18 WESTERN CANAL* 



like passing from a half lighted room, into ait 

 apartment blazing with lamps. 



After this, you continue your course through 

 a country generally unsettled, until you arrive at 

 Syracuse, opposite to Salina, and 61 miles from 

 Utica, where Judge Forman, a gentleman of 

 great intelligence and activity, is erecting a town. 

 The region west to Montezuma is of the same 

 character. When you pass Geddesburgh, the 

 Onondaga lake stretches out its waters to the 

 north, and as it were under your feet; a more 

 beautiful prospect my eyes never beheld. In this 

 region mighty deeds of valor have been perform- 

 ed. Here the great congress, parliament, or 

 wittenagemote, of tlie Iroquois, or Six Nations 

 assembled to deliberate on the concerns of the 

 federal republic. Here the Jesuits established 

 themselves, and encountered death and all its ter- 

 rors to establish the dominion of the cross. But 

 I am called off to witness a singular sight — a 

 great bald eagle chasing an osprey over the Sene- 

 ca lake — a great fish falls from the mouth of the 

 latter, and the imperial bird darts at the falling 

 fish with the rapidity of lightning, and grasps k 

 in his talons. 



