paration, for
tobacco, hemp, and flax. The lower meadows, and meadows adjoining
Beaver dams, which are abundant, produce at this moment enormous
quantities of natural hay and pasture; and the rest of the land, for
the production of potatoes, Indian corn, wheat, and other grain, is at
least equal, if not superior, to any other land in the Canadas.
Independent of the swamps, the timber on the land is very soon
described.

"The sugar-maple is the principal growth, and the size and height which
it, as well as other trees, attains, sufficiently evince the strength
and power of the soil. Next to this come the beech, elm, and bass-wood,
in various proportions. In some instances, the beech and elm
predominate over the maple, but this is rare. Near the streams the
hemlock is found; and interspersed through the whole is the cherry,
butter-nut, the different species of oak, and the birch."* [* Mac
Taggart's "Journal of Dr. Dunlop."]

In exploring this, then unknown, wilderness, Dr. Dunlop encountered
many difficulties, and was more than once in danger of starvation--
though an Indian Mohawk Chief shared his risks and perils.* [* Mac
Taggart's "Journal of Dr. Dunlop."] As he told a story admirably well,
I was delighted to hear him discuss his peregrinations over a glass of
brandy-punch, of which he was very fond. Whatever might have been his
feelings at the time, he only made a joke of his trials at the period
in which he related them to me.

I should have experienced some regret in quitting Guelph, if the
society had been more to my taste. The only persons of education in
that town were, in fact, the Company's officers, many of whom I might
reasonably expect to meet again at Goderich. Of course, I found some
exceptions, but the average was not in favour of Guelph. Besides, the
water was an attraction to me, as my Suffolk home was within a short
distance of the German Ocean. Brought up so near a sea-port, my natural
inclinations made me dislike an inland situation; and if I were not
going to have a sea-side residence, at least the shores of the mighty
Huron Lake came the nearest to it in my estimation.

I left Guelph early in June with Mr. Prior, the Company's agent at
Goderich. Our road after leaving Springer's in Blenheim lay through the
township of Wilmot to the southern boundary of the Huron tract, and
from thence nearly in a straight line to the town of Goderich at the
mouth of the river Maitland, on Lake Huron, on our ro