History of La Malbaie, Québec, Canada

Entering the waters, Champlain noticed that the bay was muddy and he nicknamed it malle baye.

seigniory, in the co. of Saguenay, is one of the three grants en fief et seigneurie, which have been made by the British government; it extends from the S. of Eboulmens, along the St. Lawrence, as far as the river Malbay that divides it from Mount Murray. - 4 leagues in front by 3 in depth. Granted Apr 27, 1762, to Captain John Nairn, and now belongs to Mrs. Nairn. This seigniory contains but a very small portion of cultivated land in comparison to its size. The best settlements range along Malbay river for about 6 miles. It contains a church, parsonage-house, corn and saw-mills, and a well-built manor-house belonging to the proprietor of the seigniory. - The rivers are only sufficient to work the mills. The principal lakes aer Nairn, Anthony and Ste. Marie, and are in the rear of the S. Lake Nairn is on the rear boundary line, and Lake Anthony, which is much smaller and discharges itself into it, is near its N.E. side. Little Lake or Lake Ste. Marie is S.E. of the others about 1 1/ 2...

Murray Bay - is situated on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, at a distance of ninety miles from Quebec. This place derives its present name from that of the bay formed at the confluence of Murray River with the St. Lawrence. Under the french domination, it was called Malbaie, as it is to -day by the French
Canadians ; but when the seigniory was granted to John Nairn, a captain in the Highlanders, on the 27th of April 1762, by general James Murray, then governor of Canada, the river and place took their present name from that of general Murray.

The bay enters deep into the land and the greater portion becomes dry et low water. The land which encloses the bay is rather elevated and rocky; but, between it and the high water mark on the western side, there is a flat and gently undulated alluvial soil, most of which is sandy. Beyond these cultivable lands in the immediate vicinity of the bay, you see nothing but high and picturesque mountains and lofty
peaks. The settlement looks ...

Murray Bay, or Malbaie, a favorite watering-place on the Lower St. Lawrence (N. shore), 90 miles E. of Quebec. It is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a rapid stream of the same name which affords good fishing and motive power. The village is reached by steamer from Quebec. It contains 2 churches, 3 hotels, several good boarding-houses, 10 or 12 stores, and several mills.