1889-90.] SURVEY OF NIAGARA TOWNSHIP. 101 



were usually followed. From the source of the stream was a trail to the 

 Niagara River above the Falls. In passing between Lake Ontario and 

 Lake Erie, it appears that a more direct route was found by the Indians 

 by way of the Grand River, with a trail to Burlington Bay, which 

 seems to have been a central point towards which converged portages 

 from different directions. Besides the Grand River route, there was a 

 trail westward to the River Thames. The lake road westward from 

 Niagara to Grimsby does not follow the lake shore, and, it is said, marks 

 an original Indian trail passing to and from the mouth of the Niagara 

 River, and, from its devious course, it may reasonably be suppossd that 

 such is the case. But it seems evident that the Indians passing back and 

 forth from the west to the territory south-east of the Falls, instead of follow- 

 ing the lake shore and Niagara River, took a shorter route to the Falls 

 by following the Four Mile Creek, the source of whicli is in that direction. 

 Sometimes they travelled by canoes, sometimes on foot. Along the east 

 side of the creek is a road more or less devious, extending from the lake 

 road to the Village of St. Davids ; this is the " Indian line road," or 

 " Four Mile Creek road." From the source of the creek to Niagara River 

 it was called "■ the Portage road." This road is mostly on the east side of 

 the creek, and part of the way close to it, but at St. Davids it crosses the 

 creek by the west bank. For a few miles from the lake the road is 

 delightfully irregular in its course. 



In the Toronto Public Library is an interesting record of the survey 

 and grants of land to David William Smith and his family, in connection 

 with whicli there is a map on which are traced several old roads. One is 

 on the east side of Niagara River, and is designated "Road to Slocher " 

 (Schlosser), another running south-westwards from the river, near the 

 beginning of the east and west line, is marked, " Old road to Detroit," 

 while a short road running south from the town plot to join it is the 

 " new road." The lake shore road is called the " road to York." 



