The French Period 

 Reuben Gold Thwaites . . . Chicago: A. C. McClurg. 1905. 1688 



Vol. I, p. 137. Lahontan 



As for the Waterfall of Niagara; 'tis seven or eight hundred 

 foot high, and half a League broad. Towards the middle of it 

 we descry an Island that leans towards the Precipice, as if it 

 were ready to fall. All the Beasts that cross the Water within 

 half a quarter of a League above this unfortunate Island, are 

 suck'd in by force of the Stream: And the Beasts and Fish 

 that are thus kill'd by the prodigious fall, serve for food to fifty 

 Iroquese, who are setled about two Leagues off, and take em 

 out of the water with their Canows. Between the surface of 

 the water that shelves off prodigiously, and the foot of the 

 Precipice, three Men may cross in a breast without any other 

 dammage, than a sprinkling of some few drops of water. 



Lahontan's book had " an immense vogue " and the various editions 

 of it soon rivalled those of Hennepin's works in number. Of these editions 

 those of 1 703-4 are reckoned the best. The Niagara description occurs 

 in a letter dated at " Missilimakinac, May 26, 1 688." It was very 

 popular and with all its exaggerations soon found its way into geographies 

 and other books. 



1710 



The Four Kings of Canada, being a succinct account of four Indian 1710 

 princes lately arriv'd from North America, with a particular description 

 of their country . . . with several other extraordinary things worthy 

 of observation, as to the natural or curious productions, beauty, or fertility 

 of that part of the world. London. 1710. Reprinted by J. E. Garratt 

 and Co. London. 1891. Pp. 41-42. 



The River of St. Lawrence or Canada, receives in these Parts 

 an Infinite Quantity of fresh Water from the four great Lakes, 

 the Lake Huron, the upper Lake, the Lake of the Illinois, 

 and the Lake Erie or of the Cat, which may properly be call'd 

 little fresh Water Seas. This great Deluge of Water tumbling 

 furiously over the greatest and most dreadful Heap in the World, 

 an infinite Number of Fish take a great Delight to spawn here, 

 and as it were suffocate here, because they cannot get over this 

 huge Cataract: So that the Quantity taken here is incredible. 



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