[Footnote 33:  Wagan is a term in the Abenaki language signifying way.  Sis is a diminutive particle.  Wagansis is therefore the little way; and it seems probable that the name of Grand River, the usual epithet for the St. John, has been improperly applied to the small stream which bears it on the map.]

On entering into this region from the south by any of the navigable streams which traverse it, it presents a more decidedly mountainous character than the country to the south.  The Grande Fourche of Restigouche is bordered by two continuous chains of mountains, rising when it first issues from them to the height of a thousand feet above its surface.  The stream having a rapid fall, the relative elevation becomes less until, in the neighborhood of the lake in which its north branch first collects its waters, the relative elevation is not more than four or five hundred feet.

On traversing this elevated country it presents a different aspect from what is seen either from a distance or where it is entered from the rivers.  Frequent ridges are crossed; the tops of these are often occupied by swamps filled with a thick growth of cedars.  Deep and small basins occur, which are occupied by lakes that give rise to rivers flowing to the St. Lawrence or to the St. John.  These are intermingled with thickets of dwarf spruce, and the streams are sometimes bordered by marshes covered by low alders, and sometimes cut deep into rocky channels.  In this apparent labyrinth one positive circumstance marks the line of division, or the true height of land:  The streams which run to the St. John are all of the first description—­sluggish—­while those which discharge themselves into the St. Lawrence are rapid, and have the character of torrents.

On the western side of the disputed territory are ridges of rocky hills running nearly north and south, and thus tending toward the St. Lawrence, which they in some places reach and shut out the view of the interior.

It thus becomes difficult to find a station whence the heights of land can be viewed and its character exhibited.  It has therefore been hitherto possible for those who have argued in support of the claims of Great Britain to represent without meeting with contradiction that the streams which fall into the St. John had their rise in a country possessed of none of that mountainous character which they urged was essential to the epithet of highlands.  There are, however, points where a different character is apparent, and some of these are easy of access.  Thus, on the main mail road, along the Southeast Branch of the St. Lawrence a mile northeast of the church of L’Islette, a rocky eminence is passed, whence may be seen a bold group of mountains which have been identified with the sources of the Ouelle, the Kamouraska, and Black rivers.  A view of this group is herewith presented.

From the height to the east of river Du Loup a view may be seen on a clear day extending round 137 deg. of the horizon, beginning with the highlands of Bic, bearing N. 58 deg.  E., and terminating in a conical mountain bearing S. 15 deg.  W.