The French Period 



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I could not conceive how it came to pass, that four great 1678 

 Lakes, the least of which is 400 Leagues in compass, should empty 

 themselves one into another, and then all centre and discharge 

 themselves at this Great Fall, and yet not drown good part of 

 America. What is yet more surprising, the Ground from the 

 Mouth of the Lake Erie, down to the Great Fall, appears almost 

 level and flat. 'Tis scarce discernable that there is the least Rise 

 or Fall for six Leagues together: The more than ordinary swift- 

 ness of the Stream, is the only thing that makes it be observ'd. 

 And that which makes it yet the stranger is, That for two 

 Leagues together below the Fall, towards the Lake Ontario, or 

 Frontenac, the Lands are as level as they are above it towards 

 the Lake of Erie. 



Our Surprise was still greater, when we observ'd there were 

 no Mountains within two good Leagues of this Cascade ; and yet 

 the vast quantity of Water which is discharg'd by these four 

 fresh Seas, stops or centers here, and so falls about six hundred 

 Foot down into a Gulph, which one cannot look upon without 

 Horror. Two other great Out-lets, or Falls of Water, which 

 are on the two sides of a small sloping Island, which is in the 

 midst, fall gently and without noise, and so glide away quietly 

 enough: But when this prodigious quantity of Water, of 

 which I speak, comes to fall, there is such a din, and such [21 7] 

 a noise, that is more deafning than the loudest Thunder. 



The rebounding of these Waters is so great, that a sort of 

 Cloud arises from the Foam of it, which are seen hanging over 

 this Abyss even at Noon-day, when the Sun is at its heighth. 

 In the midst of Summer, when the Weather is hottest, they 

 arise above the tallest Firrs, and other great Trees, which grow 

 in the slooping Island which make the two Falls of Water that 

 I spoke of. 



I wish'd an hundred times that somebody had been with us, 

 who could have describ'd the Wonders of this prodigious fright- 

 ful Fall, so as to give the Reader a just and natural Idea of it, 

 such as might satisfy him, and create in him an Admiration of 



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