170 Major Lachlan on the Rise and Fall of the Lakes. 
tion and depression to which the waters are subject, independent 
of causes connected with the seasons of the year. These latter 
changes, which take place more gradually, sometimes undergoing 
but little variation for a series of years, are least liable to be no- 
ticed, unless they be very considerable ; but with respect to con- 
sequences, they are of vastly more importance, since they are 
subject to a larger and more permanent ra 
“That the waters of the Lakes, from ec, ae settlement of 
the country have been subject to considerable variation in relative 
space of seven years, and subsiding for a similar length of time: 
a belief which would appear to be in consonance with that of 
the Indians, and with whom, it no doubt originated. It is not 
wonderful that a subject, the causes of which are so little com- 
prehended by our natives should be invested with an air of mys- 
tery, or that an error once propagated, in consequence of the long 
series of years required to bring about any considerable change 
could scarcely be eradicated. While the idea of that septennial 
rise and fall must be regarded as founded in error, it is neverthe- 
less true, that from the earliest records, the height of the Lakes 
has been subject to a considerable variation, t usually rising very 
gradually and irregularly for a series of years, and after that falling 
in a similar, but more rapid, manner. 
Dr. Houghton concludes a “ie of other excellent elucida- 
tory remarks by observing, with regard to the succession of pre- 
vious cold and wet seasons which produced the great rise in 1838 
at, “when we take into consideration, in connection with the 
causes enumerated, the fact that during the wet years evaporation 
must have been less than during the dry ones, ‘it may be fairly 
presumed that sufficient oe causes have existed to produce 
all the results noticed; and we may add, should such a succes- 
sion of dry and warm seasons Elion: we may look with certainty 
for a return of the Lakes to the former low level.” 
In consequence of the great length of the foregoing quotation, 
I must be content with giving only the following abridged an 
disjointed particulars on the same subject from Mr. Higgins’ s Re- 
ports of 1839 and 1841 :—*‘l'hat interesting question, the peri- 
odical rise and fall of the Lakes, has given rise to a variety of 
curious speculations. The inference drawn from the following 
ata, is pened, will not be altogether inconclusive. Calcula- 
amount of ‘tsitace drained ; and if our climate, as is alleged, shows 
a successive series of cold and moist years, and of warm and dry 
ones, mutually following each other, variations in the volume oA 
water cannot but be great. Taking into account only the cen 
tral and Pade dais of the St. Lawrence valley, from Niagara 
