1892-93.] THE JOURNAL OF CAPTAIN WALTER BUTLER. 279' 



THE JOURNAL OF CAPTAIN WALTER BUTLER, ON A 



VOYAGE ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE 



ONTARIO, FROM THE 8th TO THE i6th 



OF MARCH, 1779. 



By Captain Ernest Cruikshank. 



(Read ytJi January, i8qj.) 



Niagara, 8th March, 1779. — Three o'clock in the afternoon, set off for 

 Canada in a batteau. The weather calm, the season very forward and 

 more than common fine, no appearance of snow, ice, or frost. Rowed to 

 the 12 Mile Pond, encamped ; saw this evening a large flock of pigeon in 

 trees and numbers of geese and ducks in the pond. 



12 Mile Pond, 9th March. — At six put off, the wind and swell high 

 and ahead ; but the hands being good oarsmen kept the lake till the 

 20 Mile Pond or river, when the wind increasing and no harbour 

 nearer than the 40 Mile Creek, made for the Creek and was near 

 striking on the bar, but the force of the waves on the stern and working 

 briskly of the oars got into the river. An Indian cabin on the bank 

 inhabited by Missassaugas. The 20 Mile Creek is a fine stream, though 

 shallow at the entrance and narrow at the mouth, but very wide a little 

 way up. The land in general level, though higher on the east side. 

 Timber — oak, pine and a few chestnut trees. The place appears as the 

 head of the lake, though it turns for forty miles westerly beyond this 

 before the lake turns to the north-eastward. This creek heads near 

 Point Obino, 18 miles above Fort Erie on Lake Erie, likewise the 12 and 

 16 mile creeks rise out of the swamp near Lake Erie. Boats can go 

 up this creek about 15 miles. Saw a number of blackbirds. 3 o'clock 

 put off, the wind falling, and rowed till four, hoisted sail and continued 

 till six, rowed till 7 o'clock, put in shore and encamped on a low, sandy 

 beach, five miles from the creek in this bay forming the head of the lake, 

 hauled the boat up the distance from the said creek to Niagara, 60 miles. 



loth March. — Put off at daylight, every appeal ance of a fair wmd,. 

 rowed an hour, the wind came ahead, increased with a high swell, was 

 obliged to put into the river at the head of the lake, shipped water twice 

 before we made the river, the wind at east. From the west side of 20 

 Mile Creek the land lowers till you come 12 miles off this, where it forms 

 a fine sandy beach with a few trees near the shore, which continues a 



