248 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS. LAKES, 



were first discovered, they were known by no oilier name than that 

 of lt Iroquois lakes." 



Lake ONTARIO is the least of the five great lakes of Canada; it? 

 form is nearly oval ; its greatest length being from north-east to 

 south-west. Its circumference is about six hundred miles. Near 

 the south-east part it receives the waters of the Uswego river, and 

 on the north-east discharges itself into the river Cataraqwi, which 

 communicates with the St. Laurence, or may be conquered as ihe 

 source of it ; though some geographers describe that vast river as 

 uniting the five great lakes, and having its source to the westward of 

 lake Superior. Near to it stood fort Frontenac, which was taken 

 from the French in the year 1/58, by some provincial troops, under 

 Colonel Bradstreet. At the entrance of Oswego river stood a fort 

 of the same name, which, in the year 1750', was defended by two 

 regiments of provincial troops, when it was attacked and taken by 

 the French, and the garrison cruelly massacred by tjie savages who 

 followed the French camp. 



Lake ERIE extends about three hundred miles from west to 

 north-east. It is widest toward the middle, where it is about se- 

 venty miles across from north to south. Carver, a faithful narra- 

 tor of what he saw, though not to be followed in longitudes and 

 latitudes, says, the navigation of this lake is esteemed more danger- 

 ous than any of the other lakes, on account of many high lands 

 which lie on its borders, and which project into the waters, so that 

 whenever sudden storms arise, canoes and boats are frequently lost, 

 as there is no place which affords retreat or shelter. The same 

 writer says there are several islands near the west end so infested 

 with venomous snakes, that it is highly dangerous to land upon 

 them. The water is covered near the banks of these islands with 

 the nymphaea nelumbo or aquatic lilly, the leaves of which spread 

 over the surface, so as to cover it entirely for a great space ; on 

 these our traveller saw prodigious numbers of the water-snakes, 

 wreathed up, and basking in the sun. 



This lake discharges its waters at the north-east end into th e 

 river Niagara, which runs due north ;md south; is about thirty-six 

 miles in length, and flows into lake Ontario. At the entrance of 

 this river, on its eastern shore, is fort Niagara, which was taken 

 from the French in the year 1/59, by Sir William Johnston, and 

 was considered as a highly important acquisition. About eighteen 



