64 Major Lachlan on the Rise and Fall of the Lakes. 
But it was not till fifty years afterwards that we were indebted 
to that intelligent British traveller, Mr. Carver, for any great addi- 
tional light on this mysterious subject, as well as for other partic- 
ulars regarding the then unknown region of Laixe Superior, from 
information acquired on the spot. But as his remarks are alluded 
to by a subsequent equally respectable and trees EBoglish 
writer, Mr. Weld, who visited Canada in 1796, are content 
to refer to the interesting volume of the latter for ‘he following 
(much condensed ) appropriate observations.* 
“It is confidently asserted, not only by the Indians, pak also 
by great numbers of the white people who live on the shores of 
Lake Ontario, that the waters of this Lake rise se a pene 
nately every seventh year. Others, on the contrary, deny that 
such a fluctuation does take place; and, indeed it differs so mate- 
rially from any that have been observed in large bodies of water 
in other parts of the globe, that I am tempted to — it is 
merely an imaginary change. Nevertheless when it is consid- 
ered, that, according to the belief of the oldest ichabenaaaa of 
the country, such a periodical ebbing and flowing takes place, 
and that it has never been clearly proved to the contrary, We are 
bound to suspend our opinions on the subject. For instance: a 
gentleman who resides close upon the borders of the Lake, not 
far from Kingston, and had leisure to attend to such subjects, 
told me that he had observed the state of the Lake for nearly 
fourteen years, and that he was of opinion that the waters did not 
ebb and flow periodically ; yet he acknowledged the very re- 
markable fact that several of the oldest white inhabitants in his 
neighborhood declared, previous to the late rising of the Lake, 
that the year 1795 would be the high year; and ~ in the 
summer of that year the Lake actually did rise to a very un- 
common height. He said, however, that he had reason o think 
take the elas of here remarking that I might easily have separa 
seeming greater degree oe yeh are to this paper by continuing to make ie oc- 
— van refere =e to p s of epee ae i — os an 
econ observations in wn lan ; but fe dlink 
pub a oan on t that pe and Cae Saran « of exhibiting g the whole 
evidence on the question, independent of any opinion of my own, I have adopted a 
row 
the following and other hu ee A copied extracts and n Nig ict ac 
uncertain intervals during a course of more than fifte gh ~— Bast ently a 
times when opportunities of access to books were “ ike gels’ visit 
betw i e i 
Was no intention to alter or 
therefore be considered as 
