The French Period 



caused by the fall had permitted me to stay there a little time. 1753 

 I seemed in this place to be in the midst of the cataract. The Severance 

 noise and the trembling were very great. That did not prevent 

 me from examining the cavern, which appeared of a length of 

 six toises by about twenty feet in height. Its depth was scarcely 

 more than fifteen feet. I would have passed it, but was unable 

 to go further because of large clefts which I was unable to cross. 

 I had to retrace my steps. All shivering with cold, and drenched, 

 I hastened to take again the road by which I had descended. I 

 climbed up the bushes quicker than I had descended them. 

 Arrived on top, I found the two people with whom I had 

 come. They wished to interrogate me. This was futile. I was 

 deaf and was not able to hear them. Cold and hunger forced 

 me to hasten to Toronto, where, being arrived,! at once changed 

 my clothes, after which I ate. 



It was not until two hours afterwards that the deafness left 

 me and I was able to give an account of what I had seen. I 

 have since questioned several travelers to learn if they had 

 knowledge of any one who had descended this fall. They had 

 heard no one tell of it. That does not seem extraordinary to me, 

 knowing that the Canadians are so little curious that they would 

 not deign to turn aside from their route for something worthy of 

 report. This indifference on their part does not however give 

 me pretense of being the only one who may have risked himself 

 in this perilous visit, nor that there will not be found in days to 

 come others as curious as I. But if that happens, those who 

 will have the enterprise will be able to confirm what I report to 

 have seen. 



It is common report in this country that a native Iroquois, 

 finding himself with his canoe drawn into the current from above, 

 and not being able to draw out of the force of it, wrapped him- 

 self in his blanket, glided along in his canoe, and abandoned 

 himself to the current, which quickly precipitated him over the 

 fall, where he was swallowed up with his canoe without reappear- 

 ing. I have seen the fall of a tree, drawn down by the current, 



41 



