La Malbaie, Québec, Canada (Murray Bay) (Saint-Etienne-de-la-Malbaie) (Saint-Fidèle) (Pointe-au-Pic)
1883 - Murray Bay

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 as if it were bursting amongst hills and capes. There the lover of grand and majestuous landscape can enjoy the contemplation of the marvels of nature. Looking to the river he views the St. Lawrence which is about twenty miles in breadth and can discover no land in that direction, while behind him the mountains raise their lofty summits almost to the skies.

There are two villages at Murray Bay: one at
Pointe au Pic and the other around the church .
Pointe au Pic, where the wharf is erected, is a little cape formed at the confluence of Murray river with the St. Lawrence. The hotels are built in the vicinity of the wharf between the road leading from Pointe au Pic to the church and Murray river, which immerges their foundations at high water.

Near the church are the court - house and jail, for Murray Bay is the chef- lieu of the judiciary district, and has the Honorable judge Routhier, one of our best canadian poets, amongts its residents. It is also there that reside the advocates, notaries, doctors and other families of the best society.

The climate during the summer is cool, dry and
constant. The winds blowing from the St. Lawrence do not enter the bay, where the cooling influence only of these winds is felt. The baths in salt water can be taken at about forty or fifty feet from the hotels, and the gravel beach is so fine that tourists generally keep their sleepers in the morning to go from their rooms to the water. This water is salubrious and hygienic; hundreds of persons cured every year from rhumatisms and kindred affections, bear testimony to the efficacity of the sea baths of Murray Bay. A great advantage of these baths is the fact that the beach and
bottom of the bay being gravelly, shoal and level, there is not the least danger of drowning, even for children, who cover the beach even at high water.

The promenade around the bay and in the vicinity are surpassed by none in the world, as far as picturesque scenery and variety of views are concerned...

The drives to all those places afford the tourist an occasion to enjoy views of the finest sceneries. The view from the hotels at sun - set and by moon light is something amasing and impossible to describe.

The only way to reach Murray Bay from Quebec is
by the splendid steamers of the St. Lawrence and Saguenay Line. There is a telegraph line between Quebec and Pointe au Pic, so that correspondance is easy, even for merchants.




Guide to Quebec and the Lower Saint-Lawrence .... (1883). Canada: éditeur non identifié.

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