114 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
which being rotten are easily pushed down and being light are brought 
with ease to the Encampment. 
Wednesday the 27 [June]. Morning very cold but the Rain had 
ceased. Breakfasted at the Island of Montreal opposite a small River 
of this name which flows into the Lake. Before landing here we passed 
a small Island where from the Stories of the Indians Mr. Henry fancied 
there was a Silver Mine and he induced a Number of Gentlemen and 
Noblemen, the Duke of Gloucester, Mr. Secretary Townsend, Sir Samuel 
Tucket,! Mr. Baxter, Russian Consul, and Sir William Johnson to join 
him in a mining Company,” but it was quite unsuccessful. At 10 we 
again embarked, the Weather very fine. We ran along the Main Land 
about a + of a mile off the Shore. At two we landed to Dinner on a 
small barren Rock in the midst of an innumerable Number of small 
Rocks of the same character with an immense towering gigantic moun- 
tainous Rock in the Middle rising like a Parent before them, the little 
Rocks perhaps 4 feet in Height, the Mother Rock at least 600 Feet of 
perpendicular Height. From hence our Canoe ran through a Range of 
low Rocks in a Variety of Shapes but all giving the Idea of gigantic 
Tombstones, a Residence of Spirits and Ghosts. After travelling nearly 
a mile between these Rocks we came to one under which according to 
Indian Tradition is buried Nanibogan a Person of most sacred Memory. 
The Interpretation is “the Great Hare.” He is represented as the 
Founder and indeed the Creator of the Indian Nations of North America. 
The Indians state that he dreamt the World would be deluged by heavy 
Rains, that he built a Raft on which he preserved his own Family and 
all the Animal Creation without Exception. According to his Dream 
the Rains fell and a Flood ensued. His Raft drifted for many Moons 
during which no Land was discovered. His Family began to dispute 
and the Animals, who had then the use of Speech, murmured against 
them. In the End he produced a new Earth placed the Animals upon 
it and created Man. At a subsequent Period he deprived the Animals 
of the Use of Speech. There are many Stories about him but all agree 
in his being the Founder of the Indian Nations. The Rock is very 
remarkable; by Moonlight or in the Dusk it must have the Appearance 
of an old Woman and even by Day, when we passed, a little Imagination 
would have fancied such a Figure. The Head is perfect; the Figure is 
sitting in the Indian manner on her Hams, a large Cloak covering her 
body with a long Train behind forming the Figure of a gigantic old 

1 Or Tutchet. 
21n 1770. The Company was liquidated in 1774. See Travels and Adventures of 
Alex. Henry (New York, 1809). Pt. II., chap. v., vi. 
