232 Au/ifjiiiticf. of New-] ork. 



valleys when; nature exhibits her usual aspects. The primary 

 alluvial land was formed from the first retreat or recession of the 

 lake, and then, it is supposed, the most southern line of fortifi- 

 cations was erected. In process of time, the lake receded further 

 to the north, leaving another section of table land on which the 

 other tier of works was made. The soil on the two flats is very 

 different ; the inferior being adapted for grass, and the superior 

 for grain, and the timber varies in a correspondent manner. On 

 the south side of lake Ontario, there are also two alluvial forma- 

 tions ; the most recent is north of the ridge road ; no forts have 

 been discovered on it. Whether there be any on the primary 

 table land, I have not learnt ; south of the mountain ridge many 

 have been observed. 



In the geology of our country, it is important to remark, that 

 the two alluvial formations before mentioned, arc, generally 

 speaking, characteristic of all the lands bordering on the western 

 waters. While, on the eastern waters, there is but one alluvial 

 tract, with some few exceptions. This may be ascribed to the 

 distance of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi from, the ocean, 

 their having prostrated, at two different periods, impediments or 

 barriers, and in consequence of thus lowering the beds in which 

 they flowed, having produced a partial exhaustion of the remote 

 waters. These distinct formations may be considered as great 

 chronological landmarks. The non-existence of forts on the se- 

 condary or primary alluvial formations of lake Ontario is a strong 

 circumstance from which the remote antiquity of those on the 

 highlands to the south may be deduced ; because if they had 

 been erected after the first or last retreat of the lake, they would 

 undoubtedly have been made on them as most convenient and 

 best adapted for all military, civil, and domestic purposes. 



The Iroquois formerly lived, according to their traditions, on 

 the north side of the lakes. When they migrated to their pre- 

 sent country, they extirpated the people who occupied it ; and 

 after the European settlement of America, the confederates de- 

 stroyed the Eries or Cat Indians, who lived on the south side of 

 lake Erie. Whether the nations, which possessed our western 

 country before the Iroquois, liad erected those forlificutious to 



