BRAS D’OR. 403

of St Andrew’s Bay, are the Red Islands, from which the south branch, or arm, formed into various chan- nels by the islands it contains, extends about twelve miles, until arrested by the narrow isthmus which separates it from the waters of St Peter’s Bay.

St George’s Channel, or the west arm, lies a few miles farther west. It is about six miles broad, and fifteen miles deep from the inlets bearing the Indian name Malaga-waacht. This bay contains several islands ; its shores are thinly settled, principally by Scotch islanders. The lands on the north side are high, and form a mountainous ridge, which separates this bay from the inlet of River Denys.

This last branch breaks off abruptly from the north shore of Barra Strait, and forms, first, a broad bay, then contracts, and Winds through intricate passages among islands for some miles, and opens again into a basin, along which there are several in- lets, and at its head receives the waters of a beauti- ful winding river. The inhabitants are principally emigrants from the Hebrides. Both the soil and tims ber of the lands fronting on this inlet are excellent.

The waters of the Bras d’Or are in many places forty fathoms, and in some places sixty fathoms deep, and afford many capacious safe harbours. It abounds with cod, which are caught at all seasons, 09.19119 winter, through a hole cut in the ice,) besides various other kinds of fish.

The scenery of this vast inlet is in some places beautifully picturesque, and in some others, mono- tonous and uninteresting, but in many parts, of a