CHAP. xvu. WARS OF THE MONTAGNAIS AND IROQUOIS. 273 



that magnificent lake, which abounds in game of all kinds 

 common to the country. He found a large fort, constructed 

 of trees by the Iroquois, "guarding all approaches to 

 the lakes, and from which these warlike Indians made 

 excursions against the Mistassinni and Montagnais. No 

 aboriginal nation appears to have made such extensive 

 conquests as the Iroquois. From the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 to the head of Lake Superior they pushed their victorious 

 marches, always leaving behind them terrible memorials 

 of their success and cruelty. 



In eastern Canada, the names of many falls and rapids 

 on some of the larger rivers are derived from the 

 treacherous murders committed by that ferocious and 

 conquering race. On the St. Maurice, at the magnificent 

 cataract of She-we-na-he-gan, 150 feet in perpendicular 

 descent and about twenty-five miles from the present 

 town of Three Elvers, a terrible slaughter of the Algonkin 

 tribes took place about 180 years ago. These Indians were 

 accustomed to visit the St. Lawrence during the summer 

 months, and on their journey down the St. Maurice they 

 had to make a portage round the She-we-na-he-gan or 

 4 eye of the needle.' The Iroquois, whose object at that 

 time appears to have been the total destruction of races to 

 the north and east of the great lakes, selected the portage 

 round these fells as their place of ambush. A large 

 number of Algonkin canoes descended the river together, 

 and the camp was made at the head of the falls. During 

 night time the Iroquois came with deadly stealth upon 

 the sleeping Algonkins, and did not permit one to escape. 

 They then made their way up one of the tributaries of 

 the St. Maurice, called the Vermilion Eiver, and stationed 



VOL. i. T 



