An ash swamp.

Mosquitoes in the woods.

Con way River.

Con way River: tree species.

from St. Augustine to this Island, but more especially in Nova Scotia. Continuing our journey we were often obliged to lift ourselves up by the help of the boughs and step from the top of one bush to another, there being no opening below large enough to admit a Rabbit. After two hours struggling we had advanced about a mile and came into a Swamp of another kind full of large Ash trees and rendered by the underwoods consisting of Alders, dogwood maple etc. almost impenetrable — these growing in a horizontal direction were so intermingled that we passed generally on their tops and where they happened to be a little thin we sunk frequently to our middle in mud and water. Passing this the woods continued more difficult of access than I had ever seen in other parts of the Island. However, after sustaining incredible fatigue and exerting the most unwearied endeavors for eight hours without halting we came in sight of Egmont Bay, having travelled the distance, as | judge from the Map of about 6 miles only! But our troubles had not ended for here we had an extensive marsh of large Reeds and bullrushes to pass before we could approach the Sea beach

| see nothing that can induce any one to settle on Egmont Bay the land in general being very indifferent, almost impracticable to clear of woods and difficult of approach by water from the Shoals which extend a considerable way from the Shore.

We passed a sleepless night on the beach, for tho' we had the usual precaution of a large fire, the smoke of which generally keeps the moschettoes at a distance, yet here it proved ineffectual. Early in the morning we set off on our return by a different route as I wished to see as much of the Township as possible. We passed our course along the banks of what I call in the enclosed Sketch Seymour River to the place marked N, the tide flowing no farther, and then struck into the woods, but we did not escape the two difficult Swamps which probably extend the whole breadth of the Lot: We got to Conway River [i.e. Trout River] where we left our boat the day before after a progress of 9 hours

The only other part of the letter that alludes to the forest, concerns the reservation for the proprietor of a large acreage for a ’manor farm ’. He plots three numbered options on the map, the second of which comprises the land on either side of what is now the Trout River:

Number two has at present no prospect [i.e. scenic view] but Conway River [i.e. Trout River] and what is called Goodwood bay [i.e. Bideford River] in Faden's Map, and is entirely wood Land; but when the Lot assumes a more forward state of improvement the prospect will be as extensive as either of the other: The River is beautiful and abounds with noble Trout and other fish — the land very rich soil.

On the margin of the map that he enclosed, he recorded the following description of the forest, which is a variant of the description given in the narrative:

The whole East end of the Lot for three or four miles back is very fine Land, particularly on both sides Conway river [i.e. Trout River], which continues a little further than the dotted line, covered with a beautiful admixture of very lofty pine, black birch, Maple, Beech and Spruce fir trees. The whole lot is a dead level except a ridge in the fork of Conway River above where the French Mill stood which is about 30 feet higher than the common level.

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