PRINCIPAL SETTLEMENTS. 393 islands. The population of these places consists chiefly of Acadian French, w follow the fisheries, and cultivate also small patches of land. Peter's Bay and settlement are situated to the east of Lennox Passage. The French called' this place Port Toulouse ; and to it the Indians of Aca¬ dia and brought their furs to exchange for European commodities. The distance across the isthmus, between the head of this bay and the Bras d'Or Lake, is about 900 yards. It was surveyed, under the direction of government, by Mr Hall , a civil engineer, from whose report it appears that there would be little difficulty in opening a canal communication between all parts of the Bras d'Or and the , through this neck of land.—The estimated expense is L .17,15 ). Numberless advantages to would re¬ sult from the completion of such an undertaking; and Peter's would then become the focus of inter¬ course with all parts of the island. People going and coming between different places within Bras d'Or, and Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island , frequently haul their boats with horses or oxen across this portage; and the Indians carry their bark canoes over it on their heads. At the head of Grand Anse harbour, which branches off from Lennox Passage, there is a Scotch settlement, the inhabitants of which follow agricul¬ tural pursuits, and the lands are considered of good quality. Riviere des Habitans, or, as we now call it, River