IIO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



This beating of cabins served other purposes. Among the 

 Hurons, in 1637, there was a deadly pestilence, from which the host 

 of the French desired to be free. After a sacrifice of tobacco at 

 night, there followed " a hubbub and charivari, which was made by 

 all in the cabin for a quarter of an hour. They struck so rudely 

 against the barks that it was impossible to hear each other. This 

 was to make the pestilence afraid." The same custom was found 

 in Illinois, and it was probably a general one. 



Forts 



In times of peace towns were often defenseless. When war came, 

 the wooden walls were repaired or new ones made, strong enough 

 for aboriginal warfare but not always safe against the white man's 

 arms. That earthworks were often picketed is now definitely 

 known, and some principles of their construction are understood, 

 enough to call forth admiration. 



The earliest fort in this region of which we have any contem- 

 poraneous description was that visited by Jacques Cartier in 1535. 

 There is little cause to doubt that this was occupied by the early 

 Mohawks, though on the site of Montreal. The following brief 

 account is part of Hakluyt's translation, quoted by Sir J. W. 

 Dawson : 



The citie of Hochelaga is round, compassed about with timber, 

 with three course of Rampires, one within another framed like a 

 sharp spire, or pyramid, but laid acrosse above. The middle-most 

 of them is perpendicular. The Rampires are framed and fashioned 

 with pieces of timber, layd along very well and cunningly joyned 

 together after their fashion. This inclosure is in height about two 

 rods. It hath but one gate or entrie thereat, which is shut with 

 piles, stakes, and barres. Over it, and also in many places of the 

 wall, there is a kind of gallerie to run along, and ladders to get up, 

 all full of stones and pebbles for the defence of it. Daivson, p. 30 



This is the key to the construction of most of the New York 

 palisades. As the gallery was not continuous in this case, Mr Daw- 

 son has represented the sections as watchtowers in his ideal view 

 of Hochelaga. They were probably open above. The section of 

 this wall from Ramusio gives only a general idea and one hardly 

 correct. That has two sections of boards like the sloping walls 

 of an A tent, with central poles properly braced. Toward the top 



