Twenty-seven Years in Canada West: Or, The Experience of an Early Settler

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R. Bentley, 1853
 

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Seite 79 - IN CLEARING— PLAN-HEAPS. THE employments of a respectable Canadian settler are certainly of a very multifarious character, and he may be said to combine, in his own person, several professions, if not trades. A man of education will always possess an influence, even in bush society: he may be poor, but his value will not be tested by the low standard of money, and notwithstanding his want of the current coin of the realm, he will be appealed to for his judgment in many matters, and will be inducted...
Seite 22 - ... loud and incessant thunder; while at the same instant the atmosphere became thickly darkened with smoke. They had scarcely time to ascertain the cause of this awful phenomenon, before all the surrounding woods appeared in one vast blaze ; the flames ascending from one to two hundred feet above the tops of the loftiest trees, and the fire, rolling forward with inconceivable celerity, presented the terribly sublime appearance of an impetuous flaming ocean.
Seite 250 - On the road to Guelph, a short distance from Galt, there is an uncleared portion of the primeval forest, on the edge of the township of Beverly, where, in those days, a small tavern, convenient to rest the horses of travellers, was situated. One day, when I stopped at this house, while my horse was taking his corn, I strayed into the woods, not many hundred yards, and came to a tree, the most stupendous I had ever seen. "At the first glance, the trunk reminded me of the London Monument, an effect...
Seite 23 - ... timber logs, or any article, however ill calculated for the purpose, they endeavoured to escape from the dreadful scene, and reach the town of Chatham : numbers of men, women, and children, perishing in the attempt. " In some parts of the country...
Seite 20 - became a scene of the most dreadful conflagration that has perhaps .ever occurred in the history of the world. In Europe, we can scarcely form a conception of the fury and rapidity with which the fires rage through the American forests during a dry hot season ; at which time the underwood, decayed vegetable substances, fallen branches, bark, and withered ;trees are as inflammable as a total absence of moisture can render them.
Seite 23 - The loss of property is incalculable ; for the fire, borne upon the wings of a hurricane, rushed on the wretched inhabitants with such inconceivable rapidity, that the preservation of their lives could be their only care. " Among the vessels on the river, a number were cast on shore ; three of which...
Seite 244 - to the nature and fertility of the soil, and I think I " may be justified in adding, that such is the general " excellence of the land, that if ordinary care be taken " to give each lot no more than its own share of any " small swamp in its vicinity, it would be difficult, if not " impossible, to find 200 acres together in the whole " territory which would make a bad farm. Although " the land may be capable of raising any kind of pro" duce usual in that country, yet some spots are more " peculiarly...
Seite 21 - ... them. When these tremendous fires are once in motion, or at least when the flames extend over a few miles of the forest, the surrounding air becomes highly rarefied, and the wind naturally increases to a hurricane.
Seite 24 - Fredericton- Fires raged also at the same time in the northern parts of the Province, as far as the Bay de Chaleur. " It is impossible to tell how many lives were lost, as many of those who were in the woods among the lumbering parties, had no friends...
Seite 131 - The spot chosen by them was one of great natural beauty ; but it possessed no other advantages, except an abundance of game, which was no small inducement to them. They spent several thousand pounds in building fancy loghouses and making large clearings which they had neither the ability nor industry to cultivate.

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