large anchors through the rapide of the river St.
Lawrence. This obliged thbmdo make frequent
use of the word gcmnoron, which in their language
signifies, how wonderful. As there were
no appearances of a vessel when they went to
war, they were greatly astonished now to see
one entirely furnished on their return, more than
250 leagues from fhe habitations of Canada, in
a. place where one was never seen before.
I directed the pilot not to attempt the.asèent
of the strong rapids at the mouth of Lake Erie
until further orders. On the 16th and 17th, we
returned to the banks of Lake Ontario, and ascended
with the barque we had brought horn Fort
Frontenac, as far as the great rock of the river
Niagara. We-there cast anchor at the foot of
the three mountains, where we were obliged to
make the portage caused by the great , falls of
Niagara, which interrupt the navigation.
Father Gabriel, who was sixty-four years old,
underwent all the fatigues of this yoyage, and
ascended and descended three times the three
mountains, which are very high and steep at
the place where the portage is made. Our people
made many trips, to carry the provisions',
munitions of war, and other necessaries;, for the
vessel. The voyage was painful in the extreme,
because there were two long leagues of road
each way. It took four men to carry our largest
anchor, but brandy being given to cheer, them,
the work was soon accomplished, and we ail
returned together to the mouths ©f Lake Jhie;
I have heretofore remarked that the Spaniards
first discovered Canada, and the Recollects first
went there with the French colonies.
These good fathers were great friends of the
Hurons, who told thérii that the Iroquois went
to. war beyond Virginia, or New Sweden, near a
lake, which they called Erigé or Erie, which
signifies thé: Cat, or nation o f the Cat, and because
these savages brought captives from the nation
b f the Cat, in returning to their cantons, along
this .lake, v.ther Hurons named it, in their language,
Erige or Erike? the Lake o f the Cat, and.
whfoh our CanadianSj ih; softening the word,
have called LhkeErie.
^ We endeavored several times to ascend the
current of the strait into Lake Erie, but the wind
was not; yet strong eûough. I We were therefore
obliged to wait until it should be more favorable.
Daring this detention, the^Sieur de La Salle
employed our men in’preparing some ground on
the western side pf‘ the strait of Niagara, where
we planted someWegetables for the use of those
who shonld come to live in tliis place, for the
purpose of kegpmg tip a communication between
the vessels, and maintaining a correspondence
from lake to lake. We found in this place some
wild ’ chef vil, and garlic* • which * grow spontaneously.
We left father Melithon at the habitation we
had made above the great falls of Niagara, with
some overseers and workmen. Our men encamped
on the hank of the river, that the light