656 [Assembly 



a rich and beautiful region to civilized society, but because it 

 presented a truthful exhibition of the Indian habits and pursuits 

 and their arts and tactics in war. 



Upon entering the lake, Champlain was deeply impressed by 

 the profusion and beauty of the Islands, the wild and majestic 

 growth of the timber, and the abundance of game and fish. The ri- 

 vers discharging into the lake he found " surrounded by fine trees 

 similar to those we have in France, with a quantity of vines the 

 handsomest I ever saw." " In the lake^" he continues, " there is 

 large abundance of fish of divers species." He adds the melancholy 

 commentary to this attractive picture of a delightful region, 

 ^^ these parts though agreeable are not inhabited by the Indians 

 on account of their wars." 



He coursed the lake along the western shore and ^' saw on the 

 east side very high mountains capped wuth snow." The Indians 

 assured him that those parts w^re inhabited by the Iroquois 

 and that they embraced beautiful valleys and fields fertile in 

 corn, with an infinitude of other fruits." 



He thus portrays the habits of his savage allies. — ^^ on encamp- 

 ing for the night, forthwith some began to cut down timber; others 

 to peel off the bark, to cover lodges to shelter them ; others to 

 barricade their lodges on the shore." He regarded their barri- 

 cades as efiicient protection, against the ordinary assaults of sav- 

 age warfare. " They dispatched two or three canoes, after encamp- 

 ment, to reconnoitre," which, '- if they made discovery of no one, 

 retired," and no farther vigilance was exerted during the night 

 for their security. 



Champlain earnestly remonstrated with them " on this 

 bad habit of theirs," as a laxity in military science. On ap- 

 proaching, the territory of their enemies, they observed more 

 caution and vigilance in th^ir movements. They advanced silently, 

 and with great care by night, and retired into the " picketted forts" 

 by day and " reposed without fire or noise." The savages were 

 deeply curious and importunate to discover the dreams of Cham- 

 plain, that from them they might derive auguries relative to the 

 issue of the expedition. 



