Richibucto, and
Ristigouche, at which places there is a considerable trade carried on
in squared timber, &c. but they have nothing of consequence to merit a
particular description. Besides the Miramichi already described, this
county is watered by several considerable rivers, the principal of
which is the Ristigouche, which falls into the Bay of Chaleur, and
communicates by a short portage with Grand River which falls into the
Saint John fifteen miles above the great falls. The smaller rivers are
numerous, some of them have settlements along their banks and others
are but little known. The inhabitants are a mixture of Europeans and
Americans. A number of the descendants of the French neutrals are
settled in this county, particularly on the river Cocagne where there
are several villages with Catholic Chapels; they are also settled at
Buctouche, Richibucto and along the sea-board as far as the Bay of
Chaleur. They are generally agriculturalists and quiet orderly
settlers.

Having thus gone briefly through the different counties, I shall
conclude this chapter with a statement of the distances of the
principal points on the Great Road of communication from St. John to
Quebec:

From St. John to Fredericton, 92 miles on the western
From Fredericton to the Presque-Isle, 84 side of the river.
From Presque-Isle to Grand Falls, 52
Thence to the Madawaska Falls, 45
To the river Des Caps near Kamouraska, 84
Thence to Quebec, 107
---
464

making in the whole a distance of four hundred and sixty-four miles
from the sea-board to Quebec, according to the present routes; nearly
two thirds of which is along the great river St. John.

The great road of communication between this Province and Canada, has
been much neglected, particularly about the Grand Falls where the road
has been but lately cut and is but little improved, although this has
been the route for the couriers upwards of forty years; but as the
attention of Government is now turned to that object it is probable
there will soon be an alteration for the better.

In opening new roads there is not sufficient pains taken to explore the
best ground in commencing. Frequently after the roads are considerably
improved, and much money expended, better routes are discovered and
most parts of the old road are abandoned. T