the first to be better than that of the last, at the same time it is found that the soil towards the north is more sandy than to the south[.]

The Country in general is not perhaps so fit for cultivation, as canada howeve[r] there are very Extensive traits of very fine land, among these the best I have see[n] are along the banks and Vicinities of Rainy lake River, which takes its rise in the lake of the same name, is about thirty leagues in length runs in a North West direction and Empties itself in lake of the woods[.] Its banks are in General high and Covered with abundance of Elm, and Oak, with immense numbe[r] of wild Prune trees, Cherry, wild Pears, and here and there intersected by small Meadows, which enliven the appearance of the Country a good deal by the Verdu[re] of the Grass. [T]he only things that have been sown here are Potatoes and some culinary herbs who came very well[.] I have sown Barley Oats and Pease at thousand lake (whose soil is not equal to this) and by all Accounts as I did not retur[n] they grow as well as in Canâda[.]

The only Mineral I have seen in the Country is Iron which though very common I never saw in any large quantity[.]

The trees in these forests are Birch[,] Aspine, popular[,] Elm, Bass,

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