Orleans the River widens to eleven and twelve miles, and is beautifully varied by groups of islands, particularly those lying off the west end of Crane Island. Here
